Parking FAQs

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Attendant-Assisted Parking (Stacked Parking)
- Do all NIH parking lots have Attendant-assisted Parking?
  - No. There are no plans to make all NIH lots Attendant-assisted parking. The following NIH Employee Parking Garages are attendant-assisted parking: MLP-6, MLP-7, part of MLP-8, MLP-9, Lot 31B/MLP-10 Handicap, and ACRF Garage P2 & P3 Levels.
- What is Attendant-assisted Parking?
  - With attendant-assisted parking, unlike valet parking, first arriving employees will self-park and lock their cars in the existing striped spaces (as currently). Once the facility is full, attendants will direct employees to established parking locations where parkers will leave car and ignition key, and receive a claim ticket. Vehicle keys will be secured by attendants using key security locks. As self-park spaces open, stacked cars will be moved into available spaces. Departing stacked employees will present ticket and attendants will unsecure key and move any blocking vehicles.
- What hours will the attended lots be operational?
  - Projected attendant operating hours for the employee lots are 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Monday-Friday. MLP-11 garage entrance booth will remain open until 11PM for keys pick-up (After 11pm keys secured for pickup next business day). Employees can self-park and lock car at any time there are available spaces in the lots (before, during and after operation hours).
- Are the attendant-assisted contractors insured?
  - When you leave your key with Colonial Parking, they are fully responsible for the vehicle as well as any items secured to the car (i.e., radios, telephones, etc.). They are not responsible for personal property left in the car; in fact, they will remind you to remove and/or store any personal belongings before leaving the car. The company is licensed and bonded. They manage numerous facilities in downtown Washington, where they park an average of 100,000 cars a week.
- What should I do in the event of loss/damage/theft from my vehicle while parked in an Attendant-Assisted Parking Facility?
  - In the event a theft from your vehicle occurs, you should contact the NIH Police at 301-496-5685 to file a police report. If you are reporting a crime in progress within a parking facility, "Blue Light Emergency Telephones" are located throughout the various levels or by contacting the NIH Police emergency telephone number 115.
- I am an extended visitor here to drop off someone, how do I obtain a parking permit.
  - As an extended visitor you are not entitled to park on campus. Your Extended Id badge is only good for campus access. Please refer to NIH's Extended visitor policy for more information.
Visitor Parking
- I'm a visitor to NIH for a meeting or conference. Where can I park on campus?
  - Visitor Parking Lots are located at the following areas: Lot 4A across from Building 31A, Gateway parking garage (MLP-11) and at metered parking areas around campus. For exact locations of these lots, please refer to the Campus Maps.
- Do Visitors have to pay for Parking on the NIH Campus?
  - Patients, patient visitors and authorized users will be able to park for free in the ACRF-P1 level. Handicapped visitors with appropriate tags or hangers can park for free at all visitor lots and parking meters around campus. Visitors for meetings, conferences, etc. must pay for parking in the meters around the campus, or in the Visitor Lot 4A or MLP-11. The cost to park in a vistor lot is $2.00/hr for the 1-3 hours, and $12 for 4-12 hours.
- Can employees park in the paid visitor parking?
  - Yes. They can park in the paid visitor parking and will be required to pay for parking in the paid lots.
- Can IC's get parking vouchers for use at the Paid Visitor Parking?
  - Yes. IC's can purchase vouchers that can then be given to visitors to cover the cost of parking in the paid parking lots. There will be no free visitor parking on the campus, except for handicapped visitors with appropriate tags or hangers. The IC's can purchase pre-validated stamps for their visitors by calling 301-594-7275. The rates are $2.00/hr for the first 3 hours, and $12.00 for 4-12 hrs. Usual Government purchasing mechanisms will be honored (credit card, purchase order, etc.).
- What are the Hours/Days during which the parking meters are to be used?
  - The hours of operation for metered parking spaces is 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Likewise, the attendant assisted lots are in operation from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
- Is there a difference between the Transportation Desk at the Clinical Center and the NIH Parking Office?
  - Yes. The NIH Parking Office helps employees, contractors, fellows and volunteer with transportation needs.
    
