If you’re a contractor or supplier for oil and gas companies such as Atmos Energy, Enterprise Products, Apache Corporation, or Targa Resources, you’ve likely seen a scoring component titled NCMS. Additionally, if you’re reading this article, your NCMS status has likely impacted your ISNetworld® grade. At Cascade QMS, we frequently explain this process. Let’s dive into what NCMS is, why it’s impacting your ISNetworld® grade, and ways to improve your score.
What is NCMS?
When NCMS is outlined on a scorecard, the first question most ISNetworld® administrators have is, “What is NCMS?” This is an understandable question, especially considering the number of acronyms bounced around in industrial compliance. NCMS stands for National Compliance Management System. This system is used by various organizations, especially in the oil and gas and transportation industries, to manage compliance with drug and alcohol testing regulations. It helps employers conduct drug tests according to federal and state guidelines, maintaining a safe work environment.
Critical features of NCMS and similar systems often include:
- Random Testing Selection: Automating selecting employees for random drug testing.
- Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate records of tests, results, and compliance activities.
- Reporting: Generating reports for management and regulatory agencies.
- Integration: Working with labs and service providers to streamline the testing process.
Why NCMS Matters for Your ISNetworld® Grade
Understanding what NCMS is typically leads to the next question of why it’s being required. NCMS and ISNetworld® have become compliance standards for large corporations such as Atmos and Apache. Companies that typically require the National Compliance Management System (NCMS) for drug testing include transportation firms, construction companies, manufacturing and heavy industry businesses, and energy and utilities sectors. Contractors in these industries are often subject to strict drug testing regulations due to the safety-sensitive nature of their work, especially when operating heavy machinery or working on hazardous sites. Additionally, contractors engaged in government projects may be mandated to implement drug testing to comply with contractual obligations, ensuring a safer work environment across these sectors.
Cascade QMS Tip: Master service agreements (MSAs), work orders, and other contracts typically outline the requirements for these systems. As these systems are additional expenses, it’s always good to inquire about compliance system requirements before project engagement.
Step 1 to Improve Your ISNetworld® Grade: Enroll in NCMS
Once the need for NCMS is identified, enrolling in the system is the only remedy to improve your ISNetworld® grade. For companies that already have a drug and alcohol consortium, this process may be a bit less confusing than it would be for those new to drug and background testing. This is the step where Cascade QMS helps the most. Your dedicated Cascade QMS account manager will thoroughly explain the process and draft the appropriate plan for your business, whether it’s PHMSA, FMCSA, or Non-DOT regulations that must be met. For more on these services, please visit our NCMS Management Plan page.
ISNetworld® Grade Improvement Time Frame
Once NCMS membership has been initiated, you’ll be tasked to complete various tasks to comply with your client’s requirements. There are several factors to be considered when identifying an estimated time of completion, such as company size, existing screening processes, and employee engagement. Background checks, for example, typically take four business days through one of the fastest consortiums we’ve worked with, DISA. You’ll also be tasked with sending employees for drug tests, and then two rounds of audits will occur through NCMS. All in all, it can take multiple weeks to become compliant.
Fast Track Your NCMS Compliance: Tips and Tricks
The best way to move through the NCMS compliance process quickly is to enroll in membership swiftly and expedite the assigning of drug tests. Often, it isn’t easy to arrange appropriate times with employees due to their current assignments. It also helps to submit for background checks as quickly as possible due to potential delays in reporting from various states. Lastly, working with a trusted compliance consultant such as Cascade QMS will almost certainly shave many hours off the process.
NCMS is compliant but, not reflected in ISNetworld®
Once a company has completed NCMS’ compliance regime, your ISNetworld® grade should be improved. Frequently, contractors find that while their NCMS status is compliant, it remains non-compliant in ISNetworld®. The most common reason for this is typically improper NCMS setup. The ISNetworld® account number is requested in NCMS as one of the first tasks under the Company Information section. If there is a discrepancy there, the status won’t update appropriately.
Another frequent cause of inaccurate NCMS status reporting in ISNetworld® is an error in employee enrollment. When setting an employee up in NCMS, a discrepancy in their ID number (social security number) may also cause a problem. Anyone who steps foot on a job site for the required client must be entered into both ISNetworld® and NCMS. If a social security number is entered incorrectly, the system will flag compliance as insufficient. Double-checking that all employees are properly enrolled may reveal the cause.
Need Help with NCMS & ISNetworld®? Get Expert Support with Cascade QMS
Becoming compliant in NCMS and ISNetworld® can be daunting but incredibly rewarding for your employees’ safety and your business’s profitability. We hope you find this information helpful in your endeavors. If you continue to experience difficulties, reaching out to ISNetworld® or NCMS for customer support is another great way to tackle the compliance dilemma. Our Cascade QMS consultants are also on standby to offer free consultation and time-saving solutions!
