Section 1. Eligibility

Beginning with the effective date of this agreement, employees will be nominated for a Staff Recognition Award (SRA) in accordance with Article 22 and Article 25 Section 4. ln addition, employees may be nominated for other monetary and non-monetary awards in accordance with the following references:

A. National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director, Employee Awards Program, dated December 17, 1996, for all ORS Bargaining Unit employees;

B. National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center, Employee Recognition and Awards Program, dated December 17,1996, for Bargaining Unit employees assigned to the Nutrition Department, Clinical Center;

C. Title 5, Code of Federal Regulation, Parts 430, 451 and 531;

D. HHS Personnel instruction 430-7, Performance Appraisal System, dated November 9, 1995;

E. HHS Personnel Instruction 451-1, Incentive Awards, dated August 10, 1996;

F. 29 CFR, Part 430 and 451; and

G. 5 CFR, 4505a.

Section 2. Funding

The employer retains the right to determine how much of its budget will be allocated for monetary recognition for bargaining unit employees. All such recognition will be in the form of a lump-sum payment.

Section 3. Objectives

The parties agree that the awards and recognition program should:

A. Foster the confidence of employees that the program recognized employees based on merits of their accomplishments and contributions;

B. Generate understanding and openness by publicizing the awards and recognition criteria, processes and results;

C. To the extent possible and within financial management controls, be designed to recognize accomplishments throughout the year, and as close in time to the accomplishment as feasible; and

D. Further the goals of the Agency and reward those individuals or groups/teams whose achievements personify and reinforce the core values of the National Institutes of Health.

Section 4. Award Categories

A. Staff Recognition Awards are meant to recognize employees or groups/teams of employees who perform a single action or series of actions that have been sustained for an extended period, either within or outside normal duties, which are so significant that special recognition is clearly justified. The achievement must have occurred during the twelve-month (12) period prior to nomination, unless it is in conjunction with the annual Rating of Record. Eligibility criteria for Staff Recognition Awards may be any or all of the following:

1. The achievement of the employee or group/team of employees substantially surpasses established performance goals;

2. The employee or group/team materially improves its performance over the prior comparable period;

3. Unit costs are reduced by such direct action as minimizing waste or spoilage of materials, highly expert and efficient performance of assigned tasks, better utilization of manpower or facilities, either office layout or more efficient arrangement of workflow, or revised operating procedures or unusually skill in application of present procedures;

4. Makes significant contributions to the accomplishment of Agency and group/team goals; and

5. Exhibits behavior that exemplifies the Agency's core values.

B. The parties agree that annual performance ratings be utilized to nominate bargaining unit employees for Staff Recognition Awards. The employee's performance must exceed the fully acceptable level as determined by management in accordance with Article 22 and this Section. Employees who meet these criteria will be nominated using the following generic statements or the supervisor may substitute their own written narrative statement if they so desire:

1. Generic grade statement to implement an award at Level I: It is hereby recognized that your performance exemplifies the highest standards of service and dedication to duty. Therefore, you have been nominated for a Level I Performance Award.

2. Generic grade statement to implement an award at Level II: It is hereby recognized that your performance has exceeded what is required to be rated at the acceptable/pass level. Therefore, you have been nominated for a Level II Performance Award.

Section 5. Disbursement of Staff Recognition Awards for Annual Performance

The Agency will, to the maximum extent feasible, distribute payment for SRA annual performance, normally, no later than sixty (60) calendar days after the employee is given the final rating of record. Management agrees to proportion the distribution of award funding between SRA and all other monetary awards as follows: seventy (70) percent for SRA for annual performance and thirty (30) percent for other awards. SRA for annual performance will be distributed in each budgeted area (i.e., PRB, NDCC, MES, MAPB, and LB), within the constraints of the budget, using the formula: LEVEL I AWARD TWO (2) SHARES LEVEL II AWARD ONE (1) SHARE When the total awards for the year are determined, and the total shares derived from such determinations are made, then the total amount of funds available for SRA in each budgeted area will be calculated to determine the value per share. The Union will be provided statistical data (percentage targeted for awards, title, series grade, step, and work area) annually on awards for all employees in the effected budgeted area (i.e., PRB, NDCC, MES, MAPB, and LB). A meeting may be requested by the Union to discuss any concerns or issues it may have regarding the data.