The Office of the Chief Information Officer

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Access Card Utility (ACU) is the easiest and recommended method to renew your digital certificates. The ACU is an application that can be ​run from any Windows computer, including:

• Your Window's desktop;
• A co-worker's Windows desktop; or
• A stand-alone self-service Windows workstation

To learn how to access the ACU within your IC, please click on your IC in the table below:

After you renew your certificates, please see What To Do After You Get New Certificates for instructions on updating your computer to use your new certificates.

Information and Assistance

For additional information, search the NIH IT Knowledge Base for tutorials, instruction sheets and user guides or refer to the appropriate How-To Guide.

For questions or user support, please contact the NIH IT Service Desk.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

To submit changes to the ACU webpage, please create a ServiceNow request and assign it to the CIT_OITSM_IAMS_ALTCARD assignment group. 

ACU Pre-Requisites

To use the ACU:

• You must first have received an email notification telling you to renew your digital certificates.
• You must know your smart card PIN.
• Your certificates must not have already expired. (To check the expiration date of your certificates, please refer to the NIH IT Knowledge Base articles for Windows or Macintosh Computers.)

If you cannot use the ACU, you must go to a Lifecycle Work Station (LWS) to renew your digital certificates. To find an LWS near you, please refer to the list of LWS locations.
You do not need go to a badge issuance station to renew your certificates

Using the ACU

Start the ACU by clicking on the ACU desktop icon or selecting it from the Windows' Start Menu (Start -> Programs -> Access Card Utility), as shown in the illustration below:

For instructions on using the ACU to:

• Renew the digital certificates on your HHS ID Badge (PIV Card), see the NIH IT Knowledge Base video tutorial and detailed instructions for using the ACU.
   
  
• Download the authentication certification for your Secondary account to your Alternate Logon Token (ALT), see the NIH IT Knowledge Base article on Using the ACU for ALT (Alternate Logon Token) Cards.
  

• ​For more information on how to issue and renew the NIH ALT Card remotely with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), please click the link below Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) - KB0018881.
   
  

Note: Some ICs have chosen not to put the ACU on Staff Windows Desktops. To determine how to renew your certificates in your IC, see the information for your IC below.

ACU Deployments by IC

CC

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: Yes via Citr​​ix

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• ​​​​​​Building 10 - Room 5D53, Room 1C290​​
  
Monday - Friday between 9:00AM - 3:00PM (No appointment necessary; Walk-in Service)​

• 6707 Democracy Blvd, Suite 950
  
Monday - Friday (Appointments only; ccsecurity​@nih.gov)​

CIT

ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Visit your AO (deployed on AO desktops)
• Next to CIT LWS
  

CSR

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Rockledge 2 - Rm. 1010
  

FIC

ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.

• Employees may also visit an LWS​ or Submit an IT service ticket​.
  

NCATS

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• 9800 Medica​l Center Drive, Shady Grove

NCCIH

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• 2Dem/401 Swing-cube
• 31/2B11 Reception

NCI

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

No ACU Self-Service Workstations - desktop only

NEI

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: NO

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Building 10 - Rm. 10D60 or 10D48
  
• Building 31 - Rm. 6A21, 6A28 or 6A29
  
• 6700 B Rockledge Dr. - Rm. 4200 Suite​
  

NHGRI

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• 5635 Fisher Lane- 1400

NHLBI

The ACU tool is available on Staff Windows Desktops, so you can complete the process yourself in just a few minutes. Instructions on how to renew your certificates.

If you have a Mac computer, either log on to a Windows computer with your PIV card or, as for all users, visit a Lifecycle Work Station (LWS).

