Enter-on-Duty Forms

NIST requires information from new employees to process the appointment personnel action. Each form describes the specific purpose as to why the information is being collected, as applicable. NIST is committed to safeguarding personal privacy of this information. Precaution is taken to protect all sensitive information, in particular sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) and other types of private information, and to comply with all NIST and Department policies regarding the protection of sensitive information. More information can be found at:  https://www.nist.gov/privacy-policy.

View/Print a checklist (in Word format) of required and optional forms for new employees.

Section A – Mandatory Forms for All New Employees:

The following are specific instructions for your use in completing the appropriate forms necessary for your entrance on duty.  You MUST complete these forms and bring them with you to orientation. Along with the forms, you MUST bring two acceptable forms of identification. (See a list of acceptable forms of identification.)

• Applicant's Statement of Selective Service Registration Status (males only)
• CD-525, Employee Address
• SF-144, Statement of Prior Federal Service
• Educational Level
• FMS-2231, Direct Deposit: Section 4 is to be completed ONLY if you would like to set up an allotment. You can have up to 14 allotments.
• SF-256, Self Identification of Medical Disability
• SF-181, Ethnicity and Race Identification
• CD-314, Statement Relating to Employee Responsibilities and Conduct You have 10 days from your enter on duty date to return the completed form to your servicing HR Assistant, Mail Stop 1720, Building 101, Room A123. View the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch
  • Standards of Ethical Conduct on the OGE Website 
  • Standards of Ethical Conduct - PDF Document

• Human Resources Source Document: Complete your name and item 25 only.
• SF-1152, Unpaid Compensation
• Tax Forms:
  • W-4, Federal Tax Withholding
  • If you work in Maryland and reside in Maryland, complete:
    • MW-507, Employee's Maryland Withholding Exemption Certificate
  • If you work in Maryland but reside in Virginia or the District of Columbia, complete:
    • MW-507, Employee's Maryland Withholding Exemption Certificate AND
    • VA-4, Virginia State Tax Form OR
    • D-4, District of Columbia
  • If you work in Maryland but reside in another state (other than Virginia or DC), complete:
    • MW-507, Employee's Maryland Withholding Exemption Certificate AND
    • NIST-55, State of Residence
  • If you work in Virginia and reside in Virginia, complete:
    • VA-4, Virginia State Tax Form
  • If you work in Virginia and reside in Maryland or DC, complete:
    • VA-4, Virginia State Tax Form AND
    • MW-507, Employee's Maryland Withholding Exemption Certificate OR
    • D-4, District of Columbia
  • If you work in Colorado and reside in Colorado:
    • Colorado does not have an equivalent state form to the Federal W-4. This is because the state income tax is based on the taxpayer's federal taxable income. NIST will use the information from the federal W-4 Form to calculate the state wage withholding amounts.
    • Occasionally an employee will have a unique tax situation that requires different W-4 information to be used to accurately determine the amount of Colorado withholding. In this case, please give your servicing HR Assistant a separate W-4 Form with "Colorado Copy" written on top for use in computing the state withholding.
  • If none of the above is applicable, complete:
    • NIST-55, State of Residence
• Security Forms:
  • NIST-351, Request for Federal Credential or NIST Site Badge: The address on the form MUST match your driver's license.
  • I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification: Complete Section 1. DO NOT SIGN OR DATE.
  • Two forms of identification MUST be brought with you on your first day of employment. See a list of acceptable forms of identification.

Section B – Benefits Forms

If you are eligible for Federal benefits, there are some decisions that you will need to make as a new employee.　View information on specific timeframes and program information.

• SF-2809, Health Benefits Enrollment Form - Upon the submission of the SF-2809, you must also provide proof of family member eligibility.  To obtain the list of acceptable documents for proof of family member eligibility, please view the following link.
• SF-2817, Life Insurance Enrollment Form
• TSP-1, Thrift Savings Plan Election Form - Information on TSP is located at www.tsp.gov. Your payroll contributions will be effective the pay period in which it is received. (If you are currently contributing to TSP or have an outstanding TSP loan, please notify your servicing Human Resources Assistant.)
   

Section C – Beneficiary Forms

There is no need to complete the Designation of Beneficiary forms if you are satisfied with the order of precedence listed below:

1. Spouse
2. Child/Children
3. Parents
4. Executor of Estate
5. Next of Kin

If you are transferring from another agency and you have previously made beneficiary designations, those designations are still valid except the designation for Unpaid Compensation, SF-1152.
Links to Beneficiary Forms:

• SF-1152, Unpaid Compensation
• SF-2808, Designation of Beneficiary - Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
• SF-3102, Designation of Beneficiary - Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• SF-2823, Designation of Beneficiary - Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
• TSP-3, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) (Mail/Fax directly to the TSP)

Please note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view many forms. Get Acrobat Reader. If you cannot access these files, please contact Human Resources.