BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

**HUMAN RESOURCES**

**Portland, Oregon**

**PERSONNEL LETTER NO. 451-2 (Revised) DATE: March 4, 2005**

**SUBJECT:** Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Innovations Program

# PURPOSE

To describe BPA's Innovation Program.

# PURPOSE OF REVISION

This issuance supersedes Personnel Letter No. 451-2, BPA New Idea
Program, dated October 1, 2003. This issuance replaces the former New
Idea Program with the Innovations Program, and includes the following
changes in focus: From a formal program to a more informal, open
program; from an exclusive, limited program to a more inclusive program,
expanding eligibility to allow employees to submit innovations in their
functional areas and innovations already implemented and/or completed;
to an expanded emphasis on nonmonetary recognition; and from mandatory
monetary recognition for tangible, adopted ideas to discretionary
monetary recognition. This issuance also establishes BPA F 3450.04,
Innovation Form, which supersedes BPA F 3450.03, New Idea Suggestion
Form.

# REFERENCES

A.  5\. U.S.C., Chapter 45, Incentive Awards

# 5 CFR, Part 451, Awards

B.  BPA Manual Chapter 144, Inventions and Patents

C.  BPA Manual Chapter 182, Safety Award Program

D.  BPA Safety and Health Program Handbook

E.  BPA Manual Chapter 400/451, BPA Recognition System

F.  Personnel Letter No. 451-1, BPA Recognition System

G.  BPA Records Manual

# POLICY 

BPA is committed to improving the efficiency and economy of its
operations. BPA's policy is to encourage innovations that help BPA
improve productivity, efficiency, quality, safety, the work environment,
or daily operations. The Innovations Program is designed to stimulate
participation through a user-friendly system and by varied recognition
of innovations. The Program also is designed to be open and accessible
for browsing and review. Availability of the employee innovations in the
Program database fosters broad application of innovations and synergy
around a culture of innovation. The Innovations Program is one of
several elements of BPA's Recognition System.

**V. PROGRAM**

A.  Employees submit innovations via the [web-based system]{.underline},
    where available. Employees without computer access submit BPA F
    3450.04, Innovations Form, to the Innovations Program staff,
    Personnel Services (CH-CSB-2). Program staff will input any such
    hard copy innovation forms into the web-based system by proxy.
    (Employees may obtain BPA F 3450.04 from the Innovations Program
    staff or from others with computer access to web-based forms.)

B.  The Program provides various [recognition]{.underline} opportunities
    for participants. Nonmonetary recognition may include features in
    BPA media (Web, publications, displays) and other informal or
    honorary recognition. (See Personnel Letter No. 451-1, BPA
    Recognition System.) In addition, managers are encouraged to provide
    informal recognition within their organizations.

> Managers also may provide monetary awards for innovations, at their
> discretion, consistent with the BPA Recognition System and their
> organization's recognition plan (e.g., On-The-Spot Award, Time Off
> Award, or another form of recognition as defined in Personnel Letter
> No. 451-1). The final decision to approve an innovation, or to grant a
> discretionary award, is a management prerogative and is not grievable
> or appealable.

# RESPONSIBILITIES

A.  **[Employees]{.underline}:**

> Employees should be focused on ways they can improve BPA's financial
> situation and workplace safety or environment. They should document
> actions and innovations toward those ends.

1.  Employees submit innovations, documenting in the web-enabled system,
    cost savings/avoidance or improvements. (Section VIII. Criteria,
    below.)

2.  If innovations are not within their authority, they will get
    approval from the Implementing Manager. The approval process is
    informal. (If the Submitter has an innovation but does not know who
    the Implementing Manager is, the Submitter may contact the Program
    Staff or Staff Management to find out who it would be.)

3.  Employees should browse the system database regularly to see if
    innovations exist that they can implement to benefit their own work
    areas.

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B.  **[Managers]{.underline}:**

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1.  Champion and support the Program and its processes.

