USDA LincPass Program
What is a LincPass?
The LincPass is your departmentally issued identification credential which will allow you to access both USDA facilities and information systems. The LincPass was named after President Lincoln and is the commonly used name for the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card at USDA. The LincPass is the only credential issued at USDA that meets the standards of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12).
How Do I Get a LincPass?
The LincPass issuance process is a multi-step process involving several USDA role holders in addition to the applicant. This process will be initiated by your designated Sponsor. Please note that while some steps can be completed pre-hire, you will not be issued a credential prior to your entry on duty date. The basic LincPass issuance steps are documented below:
- Sponsorship: The applicant must be sponsored by a USDA role holder who attests that the applicant requires a credential to perform work for or on behalf of the USDA.
- Enrollment: The applicant enrolls in the USAccess system by presenting themselves at a credentialing station to supply government issued identity documents and biometrics (fingerprints/photo).
- Adjudication: A USDA Adjudicator role holder will review the results of security checks to determine if the applicant meets the requirements for credential issuance.
- Credential Issuance: Once the GSA USAccess system has validated all issuance rules have been met, they will print and ship the credential to a USAccess credentialing station.
- Credential Activation: The applicant will present themselves and perform a biometric match (fingerprint verification) at the credentialing station for the card to be activated and issued to the applicant.
Who Do I Contact if I need LincPass Assistance?
For help desk support or any questions about the USDA HSPD-12 program, please contact the USDA HSPD-12 Help Desk:
- Toll Free: 1-833-682-4675
- Email: USDAHSPD12HELP@USDA.GOV
LincPass Credential Lifecycle Maintenance
After credential activation the applicant and their Sponsor are responsible for maintaining the credential by taking the necessary steps to keep the card active and updated. Periodically the card or the certificates on the card will need to be updated or replaced. The cardholder will be notified of these milestone events through direct emails from the USAccess system. The typical card maintenance lifecycle is shown in the graphic and corresponding table below:
|
Milestone |
What to do |
|---|---|
|
Card Activation |
The applicant will present themselves and perform a biometric match (fingerprint verification) at the credentialing station for the card to be activated and issued to the applicant. |
|
3 Year Certificate Update |
Renewing certificates requires either a visit to a credentialing station or utilization of the self-service certificate update tool. Leading up to the 3-year certificate expiration you will receive emails from USAccess with instructions on renewing certificates. You will keep the same card but the digital certificates on the card will be updated. |
|
5 Year Card Renewal |
At most, the LincPass is valid for 5 years from issuance. Card renewal at the 5-year expiration date requires the issuance of a new credential triggered by your Sponsor. When the new card has been issued you will receive an email from USAccess with instructions on making an appointment for card pickup and activation. |
|
3 Year Certificate Update |
Each time you receive a new LincPass the certificates are renewed. Upon receiving your 5-year card renewal the certificates on that card will expire in 3 years and follow the same process as the initial 3-year certificate update. Renewing certificates requires either a visit to a credentialing station or utilization of the self-service certificate update tool. Leading up to the 3-year certificate expiration you will receive emails from USAccess with instructions on renewing certificates. You will keep the same card but the digital certificates on the card will be updated. |
|
10 Year Reenrollment |
Enrollments are valid for 12 years and prior to that expiration you must reenroll in the USAccess system. This process usually occurs around the 10-year mark as that is when the second 5-year LincPass is typically expiring. This re-enrollment will be triggered by your Sponsor. This process requires a visit to an enrollment station, during which the registrar will revalidate your identity documents, update fingerprints, and take a new photo. Prior to your reenrollment you will receive an email from USAccess with instructions on making an appointment and what to bring in preparation. Once reenrollment is complete a new LincPass will automatically go to print, and the cycle will begin again at Card Issuance. |
Background
HSPD-12: Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors was issued on August 27, 2004, and calls for a mandatory, Government-wide standard for secure and reliable forms of identification issued by the Federal Government to its employees and contractors (including contractor employees).
The Program Management Office (PMO) responsible for the implementation of HSPD-12 within USDA resides within the Departmental Administration (DA) Office of Safety, Security, and Protection’s (OSSP) Facility Protection Division (FPD). USDA complies with HSPD-12 through the issuance of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) compliant PIV credential, commonly referred to at USDA as the LincPass.
The LincPass is the only HSPD-12 compliant credential issued at USDA that allows for both physical and logical access.
USDA’s HSPD-12 Implementation
USDA participates in the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Managed Service Office (MSO) shared service called USAccess for issuance and servicing of credentials. USDA utilizes the USAccess program for the issuance of the LincPass credential as well as a PIV-Interoperable (PIV-I) credential, commonly referred to at USDA as the AltLinc. The AltLinc is a non-HSPD-12 compliant credential primarily utilized for short-term personnel (6 months or less) who require physical or logical access.
The LincPass and AltLinc credential are visually distinguishable as shown in the examples below:
For information regarding the technical aspects of the PIV card please refer to NIST Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 201-3.
USDA HSPD-12 Policy
- Departmental Regulation 4620-002 - Common Identification Standard for U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Departmental Manual 4620-002 - Common Identification Standard for U.S. Department of Agriculture
Useful Links
- Where is my LincPass? – Use this link to track the status of your LincPass issuance.
- Find a Credentialing Station and Make an Appointment – Use this link to visit the GSA USAccess program website to find available stations, make appointments, and find details about what to expect during the appointment.
