Popular Name: NICS
Objectives: To provide a system so that any Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) could gain information, by phone or by other electronic means, on whether receipt of a firearm by a prospective buyer would violate Federal or State laws through the proper completion of Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Fireams (ATF) Form 4473.
| PROGRAM AND AWARD | FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS | FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO. |
| APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS | INFORMATION CONTACTS |
| RELATED PROGRAMS | ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS | POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS |
Applicant Eligibility: All persons purchasing firearms.
Beneficiary Eligibility: The Federal Firearm Licensees and American public.
Credentials/Documentation: Initial request for services must be from a licensed and enrolled FFL. For checks performed by the FBI, FFLs may contact the NICS Operation Center by phone via a toll-free number or, in the future, electronically by computer. If a NICS background check results in no matching records, the transfer will be allowed, and the FFL will be provided with a unique NICS Transaction Number (NTN). If one or more matching records are found, an FBI examiner will review the record(s) to determine if the subject of the record may be identical with the prospective purchaser and to determine if the record contains information which may prohibit the sale of the firearm. If so, the transfer will be denied, and the prospective buyer will be advised of the process for appealing the decision if he/she believes it is incorrect. The FBI may contact local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies and courts to resolve questions about an individual who appears to be prohibited from purchasing a firearm, as well as to request clarification regarding information in a prior record or disposition. After analyzing all information, the FFL is then contacted with a "Proceed" or a "Deny" status.
Preapplication Coordination: None.
Application Procedure: Initial request for services must be from a licensed and enrolled FFL. For checks performed by the FBI, FFLs may contact the NICS Operation Center by phone via a toll-free number or, in the future, electronically by computer.
Award Procedure: Not applicable.
Deadlines: None.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Three business days.
Appeals: Persons denied the right to purchase a firearm may appeal the denial by writing to the NICS Program Office, Post Office Box 4278, Clarksburg, WV 26302-4278. Another option that is available is e-mailing the appeal to: a_nics@leo.gov.
Renewals: Not applicable.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals: None.
Examples of Funded Projects: None.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: None.
Federal Agency: FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Type of Assistance: Provision of Specialized Services.
Obligations: FY 99 est $40,723,669; FY 00 est 70,235,000; and FY 01 est 70,552,000.
Budget Account Number: 15-0200-0-1-751.
Authorization: Gun Control Act, 18 U.S.C. 44, Public Law 103-159; National Firearms Act, 26 U.S.C. 53.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: Title 28, CFR, Part 25 National Instant Criminal Background Check System Regulation, Public Laws 103-159 Federal Regulations, NICS Brochure, Appeals Brochure, POC Manual and FFL Manual.
Regional or Local Office: NICS Program Office, Post Office Box 4278, Clarksburg, WV 26302-4278.
Headquarters Office: Assistant Director, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306. Phone: (304) 625-2222. FTS: (304) 625-2222.
(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)
Formula and Matching Requirements: Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Not applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions: The NICS Operations Center conducts NICS background checks by analyzing and evaluating criminal history records to determine whether the transfer of a firearm to an individual may violate State or Federal law. The staff at the Operations Center provides technical and operational support to users, provides customer service to FFLs and State Point of Contacts (POCs), processes appeals of denied transactions, and prepares management and statistical reports on the operation of the NICS.
Reports: None.
Audits: FBI Internal Audit Staff will perform periodic audits of Retention and the NICS Index, ATF Audits will be performed periodically to find non-conformities of the FFLs utilizing the NICS.
Records: None.