Managers encouraged to nominate high-achieving teams, individuals
By Steve Stark
FORT BELVOIR, Va. — The past year presented more than its share of challenges to the acquisition workforce, and anyone looking for a way to recognize someone who went above his pay grade to overcome those challenges has several opportunities: The deadline to submit nominations for the 2014 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Acquisition Award Programs is May 23, and the nomination period for the U.S. Army Acquisition Awards and the Secretary of the Army Awards for Excellence in Contracting closes June 20.
“With more than 40,000 members of the Acquisition workforce, there are a lot of talented and dedicated people—military and civilian—working to provide products and services to our Soldiers every day,” said the Hon. Heidi Shyu, the Army Acquisition Executive. “Part of my job is to help oversee the management of that dynamic workforce,” she continued. “And one of the best things I get to do each year is to celebrate the achievements of our most outstanding employees.”
These prestigious awards have taken on even more significance with the Better Buying Power (BBP) 2.0 emphasis on improving the professionalism of the workforce and recognizing their accomplishments. With so many categories, most organizations should be able to find one suitable for their high-achieving workforce members.
2014 Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Acquisition Award Programs
The 2014 Individual Achievement Award recognizes our top performers in each of the 16 functional categories. New categories this year include Small Business, Earned Value Management, Requirements and Services Acquisition. The 2014 Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Award recognizes field organizations for their excellence in creating a highly qualified and professional workforce. Notable this year: the evaluation criteria include specific emphasis on how accomplishments contribute to achieving BBP 2.0 objectives.
The David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award recognizes organizations, groups or teams that have demonstrated exemplary innovation and best practices in acquisition. The evaluation criteria emphasize BBP 2.0 efficiency initiatives.
Organizations are allowed one nomination per award category, and each nomination must be endorsed by the head of the organization. Please ensure that completed nomination packets are sent through the proper command channels and reach the Army Acquisition Support Center by midnight on May 23, 2014. Nomination information and submission instructions can be found at https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards/.
2014 U.S. Army Acquisition Awards
The Army Acquisition Excellence (AAE) Awards recognize Army acquisition workforce individuals and teams whose performance and contributions set them apart from their peers. The awards directly reflect outstanding achievements in support of Soldiers and the Army’s Business Transformation efforts. The AAE awards include the Individual Sustained Achievement Award and three team awards: Equipping and Sustaining Our Soldier’s Systems, Information Enabled Army and Transforming the Way We Do Business.
The Secretary of the Army Award for Project and Product Manager (PM) and Acquisition Director of the Year recognize the PM and acquisition director whose outstanding contributions and achievements merit special recognition.
The ASA(ALT) Contracting Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Award for Contracting Excellence recognizes the ASA(ALT) Contracting NCO whose outstanding contributions and achievements merit special recognition.
The Director, Acquisition Career Management Award recognizes an acquisition workforce member who has demonstrated exemplary performance and has made significant, long-lasting contributions to the Army Acquisition Corps over the course of his or her career, either civilian or military.
The Army Life Cycle Logistician of the Year Award recognizes a military or civilian logistician who has made significant contributions to the field of life cycle logistics as well as achievements in improving the total life cycle systems management process.
For more on the 2014 U.S. Army Acquisition Awards, including nomination forms and guidance, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/acquisition-awards/.
2014 Secretary of the Army Excellence in Contracting Awards
The Secretary of the Army Awards for Excellence in Contracting are given annually to honor contracting and acquisition officers, units and teams, and include special recognition for excellence in executing the contracting mission.
The Barbara C. Heald (Deployed Civilian) Award recognizes a deployed Army civilian (GS 1102 series) whose actions clearly demonstrate or embody those unique, outstanding qualities possessed by Ms. Heald.
The Exceptional Support of the AbilityOne Program Award recognizes initiative, skill and commitment in utilizing the AbilityOne program to meet the challenges of an ever-changing Army and provide jobs for people with disabilities.
The Outstanding Contract Specialist/Procurement Analyst Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding achievements as a contract specialist or a procurement analyst.
The Installation Level Contracting Office and/or Directorate of Contracting Award recognizes an individual at the installation level and or directorate of contracting office level who demonstrates extraordinary achievements in completing the acquisition mission, using innovative approaches and furthering workforce development.
The Systems, R&D, Logistics Support (Sustainment) Contracting Award recognizes an individual at contracting organizations that support program and project managers in Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), Army commands, Army service component commands, direct reporting units and program executive offices, including contracting organizations that primarily buy items in acquisition category III and IV and have been transitioned to management by weapon systems managers at commodity commands.
The Specialized Services and Construction Contracting Award recognizes an individual who has contributed greatly to the contracting of identifiable tasks to be performed versus the delivery of an end item of supply (services) or support providing for the contracting of construction-related efforts (construction).
The Contingency Contracting Award recognizes contracting officers from command nominees assigned to deployable contracting positions or who have deployed in support of an operation as defined by Title 10 U.S.C. during the qualifying period.
The Installation-Level Contracting Office — Directorate of Contracting Award recognizes a unit or team at an installation level contracting office (center or directorate of contracting) that demonstrates extraordinary achievements in completing the acquisition mission, using innovative approaches and furthering workforce development.
The Systems, R&D, Logistics Support (Sustainment) Contracting Award recognizes a unit or team that contributes greatly to the contracting for systems, research and development and sustainment of weapon systems at contracting organizations that support program and project managers in the HQDA, Army commands, Army service component commands, direct reporting units and program executive offices, including contracting organizations that primarily buy items in acquisition category III and IV.
The Specialized Services & Construction Contracting Award recognizes a unit or team that contributes greatly to the contracting of identifiable tasks to be performed versus the delivery of an end item of supply (services) or support providing for the contracting of construction-related efforts (construction). The unit or team provides unique support in other-than-installation-level or systems contracting.
The Contingency Contracting Award recognizes units or teams from command nominees assigned to deployable contracting positions or who have deployed in support of an operation as defined by Title 10 U.S.C. during the qualifying period.
For more on the Secretary of the Army Awards for Excellence in Contracting, including nomination forms and guidance, go to https://asc.army.mil/web/contracting-awards/.
If you have any questions, please contact Stan Eisenhower at (703) 888-7908 or by email at stanley.o.eisenhower.civ@mail.mil.
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