# The Excellence in Federal Career Awards Program 

**Types of Awards and Instructions**

## a. Job Competence:

### 1. Superior Performance.

Describe only such accomplishments or sustained quality of performance
which are clearly beyond normal job expectations. Also, describe the
manner and extent to which normal job expectations are exceeded.
Examples of unusual amounts of work completed, exceptional quality, and
demonstration of extraordinary resourcefulness, imagination or ingenuity
should be provided where relevant. The granting of an outstanding award
under the Incentive Awards Program is not a pre-requisite for
nomination.

### 2. Impact.

Specify whether, how, and to what extent performance described in (a)
has a direct impact on nominee's own job assignment or on other
activities in your local organization, on work of your agency beyond the
local area, on the operations of other Government agencies, or on the
community at large. Provide quantitative data if possible, *e.g.,*
number of people affected, number of dollars saved, duration of impact,
etc.

## b. Recognition:

Describe all forms of recognition accorded the nominee in any form but
particularly in relation to his/her job assignment. Include under this
term any special awards, commendations, or other recognition for
intentions, suggestions, special acts, sustained superior performance,
recognition in the form of significant committee assignments, election
to office, honorary membership, etc. It is not necessary that examples
of recognition be limited only to the past year. Please specify,
therefore, the timing of any items described in this section.
Recognitions should be identified either as "job related" or "other." If
possible, when membership of an organization is shown, it would be
helpful if some of the duties connected with that membership were
specified.

## c. Efforts Towards Self-Development

Describe activities the nominee has pursued on his/her own initiative,
on his/ her own time, and while employed fulltime in the Federal
Government.

## d. Other

Describe or list any additional job-related activities or information
which you feel should be considered that have been covered elsewhere in
the nomination.

### 1. OUTSTANDING SUPERVISOR

a\. Grades 13 & Above

b\. Grades 12 & Below

c\. Trades & Crafts

#### Explanation

There are three awards for supervisors. Supervisors should be nominated
for the award which corresponds to their grade level---Grades 13 &
Above, Grades 12 & Below, and Trades and Crafts.

### 2. OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL

**(Non-Supervisory)**

a\. Technical, Scientific & Program Support

b\. Administrative, Management & Specialist

#### Explanation

Employees categorized as professional are those NON-SUPERVISORY
employees whose occupations are identified in the professional series
under the General Schedule or pay band equivalent.

##### a. Technical, Scientific & Program

###### Support:

***Example:*** A recipient may be an engineer, health professional or
scientist, etc., engaged in research, development or production, who, in
the course of his/her work has made an outstanding technological
contribution in a scientific or technical contribution in a scientific
or technical field or who has significantly enhanced understanding in a
specific discipline. Other examples include but are not restricted to
social workers, accountants, auditors, architects, and mathematicians.

##### b. Administrative, Management & Specialist:

The employee typically advises on or performs work in a program,
business, fiscal management, or operations area. The work performed is
based upon the established principles of a profession or science and
requires professional or technical training equivalent to that
represented by graduation from a college or university of recognized
standing. Professional/administrative work is generally creative,
analytical, evaluative and interpretive and there is applied, in all
instances, a range and depth of knowledge and judgment that can be
acquired only through a thorough familiarity with all the theories and
assumptions of the particular profession or administrative field.
Examples include, but are not restricted to, criminal investigators,
artist specialists/illustrators, labor relations, budget analysts, and
transportation specialists.

### 3. OUTSTANDING PARA-PROFESSIONAL

a\. Technical, Scientific & Program Support

(Non-Supervisory)

b\. Administrative/Management Analyst (Non-Supervisory - Grades GS-8 and
above)

#### Explanation

Employees are those NON-SUPERVISORY employees whose occupations are
identified in the professional series under the General Schedule or pay
band equivalent.

##### a. Technical, Scientific & Program Support:

NON-SUPERVISORY employees, categorized as a technician, typically
perform a variety of work relating to the area of specialization that
requires the application of a considerable number of different basic but
established methods, procedures, and techniques. Assignments usually
involve independent responsibility for planning and conduct of work
which is a complete conventional project of relatively limited scope or
a portion of a larger and more diverse project.

##### b. Administrative/Management Analyst:

NON-SUPERVISORY employees categorized as administrative and those
employees whose occupations are identified as an advisor, assistant, or
representative of management or specialist in a management or general
business function of supporting services. These employees' primary
duties may consist of performing work that significantly affects the
formulation or execution of management policies or programs or involves
general management or business functions or supporting services of
substantial importance to the organization services; or involves
substantial participation in the executive or administrative functions
of a management official.

### 4. OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT OR ADMINISTRATIVE WORK GROUP/TEAM

a\. Individual Award

b\. Work Group or Team Award

#### Explanation

Employees include clerks, clerk-typists, clerk stenographers,
secretaries, administrative and

management assistants and/or other similar position performing the work
of an administrative/

clerical nature. The award may be for an individual or a work group or
team performing this

type of work.

