July 28, 2004

TO: Directors, NASA Centers

O/Assistant Administrator for Institutional and Corporate Management

FROM: ADI/Chair, Incentive Awards Board

SUBJECT: Request for 2005 Agency Honor Awards Nominations

The Incentive Awards Board (IAB) invites your nominations for 2005
Agency honor awards by November 15, 2004. A complete instruction package
is enclosed.

######### The cornerstones of this year's honor awards are:

######### 

######### The Agency's vision and mission and the contributions of both individuals and groups toward its achievement, 

-   The Agency's awards vision - awards are given for the right
    contribution, to the right person, and at the right time and place,

######### The President's Management Agenda (PMA) which focuses on results and business management successes, and

######### 

######### The IAB's commitment to grant awards for clearly established criteria by eliminating numerical allocations guidelines for specific awards.

As provided last year, use generic criteria for those individual honor
awards for which specific criteria have not yet been developed. In
addition, within the context of "One NASA," please focus on recognizing
teamwork and collaboration across the Agency.

Finally,

the Administrator and I are personally dedicated to recognizing and
rewarding excellence throughout the Agency without regard to race,
color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual
orientation, grade, or occupation. Please ensure that your nominations
are representative of the diverse population eligible for each honor
award.

2

If you or a member of your staff have any questions or need additional
information, please contact Cathie Lane, Technical Coordinator, at (202)
358-2203.

/s/

James L. Jennings

Enclosure

# Directors, NASA Centers:

ARC/Mr. Hubbard

DFRC/Mr. Petersen

GRC/Dr. Earls

GSFC/Mr. Diaz

JPL/Dr. Elachi

JSC/Gen. Howell

KSC/Mr. Kennedy

LaRC/Gen. Bridges

MSFC/Mr. King

SSC/Adm. Donaldson

cc:

M/Mr. Readdy

R/Dr. Lebacqz

S/Dr. Weiler

Y/Dr. Asrar

**Agency Honor Award Nomination Instruction Package**

Each Center may nominate up to:

-   1.5 percent of the full-time permanent civil service population,
    including individuals serving on Intergovernmental Personnel Act
    (IPA) assignments, for civil service medals, and

-   0.1 percent of full-time contractor workforce for noncivil service
    medals (see page 2 for Center-specific allocations).

-   Nominations for GAAs, PSGAAs, ETAMs, and EAAMs will not be counted
    against Center allocations.

-   Awards to astronauts for participation in space flight missions will
    not be counted against Johnson Space Center's awards allocations.
    However, written justification for these awards, identifying the
    specific contributions for which the astronaut/nominee is being
    recognized, must be submitted for concurrence by the Associate
    Administrator for Space Flight.

Nominations must:

-   Be submitted on NASA Form 1644, Honor Award Nomination (see page 3).

-   Be succinct and well justified in accordance with the awards'
    criteria (see pages 4 through 8).

-   Demonstrate relevancy to the Agency's vision, mission, and core
    values, as well as NASA's awards vision, and the President's
    Management Agenda (see page 9).

-   Must not exceed one page.

-   If a group award, be accompanied by a list of all members of the
    group.

Submission of Nominations:

-   Must be accompanied by:

\- A summary listing of all civil service nominations (see page 10).

\- A summary listing of all noncivil service nominations (see page 11).

-   For Centers, submit nominations through the respective Institutional
    Program Office Associate Administrators.

-   For Headquarters, submit nominations through the Assistant
    Administrator for Institutional and Corporate Management.

