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Idaho Bulletin 360-8-2

October 10, 2007

SUBJECT:  PER - Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Awards Program

TO:   All Employees, NRCS, Idaho

Purpose. To provide guidance for FY 2007 award preparation and submission

Expiration Date.  September 30, 2008

Action Required by:

November 5 – Quality Step Increase, Performance Bonus, and Extra Effort Award nominations due to Area Conservationists (ACs)/Principal Staff

November 10 – ACs/Principal staff submit nominations for Outstanding Performance, Performance Bonus, and Extra Effort Awards nominations to Nanette Cambron, Human Resources Specialist

The NRCS employee recognition program is designed to recognize and rewards individuals and groups for excellence, support, and service to the Agency’s mission through extra efforts leading to instances of significant one-time contributions or through consistently high levels of performance. The program also acknowledges contributions that lead to the achievement of organization, team, partner, and individual results, and which contributed to efficiency, economy, and mission of the Agency. Detailed Award descriptions can be found in General Manual: Title 360 – Human Resources: Part 414 – NRCS Employee Recognition Program.

Supervisors, as well as, employees, who witness excellent, mission-oriented accomplishments, are encouraged to recognize the excellent work by submitting award nominations. Confidentiality should be maintained throughout the nomination process.

Quality Step Increase (QSI) Award

A QSI Award is an individual award given as an additional within-grade increase (WGI) for outstanding performance, without regard to required waiting periods, that increases an employee’s base pay. QSI’s may be granted when an employee’s final Summary Rating is “Outstanding”. Employees may receive only one QSI during a 52-week period and not in conjunction with a Performance Award. All employees (except for SES and wage-grade employees) are eligible for QSI’s. If the employee is in the 10th step of the grade, he/she grade will receive the monetary equivalent to a step increase. QSI nominations can only be submitted by the nominee’s supervisor.

To nominate an employee:

  • Prepare an AD-287-2, Recommendation and Approval of Awards (Attach #1).
  • Prepare a Justification Outline, not to exceed two pages (Attach #2).
  • Include an AD-435-A Summary rating sheet.
  • Submit nominations through the appropriate ASTC by Nov 5, 2007.
  • The ASTC will forward to HR by Nov 10, 2007.

Performance Bonus Award

A Performance Bonus Award is a one-time lump sum cash award presented to employees for having performed their normal day-to-day duties in an exceptional manner throughout the rating cycle. This may be demonstrated in many ways; e.g. regularly contributes high work output; consistently completes work products of high quality; provides exceptionally prompt and courteous service to customers, clients and coworkers etc. Cash Awards for performance can only be nominated by the nominee's supervisor. Employees may not nominate their supervisor.

To nominate an employee:

  • Prepare an AD-287-2, Recommendation and Approval of Awards (Attach #1).
  • Prepare a Justification Outline, not to exceed two pages (Attach #2).
  • Include an AD-435-A Summary rating sheet.
  • Submit nomination through your respective Area Conservationist or principal staff by Nov 05, 2007.
  • Area Conservationists/principal staff will forward nominations to HR by Nov 10, 2007.

The justification cannot include recognition that was previously given to an employee through a Spot Award or an Extra Effort Award during FY 07. All approved awards will be entered into ICAMS/EmpowHR by the Human Resources staff

Extra Effort Awards

An Extra Effort Award is a one-time lump sum cash award which is appropriate when an employee or group of employees performs substantially beyond expectations on a specific assignment, for a single project, or similar one-time achievement of a non-recurring nature. Amounts for Extra Effort awards must be based on tangible and/or intangible benefits to the government. Any employee may nominate another employee for an Extra Effort Award. If you nominate an employee that you do not supervise, the supervisor must be informed of the nomination. Supervisors can not decline a nomination.

To nominate an employee:

  • Prepare an AD-287-2, Recommendation and Approval of Awards (Attach #1).
  • Prepare a Justification Outline, not to exceed two pages (Attach #2).
  • Submit award package to the nominee's supervisor. Supervisors are to comment on nominations they receive for the purpose of providing clarification and strength to the substance of the written justification. Supervisors should sign/date the AD-287-2 in the section for Recommendation and Approval block 21.
  • Supervisors (if not the Area Conservationist/principal staff) should forward nominations to the respective Area Conservationist/principal staff by Nov 5, 2007.
  • Area Conservationist/principal staff, in concur, forward the nominations to HR by Nov 10, 2007.

The justification for an Extra Effort Award cannot include an assignment or achievement that was recognized with a Spot Award during FY07.

Group Awards

This is a reminder that an extra effort award may be given to a group of individuals. An example would be if a group of employees performed beyond expectations on a specific assignment the entire group could be given an extra effort award.

For assistance, refer to Idaho Employee Recognition Delegation Chart (Attachment #3). Award forms can be found on the intranet at http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/forms.html

Make certain your nomination is routed in a timely fashion in order to meet Human Resources deadlines. The deadlines are to ensure timely preparation and processing of cash awards. Late nominations will not receive consideration. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Nanette Cambron, Human Resources Specialist at 208-378-5712.



/s/
RICHARD SIMS
STATE CONSERVATIONIST       

Attachments    

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