### 5. OUTSTANDING TRADES AND CRAFTS EMPLOYEE 

#### Explanation

Employees in recognized trades or crafts or other skilled mechanical
crafts, or in unskilled, semiskilled manual-labor occupations. Foremen
and supervisors in positions having a trade, craft or laboring
experience and knowledge as the paramount requirement should be
nominated as a Supervisor.

### 6. WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND/OR EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SERVICE

#### Explanation

The award is given to the individual whose contribution has the most
far-reaching, positive effect on the Federal EEO Program (including all
Special Emphasis Programs.) Recognition is also appropriate. For those
persons who exhibit outstanding performance. In the EEO area and in
furtherance of workforce diversity objectives.

a\. Increasing the effectiveness of an agency EEO program through
outstanding performance.

b\. Increasing understanding and acceptance of the agency principles of
EEO.

c\. Developing and/or implementing a project to enhance the principles
of EEO.

d\. Bringing the community and agency together for the achievement of
EEO as a common goal.

e\. Providing counsel and/or guidance which converted an adverse
situation to a positive one.

f\. Demonstrating sensitivity to diversity goals in areas of
recruitment, hiring, training development and/or awards.

g\. Motivating employees through direct encouragement and assistance to
develop their full

potential and utilization of their skills to the maximum extent.

Contribution/services should be described so as to specify its impact on
the agency EEO Program or diversity objectives.

### 7. HEROISM

a\. Individual Award

b\. Group Award

#### Explanation

A recognizable heroic act by an employee, or group: for employees,
Federal or retiree, either on

or off the job, involving great personal risk or requiring outstanding
courage or competency in an

emergency. Examples of acts which might meet the criteria for such an
award: Response to emergency situations in which an act of great
personal risk was performed, such as:

-   Public property defended, civil disturbance

-   Lives are saved, rescues attempted, or

-   Any other similar act

Provide specifics relating to the severity of the situation. Those
details that graphically describe

the risk to the nominee of his/her life while performing the act are
especially important.

### 8. VOLUNTEER SERVICE

a\. Individual Award

b\. Group Award

#### Explanation

This award recognizes active federal employees or retirees, who have
demonstrated outstanding

volunteer service and civic participation through contribution of a
significant amount of time over the course of a 12-month period. The
volunteer service or activity must have been performed during non-duty
hours or authorized time off and without compensation. This award is for
volunteer service provided during calendar year 2007. The award
nomination should clearly explain the type or types of services
activities meeting community needs in the areas of youth achievement,
student mentoring, parks and open spaces, healthy communities, public
safety and emergency response and/or humanitarian activities. The
volunteer service or civic participation should areas and reflect a
significant contribution of time, skill and/or other resources and
demonstrate a sustained commitment to helping others. Benefits the
organization, individuals or the community has realized or how the
community is a better place as a result of the nominee's performance
should be identified.

### 9. DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE CAREER

#### Explanation

The nominee must be a former Federal employee, either civilian or
military; supervisory or nonsupervisory who retired from active service
between 1 January - 31 December 2007. The

nominee shall have been most recently employed by a member agency of the
Baltimore Federal

Executive Board (Also see Page ii, Eligibility of Nominees). Nominee may
not be a reemployed

annuitant. Narrative should provide a convincing basis for selection of
the nominee as the outstanding, recently retired, career employee in the
region and who distinguished themselves through their dedication to
public service. Narrative should include, where appropriate, a listing
of significant accomplishments, awards and honors (including those made
by non-Federal entities for work done as a Federal employee), and must
include duties performed, level of responsibility and reason(s) why the
nominating agency believes the nominee to be exceptional. If the nominee
possessed a unique capability(s), this should be mentioned. Unusual
career assignments would be of interest but would not, of themselves, be
the sole basis for selection. The nomination should provide, as
completely as possible, a picture of the **total** person. Enclosure and
supplemental material should not be submitted. Agency Head signature may
be substituted with the signature of the President of a retiree
organization but only if that person has confirmed the career status
with the individual's agency.

### 10. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

-   Administrative/Management Analyst

-   Technical, Scientific & Program Support

-   Trades & Crafts

#### Explanation

The *three* Rookie awards are given to recognize new employees hired
within the federal service

from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007. They must have been hired or
entered military

active service during this time. "Service" includes any type of duty
full-time or part-time if civilian or if military, the first duty
assignment after basic training or boot camp. Nominees' employment must
be covered by one of the types of positions identified. They must have
demonstrated exceptional effort, commitment, cooperation, grasp of their
duties and a desire to achieve beyond normal expectations. Nominations
should contain comments on the following factors:

a\. Demonstrated competence and efficiency by outstanding
accomplishments on the job.

b\. Displayed initiative, innovation, perseverance and leadership in the
performance of duties.

###### Note: Federal service means either Military or Civilian Service. Newly-hired employees may not have been in the Military prior to being hired as a Civilian employee.