NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 3451.1C Effective Date: December 06, 2017 Expiration Date: October 31, 2024

Subject: NASA Awards and Recognition Program

Responsible Office: Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer

Chapter 1. Responsibilities

1.1 Administrator

1.1.1 The Administrator (or designee) shall:

a. Provide overall leadership to the Agency awards program to facilitate maximum benefit for the Government through high levels of performance and productivity from individuals and groups of employees.

b. Appoint the Agency Incentive Awards Board (IAB) Chair.

c. Retain the authority to approve the following:

(1) Performance awards for employees covered by EPCS, which exceed 10 percent and are not more than 20 percent of an employee's annual rate of basic pay up to and including $10,000.

(2) All non-performance cash awards (e.g., Special Acts) for SES/ST/SL employees.

(3) Nominations for individual awards of over $10,000, which are subject to final approval by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

(4) Nominations for individual awards of over $25,000, which are subject to OPM review and final approval by the President.

(5) Nominations for external awards, as applicable.

1.2 Officials-in-Charge (OICs) of Headquarters Offices and Center Directors

1.2.1 OICs and Center Directors shall:

a. Monitor and evaluate employee performance in accordance with NPR 3430.1, ensuring fairness and consistency in rewarding employees.

b. Direct the awards program within their area of responsibility. Recognize employees' performance and achievement in accordance with this directive.

c. Retain approval authority for monetary awards, including cash awards for On-the-Spot and Special Act not to exceed $9,999 for employees covered by EPCS. Approval authority for monetary or cash awards of $7,500 or less may be delegated in accordance with NPD 3000.1.

d. Establish local award program procedures, guidelines, and budget (e.g., percentage/range of percentage of salary) in accordance with applicable Agency guidance. When delegating approval authority, determine approval level and upper limits (up to and including $7,500) for cash On-the-Spot and Special Act Awards. (Center Directors only)

e. Set guidelines and ensure oversight of special award programs, e.g., financial management award. (OICs only)

1.3 Assistant Administrator, Office of Human Capital Management

1.3.1 The AA, OHCM shall:

a. Establish, direct, and evaluate the Agency awards and recognition program.

b. Review requests for new external or special awards prior to submission to the Agency IAB for review and to the Agency IAB Chair for approval.

c. Serve as the Vice IAB Chair.

1.4 Executive Director, NSSC

1.4.1 The NSSC Executive Director shall:

a. Administer the Agency honor awards program and Agency approved external awards, including planning, procurement, logistics, execution, and close out activities in accordance with this directive and other applicable Agency guidance.

b. Direct the development, management, and maintenance of the NASA Automated Award System (NAAS).

c. Maintain and distribute Agency awards materials.

d. Maintain and publish the Agency awards calendar.

1.5 Agency IAB Chair

1.5.1 The IAB Chair shall:

a. Appoint members to the Agency IAB.

b. Approve nominations for Agency honor awards and out-of-cycle awards.

c. Approve special Agency-wide awards and recognition programs and external awards.

d. Identify the host Center for the annual Agency honor awards ceremony.

1.6 Agency IAB

1.6.1 The Agency IAB responsibilities are found in NC 1000.11.

1.7 Supervisors/Managers

1.7.1 Supervisors and managers shall:

a. Observe, monitor, and evaluate employee performance in accordance with NPR 3430.1, ensuring fairness and consistency in rewarding employees.

b. Maintain a general knowledge and understanding of available awards in order to recognize and reward employees in a fair, equitable, and appropriate manner.

c. Ensure that all award nominations are linked to the employee's contribution(s) and that the award is commensurate with the value of the contribution(s).

d. Use NAAS to enter and approve all awards covered by this directive.

1.8 Center Award Officers (CAOs)

1.8.1 CAOs shall:

a. Provide guidance to management officials on the appropriate use of awards.

b. Process Center nominations for external Agency approved awards.

c. Assist and advise management officials with out-of-cycle requests.

d. Manage NAAS for the Center; ensure all awards covered by this directive are processed and approved in NAAS.

e. Conduct and/or facilitate training for NAAS users.

f. Conduct and/or facilitate Center-level review of Agency honor awards nominations before submitting to Agency IAB for review.

g. Notify organizations of upcoming external awards and the results of Center and Agency-level award reviews in a timely manner.

h. Coordinate Agency honor awards and Center-level awards ceremonies.

i. Maintain award records in accordance with NPR 1441.1.

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