NIA

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

No ACU Self-Service Workstations - desktop only

NIAAA

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: NO

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• OD - 6700B, Room 1202A (See Jamie Greuber)
• ORM - 6700B, Room 1221B (See Jennifer Leese)
• OEA - 6700B, Room 1460B (See Donna Stringfield)
• OSPC - 6700B, Room 2161A (See Joanna Mayo)
• OLAS - 5625 FL, Room 2S-08 (See Emily Surette)
• CRC-10: (See Juan Rivas)
• LIN and LBGN and LMP: 5625 FL Roomm 2S-24B( See Emilty Surette)
• LEB - 6700B, Room 2127A (See Veronica Wilson)
• LLD - 5625 FL, Room 2S-24B (See Emily Surette)
• LMBB - 5625 FL, Room 3N-07 (See Dena Stringer)
• LMS - 5625 FL, Room 3N-07 (See Hope Shapiro)
• LNG - 5625 FL, Room 3S-32D (See Regina Jackson)
• LNI - Building 31, Room 1B54 (See Juan Rivas)
• LPS - 5625 FL, Room 2S-24 (See Emily Surette)
• DTRR - 6700B, Room 1221B (See Jennifer Leese)
• DNB - 6700B, Room 1242A (See Kamilah Smith)
• DEPR - 6700B, Room 1221B (See Jennifer Leese)
• DMHE - 6700B, Room 1221C (See Bridgette Green)

NIAID

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).​​

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Visit your AO (deployed on AO desktops)

NIAMS

ACU not available.
To renew your digital certificate, please visit an LWS.

NIBIB

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

• Mac users please submit a request to have a service desk representative assist you with scheduling an appointment to complete the renewal.
  

NICHD

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

No ACU Self-Service Workstations - desktop only

NIDA HQ

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES (See instructions above).

No ACU Self-Service Workstations - desktop only

NIDA IRP

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: NO

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• BRC - Rm. 4A315 (Computer Training Room)
• BRC - Rm. 4A316 (Cassandra Matthews; by appointment only)
• BRC - Rm. 4A318 (Tim Kirkendall; by appointment only)
• TRIAD - Conference Room 3706

NIDCD

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES

 P​lease submit a request to the NIH Service Desk at http://itservicedesk.nih.gov or 301-496-4357 (HELP) and schedule an appointment to renew your Digital Certificates with NIDCD desktop support.​

NIDCR

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Dem 1 - Rm207
• Build 30 - Rm508

NIDDK

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: NO

• Windows users please visit a Lifecycle Workstation (LWS). As always you can submit a request via the web (http://itservicedesk.nih.gov) or over the phone 866-319-HELP (4357) if assistance is needed with this process.
  
• Mac users please visit a Lifecycle Workstation (LWS). As always you can submit a request via the web (http://itservicedesk.nih.gov) or over the phone 866-319-HELP (4357) if assistance is needed with this process​.​

NIEHS

Bethesda Users ONLY - ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.

For North Carolina users, please reference to the information below.​

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• Rall Building - Module A, 2nd Floor

   

• Windows PC users can follow the step-by-step instructions at the NIEHS ID Badge website on The Junction for more detailed instructions for updating your certificates.
• Mac users please submit a request to have a service desk representative assist you with this process. As always you can submit a request via the web (http://itservicedesk.nih.gov) or over the phone 866-319-HELP (4357).

NIGMS

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: YES

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:​

• Building 45, Room 3AS25

NIMH

Please submit a helpdesk ticket at 301-496-4357 or via portal: https://itservicedesk.nih.gov for NIMH IT local support to schedule an appointment with you to renew your Digital Certificates.​

NIMHD

ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• 6707 Democracy, Rm. 826B
• Dem II 826B (NIMHD internal use only)

NINDS

ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops: NO

ACU Self-service workstations are located at:

• 6001 Executive Blvd( NSC- Rm. 3274)
• 6101 Executive Blvd (Atrium- Staging Rm)
• Bldg 10 - Rm. 1d41
• Bldg 31 - Rm. A852 (Front Desk)
• Bldg 35A - Rm. GD905

NINR

ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.​

NLM

NCBI - ACU available on Staff Windows Desktops (See instructions above).
LHC - ACU available (See instructions).

All Others – ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please contact the NLM ITSC, nlmitsc@nih.gov, 301-496-2943 and request a SmartCard Certificates Renewal.available.

OCIO

ACU is available using the remote Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solution. Please open up a service desk ticket requesting VDI Certificates Renewal to gain access to the platform.