NASA - NASAPeople

Awards ceremonies are held periodically to recognize employees who have made outstanding contributions to the goals of the Agency. Special awards ceremonies are also held during the year when appropriate. Generally, relatives and friends are invited to attend all ceremonies and share in your recognition. Also, the recognition you receive may come in many forms -- certificates, honor awards, money, time-off, and even trips to observe Shuttle launches at the Kennedy Space Center.

Senior Executive Service Bonuses: The SES bonus is the principal means of recognizing outstanding performance in the executive branch. Since it is used throughout the government, the SES bonus program operates under policies and requirements established by law and regulations set up by the Office of Personnel Management. These requirements dictate the purpose and scope of NASA’s bonus program and establish the minimum standards required for awards.

Special Act or Service Awards: A lump-sum cash award to recognize an individual employee’s or group of employees’ suggestion, invention, or special act or service which exceeded normal job requirements that contributes to the efficiency, economy, or other improvement of Government operations in the public interest.

On-the-Spot Awards: A "Special Act or Service" award of nominal value designed to give immediate recognition for a job well done. This award is for employees who "go the extra mile" or who perform "above and beyond the call of duty."

Time-Off Awards: Time off from work without loss of pay or charge to leave is granted to recognize an individual employee’s or group of employees’ superior accomplishment or other personal efforts. A Time-Off Award may be granted along with other forms of awards, as long as the total value of the award given reflects the value of the contribution being recognized.

Suggestion Awards: Suggestions approved for adoption within the originating Center and determined to merit consideration at other NASA Centers , as well as other agencies or departments of the Federal Government, are the responsibility of the originating Center. The originating Center is responsible for identifying other organizations, which may benefit from the suggestion, and should coordinate directly with the appropriate NASA organizations or Centers or other Federal Government agencies. For more information contact your Center Awards Office.

Career Service Recognition: NASA recognition (certificate and a service pin) for Federal career service is presented to all civil service employees. Eligibility for career service recognition is based on total years of Federal service, including all honorable military service. A NASA service pin is awarded upon completion of 5 years of service. Certificates of service and NASA pins are presented for each 5-year interval thereafter. Employees with 40 years or more of service are eligible to receive service pins, certificates, and a congratulatory letter from the Administrator. In addition, employees with 50 years or more of service are eligible to receive a congratulatory letter from the President

Space Act Awards: Granted by the NASA Inventions and Contributions Board (ICB), these awards recognize and reward outstanding scientific or technical contributions sponsored, adopted, supported, or used by NASA which are significant to its mission. Award amounts range from $350 to $100,000 for innovations published in NASA Tech Briefs, software approved for release by NASA to qualified users, or inventions approved for patent application by NASA. Space Act Awards may be paid to NASA employees, NASA contractor employees, as well as to other government, university, and industry personnel. Innovators may apply for a Space Act Award by completing and submitting a form to an Awards Liaison Officer at the sponsoring NASA Center. The NASA General Counsel selects the NASA Invention of the Year Award, which is supported by the ICB with technical assistance, publicity, and monetary awards. The ICB supports the Office of the Engineer and Office of Safety and Mission Assurance who co-sponsor the selection of the NASA Software of the Year Award.

NASA George M. Low Awards: Sponsored by the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, these awards are NASA's premier quality and productivity award to recognize NASA's prime and sub contractors. It recognizes large and small businesses that demonstrate excellence and outstanding technical and managerial achievements in quality and technical performance in NASA-related contracts or subcontracts. The award was named after George M. Low, a NASA leader who was dedicated to quality and excellence. A site visit team to each recipient is part of the validation process using seven criteria: performance, cost, schedule, innovation, management leadership, alignment of organizational goals with NASA's strategic plans, customer orientation and adherence to the Total Quality Management philosophy. Recipient companies are honored in a special ceremony during the NASA Continual Improvement and Reinvention Conference on Quality Management in each of four categories: (1) large business product, (2) large business service, (3) small business product and (4) small business service.

Space Flight Awareness (SFA) Employee Motivation and Recognition Program: Sponsored by the Office of Space Operations, this program focuses on excellence in quality and safety for the lives of the astronauts, for mission success and for the success of America ’s space program. The objective of the Program is to create for all space workers an awareness of their obligation to flight safety and mission success. Following are the various awards presented in recognition of outstanding job performance and contributions of space workers:

Agency Honor Awards: NASA’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the Administrator and presented to a number of carefully selected individuals and groups of individuals, both Government and non-Government, who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the Agency’s mission. The Chair of the Incentive Awards Board (IAB) annually requests nominations for the various NASA honor awards. After a rigorous review, the IAB forwards their recommendations to the Administrator for approval. NASA medals and/or certificates are, subsequently, presented to the award recipients by the Agency’s highest officials at the annual awards ceremonies held at NASA Headquarters and each NASA Center. The Call Letter is released in the July/August timeframe.

Quality and Safety Achievement Recognition (QASAR) Awards: Sponsored by the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance, this award promotes safety, quality, and continuous improvement throughout NASA. They recognize Government and contractor employees who have displayed or exhibited exemplary performance in contributing to the quality and/or safety of products, services, processes, management programs and activities, or the working environment. The Administrator gives these “Best of the Best” awards at the Annual Continual Improvement and Reinvention Conference to individuals in four categories: Most significant safety or mission assurance (SMA) contribution from within the NASA SMA organization

NASA Small Business Advocates Awards: Sponsored by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, three national awards, the Minority Contractor of the Year, the Minority Subcontractor of the Year, and the Women-Owned Business of the Year are presented during Minority Enterprise Development Week to recognize minority firms who have made outstanding contributions in the technical arena to NASA’s mission. In addition, the Office may recognize the exceptional performance of NASA civil service employees (including the employees of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) who contribute to the achievement of small disadvantaged business goals in the areas of small business advocacy, procurement advocacy, and technical advocacy.

Congressional Space Medal of Honor: Established by Public Law 91-76, the President, in the name of Congress, may award this Medal to any astronaut who in the performance of his/her duties has distinguished himself/herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and of mankind. The NASA Administrator makes recommendations for this prestigious award, which may be made posthumously, to the President after review and approval by the NASA Incentive Awards Board.

NASA Financial Management Award: Recognizes innovative and effective financial management techniques, procedures, and policies that aid in the improvement of Government-wide financial management functions.

NASA Acquisition Improvement Awards: Sponsored by the Office of Procurement, these cash awards recognize NASA acquisition and program individuals for creating and implementing improved results on individual contracts or innovative changes in contracting processes that save resources and enhance mission attainment.