The Incentive Awards Program is designed to improve operations and services. Its purpose is to motivate increased productivity and creativity by recognizing employees whose job performance and/or adopted ideas benefit the agency and are substantially above normal job requirements and performance standards. You may earn an award for your high level performance, a suggestion, an invention, or a special act or service, as long as it benefits the government and is outside your normal job responsibilities; or, if within your job responsibilities, it is of such high quality that an award is warranted. These awards may be made to an individual technician or shared by a group.

QUALITY STEP INCREASE:

A Quality Step Increase (QSI) is recognition in the form of a one-step increase in a General Schedule technician's rate of basic pay. A QSI is available to technicians based on sustained high-quality performance expected to continue in the future.

• Must have a current appraisal (PAA).
• Technician must have exceeded standards for the last three years.
• Only 1 QSI every three years
• If a technician has received a QSI, the justification for another such increase in the same grade and position must provide specific evidence of increased quality of performance over and beyond that on which the previous increase was warranted.
• A QSI may not be granted when it is based in whole or in part upon a specific act or any period of service that served as the basis for a previous award.
• Forward to TAG for final approval
• Update and issue certificate

TIME-OFF AWARD:

This award grants an excused absence to a technician without charge to leave or loss of pay. Time-off awards are intended to increase productivity and creativity by rewarding contributions to the quality, efficiency, or economy of government operations. Technicians may be awarded up to eighty hours of time off during a leave year. The amount of time off that may be awarded to part-time or intermittent technicians is based on the average number of hours worked.

• Nomination must be received in the HRO NLT two weeks after the accomplishment.
• Activity manager is the approval official
• Log Award
• Update and distribute
• Remarks for 50, “Award hours must be used within one year of the effective date or they will be forfeited.” 

SUGGESTION/PROFORMANCE AWARD:

These awards are given to technicians who provide suggestions to improve the economy, efficiency, or effectiveness of Federal Government operations, which have been adopted by the agency. Suggestion awards may be monetary or non-monetary.

• Amount of award
• Meet standards-Not to exceed $300
• Exceed standards-Minimum $300 NTE $1,500
• Check for current appraisal in PAA
• Nomination must be submitted to HRO within 30 calendar days after completion of period of service to be recognized.
• Must be signed by supervisor and activity manager
• Recommendation must be initialed or signed by technician pay (AIR)
• Coordinate through LTC for available funding (ARMY)
• Activity manager is the approval official
• Update
• Issue certificate and distribute

ON THE SPOT AWARD:

Sustained Superior Performance (SSP) “on-the-spot”, or a one-time special act or service may be recognized with a cash award. This is a single payment that does not change your rate of pay.

• Award may range from $25 to $1,000
• Award designed to immediately reward technicians who have preformed their duties in an exemplary manner.
• Technician should be nominated within two weeks after the occurrence
• Award must be signed by the supervisor, activity manager, initialed and signed by the technician pay. (AIR)
• Coordinate through LTC for available funding (ARMY)
• Activity manager is the approval official
• Log award, update and distribute

POINT TO CONSIDER:

• INCENTIVE AWARD NOMINATIONS FOR SEPARATING TECHNICIANS MUST BE RECEIVED IN HRO SIXTY (60) OR MORE DAYS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF SEPARATION OR THEY WILL NOT BE FAVORABLY CONSIDERED.

Thank you for assisting the HRO to ensure a smooth and responsive incentive awards process.

 

Technician Incentive Awards Program

Recommendation for Awards Form