    The Transportation Desk (301) 496-1161 at the Clinical Center helps patients and their family arrange for cabs and shuttles to appointments and Airports.
- I visiting the NIH and I have a State Handicap Permit, Where do I park?
  - You may park in any of our marked handicap parking spaces. Or you may also use metered spaces in front of the building.
General Questions
- Do Contractors receive parking on the NIH Campus?
  - Contractors that are assigned to the Main Campus, and are equivalent to a full time employee are eligible to obtain a parking permit, provided their Administrative Officer has approved them for parking benefits in the NIH Enterprise Directory (NED).
- Where can I park my Scooter?
  - Vehicles displaying a scooter, moped or off-highway vehicle permit, and that occupy a single rack space, are permitted to be parked in the bicycle racks throughout campus. Vehicles displaying motorcycle license plates are not permitted to park at bicycle racks and other bicycle parking areas.
- Do Bicycles, Scooters, or Motorcycles need permits? Where can I park?
  - No. Parking for motorcycles are throughout the campus usually in the corners of parking lots. Bicycle and Scooter parking are typically around the outside of the buildings but can be found in parking garages too. Although we do not require parking hangers for motorcycles and scooters we do ask you observe the same regulations as permits holders and do not abuse the parking privileges.
- I have a Government vehicle, where can I park?
  - You may only park in spaces marked for "Government Vehicles Only." You may also look on Office of Logistic website to view questions about your government vehicle.
- I cannot start my car! Can I leave my car overnight and call a tow truck?
  - Please call the NIH Police on their non-emergency line at (301)496-5685 and let them know what is wrong with the vehicle, make and model of the car and also where the vehicle is parked. When you call AAA or your insurance company to have a tow truck retrieve your vehicle make sure you specify you will need a low bed truck since our parking garages are under 7 feet.
- I forgot to move my parking hanger into the car I drove today, will I be ok?
  - No. You will need stop by the NIH Parking Office and obtain a temporary parking permit for the day.
- I have to work overnight, is my car safe in the garage?
  - Yes. You may leave your car in a parking space for 24 hours but the vehicle must be moved after that. Failure to move your vehicle, may result in a citation being issued from the NIH Police.
- I notice a lot of illegally parked cars or vehicles without hangers in the Garages, who do I inform?
  - You will need to call the NIH Police on their non-emergency line at (301) 496-5685 and inform them of the location of the violation, as well as with the vehicle license plate, make, model and color of the car.
- How much does a parking hanger cost?
  - Parking is provided to eligible employees at no cost. Obtaining a parking hanger is easy - employees can log into our CAPS system and choose to "Enroll in Parking." Although our parking for employees on campus is free, employees who are in leased building may have to pay for parking. Please check with your Administrative Officer or Building Manager for more information about parking at your leased facility.
- I was just in CAPS and was asked a lot of questions about my vehicle, why?
  - NIH is mandated by Executive Order 13514 to reduce the Federal Government's greenhouse gas consumption (including employee commuting) by 2020. We are gathering data to show our reduction and in order to accomplish this, we need your home address and information about the vehicles you drive to work. This information will also help us with the Electric Vehicle Pilot program.
- I have just used your CAPS system to renew my parking permit. Why was there not an option for me to pick the permit up in the parking office?
  - As with everything we are striving to make employees experience better. If you would like to suggest this feature, or if you have any other suggestions, please email the NIH Parking Office and let us know how we can improve.
- Who is my Administrative Officer?
  - From time to time a person is turned away from the parking office because information is not completed on your NED profile or something is wrong in your NED account. Your supervisor would be the best person to ask but you may also log onto the NIH Enterprise Directory, where your AO and supervisor are listed.
- I am a Construction Contractor performing work on the Main Campus, where can I park?
  - NIH authorizes our Parking Services Contractor to sell monthly parking permits in various lots around the NIH Campus. Please see our Construction Contractor page for more information.
- I work off-campus, I am attending a meeting/training on the NIH Campus where do I park?
  - NIH employees attending meetings, trainings or seminars who work off-campus are strongly encouraged to use the NIH Shuttle service to commute to campus.
    If employees need to drive to the campus, there are several visitor parking areas available.
    Visitor Parking Lots are located at the following areas: Lot 4A across from Building 31A, Gateway parking garage (MLP-11) and at metered parking areas around campus. For exact locations of these lots, please refer to the Campus Maps.
- Where are the handicap parking spots?
  - Handicap parking spaces are located closest to the buildings and elevators in parking garages. Anyone with a state issued Handicap License Plate or hanger, or an NIH issued Disability Parking permit may park in these spaces.
- Where do I obtain an ID?
  - The Parking office does not handle Identification Cards or matters regarding PIV, Facility Access or Background checks. For more information on ID badges, please visit the Department of Police's ID Badges page.
Parking Member Questions
- I have just bought a new car, sold my old car, or need to update my license plate. How do I let you know?
  - The best way to modify vehicles associated with your parking hanger is to log onto CAPS. After logging in, please choose the "Modify" button, where you can edit your vehicle and other information.
    
    But if you Username and Password does not work (such as Contractors or FDA employees) please feel free to email the NIH Parking Office.
- I am at the CAPS home page. What is my username and password?
  - Your username and password is the one you use to log into your computer system in the morning. If you always use my PIV card to log into the computer, and you can't remember your username and password, please goto IForgotmypassword and follow the steps listed on the website. If you are a contractor or tenant and do not have access to NIH usernames and passwords you will need to visit the parking office.
- My home address is incorrect in CAPS, what can I do?
  - The account information CAPS displays after you choose to perform an action is the information the system recieves directly from NED. You can either contact your AO for assistance to update it, or you perfrom a self-service NED update by following these instructions: Update your information . Addtionally our system also allows your home address to be updated locally in CAPS through your requested transaction.
- I am starting at the NIH and my orientation is on Monday, Where do I park?
  - New employees starting at the NIH will need to park in the MLP-11 (Parking Garage) outside of the Gateway Center. Once you find your orientation meeting place ask for a validation form to waive the cost of parking in the garage on your orientation day. While at orientation you will receive more information about parking and other commuting benefits.

Contact Information

Employee Transportation Services Office
Telephone:(301) 496-5050
Fax: (301) 480-0854