NIAGADS DSS Login Changes - Effective June 1, 2026
Beginning June 1, 2026, all users will be required to sign in to NIAGADS DSS through NIH Researcher Auth Service (RAS) using either Login.gov or ID.me for identity verification.
This change is required to meet updated NIH security standards for controlled-access data systems (NOT-OD-25-159).
What Users Need To Do
To access DSS, you will:
Complete sign-in with your selected provider
Complete identity verification if prompted
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)
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
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.
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:
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.
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).