> Enclosure

NUMERICAL GUIDELINES FOR 2005 AGENCY HONOR AWARDS

+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **CEN | **CIVIL      | **C         | **CIVIL     | **NONCIVIL      |
| TER** | SERVICE**    | ONTRACTOR** | SERVICE**   | SERVICE MEDALS  |
|       |              |             |             | (0.1%)**        |
|       | *            | **          | **MEDALS**  |                 |
|       | *WORKFORCE** | WORKFORCE** |             |                 |
|       |              |             | **(1.5%)**  |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **1,381**    | **3,100**   | **21**      | **3**           |
| ARC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **D   | **532**      | **650**     | **8**       | **2**           |
| FRC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **1,837**    | **1,300**   | **28**      | **2**           |
| GRC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **G   | **3,109**    | **8,222**   | **47**      | **8**           |
| SFC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| *     | **1,392**    | **725**     | **21**      | **2**           |
| *HQ** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **5,294**    | **607**     | **79**      | **2**           |
| JPL** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **2,856**    | **13,768**  | **43**      | **14**          |
| JSC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **1,790**    | **12,449**  | **27**      | **12**          |
| KSC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **L   | **2,183**    | **2,000**   | **33**      | **2**           |
| aRC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **M   | **2,582**    | **7,400**   | **39**      | **7**           |
| SFC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **    | **277**      | **1,470**   | **4**       | **2**           |
| SSC** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+
| **To  | **23,233**   | **51,691**  | **348**     | **56**          |
| tal** |              |             |             |                 |
+-------+--------------+-------------+-------------+-----------------+

NOTES:

^1^ Civil service workforce is the number of permanent employees
(including Presidential Management Interns). The contractor workforce is
comprised of each Center's onsite and near-site prime and support
service contractors. Data are as of **June 2004** and all fractions are
rounded to the nearest whole number.

^2^ For Centers where the contractor workforce baseline is less than
2,000, a maximum of two noncivil service medals are allocated.

^3^ Nominations for EAAM, ETAM, group certificates and for participation
on space flight missions by astronauts are exempt from these
allocations.

2

Instructions for putting the Nomination Form on this page:

Go to Info Form to print out pdf copy of form. Paginate form as page 3.
Insert in this package.

DESCRIPTION AND CRITERIA OF NASA HONOR AWARDS

**[Distinguished Public Service Medal (DPSM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded
to any individual who is not an employee of the Federal Government or
was not a Government employee during the period in which the service was
performed. The award is granted only to individuals whose distinguished
accomplishments contributed substantially to the NASA mission. The
contribution must be so extraordinary that other forms of recognition by
NASA would be inadequate. This is the highest honor that NASA confers on
a non-Government individual.

**[Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to any
person in the Federal service who, by distinguished service, ability, or
courage, has personally made a contribution representing substantial
progress to the NASA mission in the interest of the United States. The
contribution must be so extraordinary that other forms of recognition by
NASA would be inadequate. This is the highest honor that NASA confers.

**[Equal Employment Opportunity Medal (EEOM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded
to both Government and non-Government individuals for outstanding
achievement and material contribution to the goals of NASA's Equal
Employment Opportunity Programs either within Government or within
community organizations or groups.

-   Accomplishments are clearly superior in quality, scope, and impact.

-   Accomplishments are explicit, demonstrate results, and are perceived
    as outstanding or significant by peers and impacted target groups.

-   More credit will be given for recent contribution(s) (except in
    unusual circumstances when a contribution was overlooked at the time
    it occurred).

**[Outstanding Leadership Medal (OLM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to any
person in the Federal service for notably outstanding leadership that
has had a pronounced effect upon the technical or administrative
programs of NASA. The leadership award may be given for an act of
leadership or for sustained contributions based on an individual's
effectiveness as a leader, the productivity of the individual's program,
or demonstrated ability to develop the administrative or technical
talents of other employees.

**[Exceptional Achievement Medal (EAM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to
any person in the Federal service for a significant, specific
accomplishment or contribution clearly characterized by a substantial
and significant improvement in operations, efficiency, service,
financial savings, science, or technology that contributes to the
mission of NASA.

**[Exceptional Bravery Medal (EBM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to both
Government and non-Government individuals for exemplary and courageous
handling of an emergency by an individual who, independent of personal
danger, has acted to prevent the loss of human life or Government
property.