2.  Encourage employees to participate in the program and, if requested,
    assist in the development of innovations whenever possible.

3.  Ensure approved innovations are implemented in a timely manner and
    sustained.

4.  Work with the Innovations Program staff, providing information for
    various recognition formats.

5.  Seek opportunities to recognize employees for their participation in
    identifying innovative ideas and ensure their recognition at
    appropriate celebrations, staff meetings, or ceremonies.

6.  Browse the web site regularly for innovations with potential
    savings, efficiencies, and improvements for implementation in their
    work groups.

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C.  **[Innovations Program Staff]{.underline}:**

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1.  Promotes and administers the Program.

2.  Oversees and coordinates recognition for Submitters and those
    involved with implementation of innovations, when appropriate.

3.  Advises Implementing Managers, Submitters, and Performance Managers
    as needed.

4.  Generates management reports for assessment and organizational
    oversight of the program.

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D.  **[Manager, Human Resources, Diversity and EEO]{.underline}:**

> Develops, issues, and evaluates BPA's Innovations Program policy and
> its implementation.

# ELIGIBILITY

> All BPA employees, BPA contractors, and non-government employees may
> submit innovations under the Program. All are eligible for nonmonetary
> recognition. BPA employees are eligible for discretionary monetary
> recognition.

VII. **CRITERIA**

     A.  Submitters' innovations must contain at least one of the
         following benefits to BPA:

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1.  Increased net revenues.

2.  Improvement in job safety.

3.  Increased productivity, efficiency, quality, or timeliness.

4.  Reductions of cost, scrap, waste, or damage.

5.  Streamlining of operations and reporting procedures.

6.  Savings of process cycle time, materials, or labor.

7.  Elimination of duplication or simplification of procedures.

8.  Improvement to work environment

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B.  In addition,

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1.  The Submitter must describe, in the system, the innovation or a new
    application of an old principle.

2.  The benefits must outweigh the cost of implementation.

3.  The innovation may already have been completed or implemented when
    entered in the system.

4.  The innovation may be for a one-time event, e.g., savings or
    cost-avoidance.

5.  When the innovation is the direct result (product) or expected
    result of an assignment by the Submitter's supervisory chain, all
    involved will be Submitters.

6.  The innovation does not duplicate an existing entry in the program
    database, accessible for employee browsing. It may, however, build
    on an innovation in the database.

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VIII. **COMPUTATION OF SAVINGS**

When the Submitter(s) know the actual savings, the amount is entered in
the electronic form and captured in the database. When actual savings or
benefit is not known, it may be estimated or left blank. BPA will not
expend staff resources tracking and measuring exact benefits; precise
computations are not critical to the success of the program. The Program
is about a cost-conscious, innovative culture. The Program measures
success via participation in the process, i.e., the volume of
innovations documented in the system.

**X. RECOGNITION**

Submitters entering an innovation in the automated system will be
eligible for various nonmonetary recognition opportunities coordinated
by the Innovations Program staff. Managers may provide recognition
within the parameters of their organizational recognition plan.

**XI. RECORDS MAINTENANCE**

A.  The Program staff will maintain automated records in the database.
    Any hard copies submitted via the Innovation Form 3450.04 will be
    maintained for 2 years from date of submittal.

B.  For innovations in place (already implemented), the database will
    contain ID number, descriptive title, Submitter, benefiting
    category, and information regarding informal or nonmonetary
    recognition, when appropriate.

**XII. INNOVATIONS OUTSIDE OF INNOVATIONS PROGRAM CHANNELS**

Innovations solicited or implemented through channels other than the
Innovations Program, should be linked with this Program to ensure
centralized information and opportunity for recognition of employee
innovation. Centralized Web information optimizes benefits, broadest
application of ideas, and potential synergy of the Program.

Godfrey C. Beckett, Manager

Human Resources, Diversity and EEO