Eligibility Criteria

A completed project is defined as a project that has attained beneficial occupancy, received appropriate approval to start operations, or has an approved Critical Decision - 4 (Approve Start of Operations or Project Closeout) as defined in DOE O 413.3 and DOE M 413.3-1 (Project Management for the Acquisition of Capital Assets).

1. Project must have been managed in accordance with DOE O413.3.
   
2. Project must have been completed within the past fiscal year.
   
3. Project monthly performance, starting at Critical Decision-2, must have been reported in the Department's Project Assessment and Reporting System (PARS).

Selection Criteria

Selection of nominees will be based on the following criteria:

Secretary's Excellence in Project Management Award
Secretary's Project Management Award of Excellence

Tangible Results

• The project should demonstrate measurable, mission-oriented results, such as cost savings, schedule reductions, improved levels of performance or service, or documented improvements to organizational performance. The method used to measure the results should be specified. The project should demonstrate how it resulted in best value for the government, such as:

1. Originality and uniqueness of applied project management techniques, including innovative application of  practices/methods;
   
2. Implementations of value management/value engineering; 
   
3. Design features that resulted in lowest total cost to the agency over life of the project.

Teamwork

• The project should illustrate an effective collaboration of diverse parties/stakeholders, such as program, contracting, finance, legal, end-users/customers, industry partners, and agency's senior-level management. The project should describe the innovation/methods implemented; the tools used to measure improvements and/or success; and how these best practices were or can be disseminated complex-wide.

Management/Leadership

• Describe how the integrated project team (IPT) and DOE senior leaders set directions and created clear and visible values, and high expectations. Leaders should inspire and motivate the entire work force and encourage involvement, development, and learning, innovation, and creativity by all employees. May include a discussion of changing environmental needs and expectations, business and partnering opportunities, technological developments, evolving regulatory requirements, proactive risk management, etc

Secretary's Projec Management Improvement Award

Process Improvement 

• The project should demonstrate implementation of improved project management processes, methodologies, or practices that were effective in delivering the project within cost schedule and performance objective.

Innovation 

• The project should reflect an innovative acquisition approach to satisfying an agency's requirement. It should represent a shift towards increased efficiency and effectiveness in doing business. The project should describe the methods implemented, the tools used to measure improvements and/or success, and the lessons learned.