U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20250
DEPARTMENTAL REGULATION |
Number: 4040-451-02 |
|
SUBJECT: Criteria for Secretary’s Annual Honor Awards |
DATE: September 9, 2002 |
|
OPI: Office of Human Resources Management |
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SECTION
1
PURPOSE 1
2
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS/CANCELLATIONS 1
3
BACKGROUND 1
4
ELIGIBILITY 1
5
CRITERIA AND CATEGORIES 2
6
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 2
7
REVIEW PROCESS 3
8
AWARDS PRESENTATION 3
1 PURPOSE
The Secretary’s Annual Honor Awards are the most prestigious awards given at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of Honor Awards is to provide high-level recognition to deserving USDA employees at all grade levels and private citizens who have made outstanding contributions supporting USDA’s mission.
2 SPECIAL
INSTRUCTIONS/CANCELLATIONS
This regulation replaces Department
Personnel Manual, Chapter 451, Incentive Awards, Subchapter 7-3, Honorary
Recognition, Appendix H, Secretary=s Honor Awards Program, dated August
12, 1981, which is cancelled.
3 BACKGROUND
a The
Honor Awards Program was created in 1947.
These awards are presented by the Secretary of Agriculture. They recognize outstanding contributions in
support of the mission of USDA.
b Members
of the Secretary=s Honor Awards Evaluation Committee
created the Plow Honor Award in 1999.
The purpose of this award is to recognize exceptional leadership,
contributions, or public service by individuals or groups receiving the highest
consolidated ratings.
4 ELIGIBILITY
All USDA employees, as well as
private citizens, are eligible for an honor award based on contributions to
USDA. Awards may be granted
posthumously. Individuals and groups (2
or more) may be nominated.
a Nominations
for these awards should be made from among individuals who are considered to
have performed truly distinguished service.
b Nominations
should be based on contributions and not on long and faithful service, or as a
retirement testimonial.
c The
Honor Awards Evaluation Committee recommends approval of nominations that
clearly describe the significance of the contribution being recognized, the
goals achieved, the exceptional quality of performance, and the measurable or
non-measurable benefits.
d The
contribution must have occurred (or the results realized) within the last 3
years. Acts of heroism must have
occurred within the last year. Heroism
is normally job related life-saving attempts or rescues performed in spite of
considerable personal risk.
e Nominees
who have previously received an honor award may be recognized again based on a
new achievement.
5 CRITERIA
AND CATEGORIES
The contribution must focus on
qualitative and quantitative performance measures based on the USDA=s Strategic Goals which are identified in the yearly
announcement.
6 PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS
a USDA
employees and agency copartners whose achievements constitute a notable,
outstanding contribution to agriculture or to the public service may be
eligible for a Secretary=s Honor Award nomination.
Agency
copartners would include other USDA agencies, Federal and state
government
departments, academia, nonprofit organizations and private sector
entities
(e.g., National Association of States
Departments of Agriculture,
Cooperative
Extension Service, 4-H Club, Wheat Export Council, etc.).
b Agency
Heads are responsible for submitting only those individuals and groups which
have made exceptional contributions and which are truly deserving of high
honor.
c Agency
Heads must also ensure that nominations are nondiscriminatory from the
standpoint of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital
status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation,
protected genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal or source of income
(public assistance).
d An
employee may be nominated for more than one Honor Award as long as the
nominations are not based on the same or related contribution.
e An
employee may be nominated in more than one group, but may not be nominated as
both an individual and as a member of a group based on the same or related
contribution.
f Each
nomination must describe clearly, in nontechnical language, the contribution to
be recognized, and its impact on the operating agency or Department mission,
and the degree to which the contribution exceeds normal job
responsibilities. The justification
should specify which of the categories the contribution meets, as only one
category may be selected.
g For
nominations of groups, a brief description identifying each individual=s contribution to the group=s achievement must be included in the detailed basis for
nomination.
h Each
nominating agency must verify internally that there is no information that
would negatively affect the nominations (i.e., disciplinary action, pending
discipline, equal employment opportunity actions taken against the nominee)
prior to submitting nominations to the Office of Human Resources Management
(OHRM).
i Nominations
must be submitted using Honor Awards Nomination Form, AD-495, dated 9/00. Link to Form www.hqnet.usda.gov/ocio/irm/forms/download/ad-495.doc
j Nominations not selected in previous years, may be
resubmitted. Resubmitted nominations
must be updated to reflect current achievements.
k Nominations of employees from other agencies must include
the concurrence of their Agency Head and Under/Assistant Secretary or Director.
l The Agency Head=s
transmittal of nominations will be sent to the Director, OHRM through the
appropriate Under/Assistant Secretary or Director.
m OHRM must receive nominations by the due date established
each year.
7 REVIEW PROCESS
a The Evaluation Committee is appointed annually by the
Secretary to review nominations for these prestigious USDA awards. The Committee is composed of distinguished
USDA and other Federal Government officials.
Travel and per diem will be authorized and paid in accordance with the
Agriculture Travel Regulations. The
members of the USDA Incentive Awards Office will serve as facilitators. The Committee recommends those nominations
that warrant Honor Award recognition to the Secretary for approval.
b In addition to reviewing the accomplishment, the Committee
will determine that each individual or group nomination has demonstrated
qualities of leadership, integrity, and trust.
8 AWARDS PRESENTATION
The Secretary presents
awards annually (generally in late spring or early summer) at the USDA Honor
Awards Ceremony.
9 PROGRAM MONITORING
Agency Heads are
responsible for monitoring and ensuring that nominations reflect the broad
spectrum of employees in their workforce.
All employees are to be given equal consideration, regardless of duty
station, grade level or other non-merit factors.
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