Washington, D.C. 20530

February 22, 2005

MEMORANDUM TO COMPONENT HEADS

The Programs Group of the Justice Management Division’s Personnel Staff is responsible for coordinating all external awards nominations for the Department. As you know, various external organizations and agencies solicit nominations for a wide range of awards and fellowships. Once these solicitations are received, they are forwarded to the Programs Group for distribution to the Department’s Human Resources Officers and Executive Officers with a cover memorandum outlining the nomination procedures. A deadline for nominations is determined, background information about the award is highlighted, and directions for applying are provided in the memorandum. Upon receipt of nominations, the names of nominees are forwarded through the Department’s investigative offices for clearance. Once cleared, the names and a synopsis of each nomination are forwarded by my office for approval by the Office of the Attorney General.

Adherence to the submission deadline is very important in order to have the nominees cleared and submitted to the soliciting organization prior to the deadline. The Programs Group establishes deadlines for component submissions to allow sufficient time for this process to occur. Unfortunately, there are times when the deadline for submissions is considerably abbreviated due to the date the information from the organization or agency is received. Your assistance in preparing packages to meet the deadline is much appreciated.

The external awards program is yet another way to honor employees, highlight best practices, and enhance the image of Department programs. Thank you for your continued support and assistance in this endeavor. For questions or assistance, please contact Joanne O. Price, of the Programs Group, on (202) 616-3705, or by email at joanne.o.price@usdoj.gov.