4

**[Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal (EEAM)]{.underline}** - Is
awarded to both Government and non-Government individuals for unusually
significant engineering contributions toward achievement of the NASA
mission. This award may be given for individual efforts or application
of engineering principles/methods that have resulted in a contribution
of fundamental importance in this field or have significantly enhanced
the understanding of this field.

-   Accomplishments are far above others in quality, scope, and impact.

-   Accomplishments are explicit, demonstrate results, and are perceived
    as outstanding or significant by peers and impacted targeted groups.

-   More credit will be given for recent contribution(s) (except in
    unusual circumstances when a contribution was overlooked at the time
    it occurred).

**[Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (ESAM)]{.underline}** - Is
awarded to both Government and non-Government individuals for an
unusually significant scientific contribution toward achievement of the
NASA mission. This award may be given for individual efforts that have
resulted in a contribution of fundamental importance in this field or
have significantly enhanced the understanding of this field.

-   Accomplishments are far above others in quality or excellence - a
    rare, outstanding, clearly superior achievement.

-   This is a prestigious scientific award for specific/concrete
    scientific achievement(s).

-   More credit will be given for recent contribution(s) (except in
    unusual circumstances when a contribution was overlooked at the time
    it occurred).

**[Exceptional Service Medal (ESM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to any
person in the Federal service for significant, sustained performance
characterized by unusual initiative or creative ability that clearly
demonstrates substantial improvements or contributions in engineering,
aeronautics, space flight, administration, support, or space-related
endeavors that contribute to the mission of NASA.

**[Public Service Medal (PSM)]{.underline}** - Is awarded to any
individual who was not a Government employee during the period in which
the service was performed. This award is granted for exceptional
contributions to the mission of NASA.

**[Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal (ETAM)]{.underline}** - Is
awarded to both Government and non-Government individuals for technology
contributions achieved in one of the following:

-   Early technology development significantly contributing to the NASA
    mission.

-   Exemplary collaborative effort in achieving significant technology
    transfer.

-   Exceptional utilization of a NASA-developed technology resulting in
    a significant commercial application.

5

# **Exceptional Administrative Achievement Medal (EAAM)** - Is awarded to any person in the Federal service (NASA Classification 500 Group clerical/assistant and related support positions only) for a significant, specific accomplishment or contribution characterized by unusual initiative or creativity that clearly demonstrates a substantial improvement in administrative support contributing to the mission of NASA, such as:

-   Exceptional initiative in carrying out office/program support
    activities that resulted in improved processes and operations.

-   Development and improvement of administrative support methods and
    processes that resulted in substantial benefit to the office or
    program.

-   Notable competence and resourcefulness in accomplishing and
    improving office/program processes and operations.

**[Group Achievement Award (GAA)]{.underline}** - Is an award given to
either a group of Government employees or a group comprised of both
Government and non-Government personnel for an outstanding
accomplishment through the coordination of many individual efforts which
have contributed substantially to the NASA mission, with explicit
consideration given to: (1) the quality of results and the level of
impact on NASA programs or operations; (2) effective management of cost
and schedule; (3) customer satisfaction; (4) team growth and capacity
for future contribution; and (5) additional credit for development of
innovative approaches, use of and contributions to lessons learned data
banks, and/or success in responding to unforeseen crises.

**[Public Service Group Achievement Award (PSGAA)]{.underline}** - Is an
award given to a group of non-Government personnel for an outstanding
accomplishment while participating in a significant program or project
that has contributed substantially to the NASA mission, with explicit
consideration given to: (1) the quality of results and the level of
impact on NASA programs or operations; (2) effective management of cost
and schedule; (3) customer satisfaction; and (4) additional credit for
development of innovative approaches and/or success in responding to
unforeseen crises.

