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 6. External and Special Awards

6.1 Introduction

This chapter covers external and special awards that recognize outstanding achievement and professional excellence for Agency civil-service employees. External awards are sponsored by various professional groups and organizations outside of the Agency or the Federal Government. Special awards are sponsored by Agency headquarters' organizations (e.g., Space Act, Small Business, Acquisition, and Safety).

6.2 Approval

6.2.1 External Awards. To ensure that award objectives and processes are consistent with Agency requirements, prior to being recognized as an Agency-approved external award, all new awards are subject to concurrence by the AA, OHCM and approval by the Agency IAB Chair. The AA, OHCM facilitates the approval process and provides pertinent information to the NSSC on newly approved awards.

6.2.2. Special Awards. Agency-level sponsoring organizations will obtain approval for any newly established awards from the IAB Chair.

6.3 External Awards

6.3.1 The NSSC centrally administers Agency-approved external awards. This includes maintaining and publishing the Agency awards calendar and informing Centers of nomination calls, eligibility requirements, nomination criteria and procedures, and other relevant information.

6.3.2 Center Directors may authorize participation in external award opportunities that are not on the Agency-approved list when there are procedures in place to centrally manage and administer the award process, including how the Center will solicit and accept nominations, approval levels for recommending nominations to go forward for consideration, and processes for centrally monitoring and tracking nominations and awardees.

6.3.3 Centers are responsible for travel-related expenses for employee participation at award ceremonies. Centers are generally not authorized to use appropriated funds to pay application fees, sponsor fees, or any other fees associated with external award nominations, unless specifically authorized by the Office of Chief Counsel or General Counsel.

6.3.4 Employees will consult with their Office of Chief Counsel or General Counsel Ethics counselor and obtain written approval prior to the acceptance of an honorary degree, non-monetary awards with a market value in excess of $200, or any award of cash or an investment interest.

6.3.5 Employees who are required to file a financial disclosure will note the acceptance of any gift valued over the Office of Government Ethics' threshold on their annual financial disclosure form.

6.4 Special Awards

6.4.1 Agency-level organizations may sponsor special awards to recognize significant achievements in a particular program area. These awards are managed and administered by the sponsoring Agency/Headquarters' organization. This includes the responsibility for developing award objectives, eligibility requirements, nominating criteria, marketing, and procedural requirements.

6.4.2 Sponsoring organizations are responsible for coordinating with the NSSC for the purposes of publishing award information Agency wide and inclusion on the Agency awards

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