DSS Login Instructions

What Users Need To Do

To access DSS, you will:

1. Choose Login.gov or ID.me when signing in

2. Complete sign-in with your selected provider

3. Complete identity verification if prompted

4. Link your eRA Commons ID

You must complete all steps to access the system.

Choosing a sign-in option

You may use either:

• Login.gov- Typically used by U.S.-based users

• ID.me- Available for both U.S. and international users

About identity verification

You may be required to complete identity verification (IAL2) as part of signing in.

You may be asked to provide:

• A government-issued ID

• Personal information

• A photo or video (selfie)

CADR Compliant Email Addresses

The NIH Researcher Auth Services (RAS) centrally enforces access restrictions for users identified on NIH OCIO-managed access restriction lists across Controlled Access Data Repositories (CADRs).

To maintain access to Controlled Access Data Repositories (CADRs), make sure your http://Login.gov or http://ID.me account uses a CADR compliant email address as your preferred email address.

What email addresses are allowed?

Permitted email addresses include:

• NIH-issued email addresses

• Federal government email addresses

• University, research institution, hospital, or employer-issued email addresses

• Email addresses from approved InCommon Federation member organizations

What email addresses are not allowed?

The following email addresses cannot be used to access CADRs:

• Personal email accounts from free providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook.com, Hotmail, and similar services

• Email addresses from domains prohibited by NIH

• Email domains from countries of concern identified by the U.S. Department of Justice

What do I need to do?

If the preferred email address associated with your http://Login.gov or http://ID.me account is not CADR compliant, update it before access restrictions are enforced.

Why is this required?

The NIH Researcher Auth Service (RAS) enforces NIH access restrictions across Controlled Access Data Repositories (CADRs) to help ensure compliance with NIH security and access requirements.

Instructions for updating your preferred email address:

Official Help Resources

For detailed instructions and troubleshooting, please use the official documentation:

• Login.gov identity verification: https://www.login.gov/help/verify-your-identity/overview/

• ID.me identity verification: https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/9198013708439-Verify-your-identity-with-ID-me-Self-Service

• ID.me identify verification for non-US citizens: https://help.id.me/hc/en-us/articles/26952364097559-Verify-with-ID-me-using-a-non-U-S-passport

Linking Your eRA Commons ID

After signing in, you will be required to link your eRA Commons ID to your account.

This step is required for all users and is necessary to:

• Associate your identity with your access permissions

• Maintain compliance with NIH access requirements

You will be prompted to complete this step during sign-in.

Trouble linking your ID? See our FAQ guide.

Getting Help

NIAGADS staff can only assist with issues regarding the DSS AFTER login. Please reference the information below for the appropriate login support resources.

For login.gov or ID.me issues including:

• Identity verification failures

• Account creation or login issues

• Document or selfie verification problems

Please contact the provider directly:

• Login.gov support: https://www.login.gov/help/

• ID.me support: https://help.id.me/

For eRA Commons issues including:

• Account or login issues

• eRA Commons account linking to Login.gov or ID.me

Please contact the provider directly:

• eRA Commons Password help

• Login.gov linking: https://www.era.nih.gov/register-accounts/access-era-modules-via-Login-gov.htm

For DSS support:

Contact us at help@niagads.org if you need help with:

• Accessing DSS after signing in

• General system access questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an existing login.gov or http://ID.me account?
Yes. You can use an existing account, but you may still need to complete identity verification if you have not already done so.

Why do I need to verify my identity to access DSS?

NIH requires stronger identity verification for access to controlled-access data repositories like NIAGADS DSS. This helps protect sensitive research data, improves account security, and supports compliance with NIH requirements, including NOT-OD-25-159.

DSS users must sign in through NIH RAS using http://Login.gov or http://ID.me and complete identity verification if prompted.

What happens if I do not complete identity verification?
You will not be able to access DSS.

Which option should I choose?

• Login.gov → typically U.S. users

• ID.me → supports international users

Why is IAL2 verification required?

This update is part of NIH requirements to strengthen authentication and identity proofing for controlled-access data systems (NOT-OD-25-159), including the use of identity verification at Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2).

Why do I receive an error when linking my eRA Commons account?

Some users may see an “Account Linking Failed” message when trying to link their eRA Commons account, even if their eRA Commons username and password work when signing in directly to eRA Commons.

If you see this message:

1. Click Password Reset on the Account Linking Failed page.

2. Reset your eRA Commons password.

3. Return to DSS and start the RAS login process again.

4. When prompted, link your eRA Commons account using the new password.