6

**[Guidelines on Generic Selection Criteria for NASA Honor
Awards]{.underline}**

## 

+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| **Selection |                           |                            |
| Criteria    |                           |                            |
| for DSM,    |                           |                            |
| DPSM, EAM,  |                           |                            |
| ESM, PSM,   |                           |                            |
| EBM, EEAM,  |                           |                            |
| ESAM and    |                           |                            |
| EEOM**      |                           |                            |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| *           | **Descriptions**          | # **Point                  |
| *Criteria** |                           |  Guidelines based on Scope |
|             |                           |  and/or Extent of Impact** |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| Work        | Excellence and            | Agency and/or Industrywide |
| Related     | recognition of            | = 20 -- 30 points          |
| Achievement | achievement within the    |                            |
|             | profession, business or   | Enterprise and/or          |
| (30 percent | industry that has set a   | Centerwide = 11 -- 19      |
| of total    | benchmark for others to   | points                     |
| points)     | strive for.               |                            |
|             |                           | Organizational unit = 10   |
|             |                           | points                     |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| Impact on   | The degree to which the   | Agency and/or Industrywide |
| Agen        | industry, Agency,         | positive impact =          |
| cy/Industry | Enterprise, Center or     |                            |
|             | organizational component  | 20 -- 30 points            |
| (30 percent | has been positively       |                            |
| of total    | affected by an            | Enterprise and/or Center   |
| points)     | individual's efforts, the | impact = 11 -- 19 points   |
|             | magnitude of the positive |                            |
|             | impact created by a       | Organizational unit impact |
|             | project, and the          | = 10 points                |
|             | importance of the project |                            |
|             | to NASA mission and       |                            |
|             | image.                    |                            |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| Ingenuity   | The ingenuity displayed   | Unique and Creative across |
|             | in the conception,        | Agency/Industry standard = |
| (20 percent | design, and execution of  | 15 -- 20 points            |
| of total    | a project, whether it can |                            |
| points)     | be applied to future      | Unique and Creative across |
|             | projects, and whether it  | Enterprise and/or Center   |
|             | has created advancement   | standard = 11 -- 14 points |
|             | in the appropriate field. |                            |
|             |                           | Unique and Creative across |
|             |                           | organizational unit        |
|             |                           | standard = 10 points       |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+
| Project or  | The complexity of a       | All three factors:         |
| Program     | project (e.g., projects   | Complex, cost-effective,   |
| Complexity  | requiring multiple        | future applicability = 15  |
|             | phases, multi-Enterprise  | -- 20 points               |
| (20 percent | or Center involvement),   |                            |
| of total    | as well as the cost       | Only two factors: 11 -- 14 |
| points)     | effectiveness and future  | points                     |
|             | applicability of the      |                            |
|             | solutions.                | Only one factor: 10 points |
+-------------+---------------------------+----------------------------+

7

+--------------+--------------------------------+----------------------+
| ## Se        |                                |                      |
| lection Crit |                                |                      |
| eria for the |                                |                      |
|              |                                |                      |
| ## Outs      |                                |                      |
| tanding Lead |                                |                      |
| ership Award |                                |                      |
+--------------+--------------------------------+----------------------+
| Leadership - | Evaluation Factors:            | All nine factors =   |
| This is a    |                                | 41 -- 50 points      |
| specific     | A consistent pattern of: (1)   |                      |
| element to   | excellent leadership and       | Seven or eight       |
| be used for  | impact in their respective     | factors: 31 -- 40    |
| only this    | field; (2) extensive           | points               |
| Honor Award. | achievements that distinguish  |                      |
| Suggest      | the nominee as an outstanding  | Five to seven        |
| making this  | leader; (3) the ability to     | factors: 20 -- 30    |
| element 50   | create environments that       | points               |
| percent of   | inspire intellectual curiosity |                      |
| the total    | and critical thinking, and     | Fewer than five      |
| 100 points   | encourage diverse viewpoints;  | factors: Ineligible  |
| and          | (4) fostering diversity in the |                      |
| adjusting    | workplace with programs that   |                      |
| the value of | maximize the potential of all  |                      |
| the other    | people; (5) creating           |                      |
| elements as  | partnerships between managers  |                      |
| follows:     | and employees to resolve       |                      |
|              | workplace issues; (6)          |                      |
| Leadership = | promoting workplace safety and |                      |
| 50%          | security as a high priority    |                      |
|              | across the agency; (7)         |                      |
| Work Related | supporting employees through   |                      |
| = 10%        | family-friendly policies such  |                      |
|              | as flexible work arrangements  |                      |
| Impact on    | and expanded benefits for      |                      |
| Agency = 20% | dependents; (8) improving      |                      |
|              | employee skills and career     |                      |
| Ingenuity =  | development through education  |                      |
| 10%          | and training programs; and (9) |                      |
|              | demonstrated commitment to     |                      |
| Complexity = | Strategic Human Capital        |                      |
| 10%          | Management efforts.            |                      |
+--------------+--------------------------------+----------------------+

