Sentries at the Marine base will begin confiscating MCLB Albany issued contractor-vendor identification badges on May 1 due to a new access control system called RAPIDGate. RAPIDGate is an enterprise-level security system using handheld scanners designed to maintain safety and security while providing greater throughput efficiency at access control points. The system is already in use at many other Marine Corps installations.

As part of the RAPIDGate Program, installation access control personnel at MCLB Albany have been testing the scanners to ensure proper functionality and procedures since Feb. 8, 2016. The handheld scanners scan, read and verify a wide assortment of government and state issued identification cards, to include Department of Defense common access cards, DoD retired & military dependent cards, U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses and identification cards. At this time, patrons with credentialed access to the installation will not be impacted; however non-military personnel such as vendors, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and service providers who require frequent access to the installation are currently enrolling in the RAPIDGate program.

After May 1, vendors, contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and service providers have only two options to access the installation: they can either register for RAPIDGate or be sponsored to obtain a temporary pass up to four days from the Pass and ID Office (Bldg. 3010). Base officials are encouraging any contractors or service providers regularly doing business with the base to enroll in the RAPIDGate program. Those not registering for RAPIDGate can anticipate long wait times and frequent visits to the Pass and ID Office to obtain temporary passes. The RAPIDGate Program will allow for expedited vetting onto the installation for the duration of their contract for up to one year, or 90 days depending on the specific enrollment period requested by the company enrolling. Additional information and timelines will be provided directly to these impacted patrons in the near future.

“The scanning of credentials allows our installation security personnel to quickly and accurately verify various credentials, installation access times, credential expiration, while having the capability of preventing access to individuals who have been debarred from the installations,” said Sean Lamonzs, assistant chief of police, Marine Corps Police Department, MCLB Albany. “Visitors must still stop at the Pass and ID center to obtain access to the installations."

The RAPIDGate Program supports the Department of Defense’s security requirements while offering a streamlined access procedure for vendors, suppliers, contractors, sub-contractors and service providers. A RAPIDGate card allows long-term credentialing with annual online recertification, unescorted access and multiple access times. This voluntary program requires installation approval for new and existing personnel who require routine access to the installation, yet are not authorized to receive a Common Access Card. An assisted registration kiosk for the new program is currently located at the Pass and ID Office, Building 3010, located adjacent to the main gate Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., and an unassisted kiosk is located at Production Plant Albany, Building 2200, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Individuals will receive a background check and be notified via e-mail when their RAPIDGate badge is ready for pickup, if approved. It takes approximately two to three weeks for the badge to be ready for pickup. Companies and service providers may initiate enrollment by calling 1-877-RAPIDGate (1-877-727-4342) or e-mail questions regarding access control changes to [email protected]. Assisted registration at your company’s location may be available if you have 50 or more employees to register. Further enrollment information is available at www.rapidgate.com/enroll.