#### 

8

##### NASA's Vision

To improve life here,

To extend life to there,

To find life beyond.

##### NASA's Mission

To understand and protect our home planet

To explore the Universe and search for life

To inspire the next generation of explorers

\...as only NASA can.

##### NASA's Core Values

> Safety
>
> People
>
> Excellence
>
> Integrity

##### NASA's Awards Vision

Awards are given...

For the right contribution

To the right person

At the right time and place.

##### President's Management Agenda

The PMA is focused on performance and results. The five initiatives are
designed to take agencies to the next level in achieving the outcomes
defined in their strategic plans.

The five initiatives are:

> Strategic Management of Human Capital
>
> Competitive Sourcing
>
> Improved Financial Performance
>
> Expanded Electronic Government
>
> Budget and Performance Integration

9

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #  **SUMMARY OF 2005 CIVIL SERVICE HONOR AWARDS NOMINATIONS**         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  ------------ ----------- --------------------- ----------- --------------
                                                             

  ------------ ----------- --------------------- ----------- --------------

Center

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 27%" />
<col style="width: 19%" />
<col style="width: 13%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 3%" />
<col style="width: 3%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th></th>
<th></th>
<th></th>
<th></th>
<th colspan="2"><p><em><strong>Check</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>One</strong></em></p></th>
<th colspan="5"><em><strong>Check One</strong></em></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td><em><strong>Name</strong></em></td>
<td><p><em><strong>Type of Award</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>(Acronym)</strong></em></p></td>
<td><em><strong>SSN</strong></em></td>
<td><p><em><strong>Grade/</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>NASA</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Class Code</strong></em></p></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Male</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Female</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>American-Indian(A)</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Asian-</em></p>
<p><em>Pacific(B)</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Black (C)</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Hispanic(D)</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
<td><blockquote>
<p><em>Non-Minority (E)</em></p>
</blockquote></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

***Note: For Group Achievement Awards, list only the name of the group
and the type of award (GAA).***

######### 

10

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| #  **SUMMARY OF 2005 NONCIVIL SERVICE HONOR AWARDS NOMINATIONS**      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

  -------------- ----------- -------------------- ----------- --------------
                                                              

  -------------- ----------- -------------------- ----------- --------------

Center

+-------------------+-----------------------+-----------+-------------+
| ***Name***        | ***Organization***    | ***Type   | ***SSN***   |
|                   |                       | of        |             |
|                   |                       | Award***  | ***(if      |
|                   |                       |           | av          |
|                   |                       | ***(Ac    | ailable)*** |
|                   |                       | ronym)*** |             |
+===================+=======================+===========+=============+
|                   |                       |           |             |
+-------------------+-----------------------+-----------+-------------+

> ***Note: For Public Service Group Achievement Awards, list only the
> name of the group and the type of award (PSGAA).***

11