OFCCP Award Information

"For Exemplary Efforts and Results"

Awards

There are currently four awards that will be presented annually by the OFCCP to companies and organizations who have demonstrated exemplary efforts and results in Equal Opportunity Employment and Affirmative Action. They include:

• The Exemplary Voluntary Efforts (EVE) Award
  Initiated in 1983, the Eve Award is presented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary, OFCCP, to those nominated contractors and contractor associations that have exhibited innovative efforts to increase the employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, and veterans of the Vietnam era.
• The Secretary's Opportunity 2000 Award
  The Secretary's Opportunity 2000 Award, initiated in 1988, is presented by the Secretary of Labor to one corporation each year that has instituted comprehensive workforce strategies to ensure equal employment opportunity. While the EVE award is generally for a single program or activity, recipients of the Secretary's Opportunity 2000 Award will have developed a multifaceted affirmative action program directed toward the changing demographics of the labor force. This includes involvement in community-based projects that assist in the development of a diverse workforce for the future.
• The Exemplary Public Interest (EPIC) Award
  The EPIC Award, initiated in 1994, is presented by the Deputy Assistant Secretary, OFCCP, to public interest groups that have supported affirmative action and linked their efforts with those of federal contractors to enhance the employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and disabled Vietnam Era veterans.
• Superior Achievement in Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Award
  The newly created Superior Achievement in Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Award has been established to honor the accomplishments of Industry Liaison Groups. The award will be presented annually during the National ILG conference.

Award Eligibility Criteria
EVE & Opportunity 2000
The recipients of the awards must be federal contractors or associations of federal contractors covered by Executive Order 11246, as amended.

The nominees must not have any outstanding substantive violations of federal laws, as determined by compliance reviews, compliant investigations, or other federal inspections and investigations. In addition, the nominees must not have any enforcement actions pending or censure actions that have resulted from federal litigation.

Corporations and individual establishments may self-nominate. Self- nominations are to be submitted to the appropriate Regional Director.

All nominees must have had an OFCCP compliance review within the past three years.

Awards Criteria
EVE Award
The establishment must show significant results from the implementation of a program(s) to enhance the employment opportunities for minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, or veterans of the Vietnam era.

The effort must have demonstrated a commitment to equal employment opportunity, and have results that are measurable and innovative.

0pportunity 2000 Award
The nominees must meet the criteria for the EVE Award, and have in place, a multifaceted affirmative action program that addresses the employment issues of this decade and the next century, such as multi- cultural workforce, the skills gap, and the "glass ceiling."
Internal programs must have had a positive and measurable impact on the contractor's workforce.
External programs must have had a positive and measurable impact on the community.

The EPIC Award
The nominee must be a non-profit public interest organization whose activities support the mission of the program. Such actions may include, but not be limited to, recruitment, training, and linkage with employment referrals to federal contractors.
Results of the nominee's accomplishments should be listed and substantiated with the appropriate data. Specific data should be provided on placements, training, resources expended, and any other relevant information that will help in evaluating the nominee's submission.

Nomination Guidelines
The following is a guideline for preparing the nomination document. It is important that submissions adhere to these procedures. Insufficient information may result in disqualifying the candidate for consideration.

Limit nomination submissions to relevant information regarding the nominee's programs.

Provide the following data on the nominee:
Federal Contractors:
1. Name of the corporation or facility
2. Address and telephone number
3. Name of the highest ranking official at nominated facility
4. Name of parent company
5. Name of chief executive officer or president
6. Name of corporate executive responsible for HR or EEO
7. Name, title, and telephone number of contact person
8. Name of principal products or services
9. Number of employees at facility
10. Names of U.S. Senators and Representatives
11. Date of last compliance review by OFCCP
12. Employer Information Report (EEO1) for the facility or corporation
Public Interest
13. Name of the group
14. Name of the highest ranking official
15. Address and telephone number
16. Name, title, and telephone number of contact person
17. Services provided
18. Number of employees
19. Names of US Senators and Representatives
20. Provide an executive summary describing the reason for the nomination and the information contained in the package.
21. Provide a thorough description of the programs for which the contractor or association is being nominated with support documentation and a description of the results of the programs.

Nomination Review Process
Regional Responsibilities
The Secretary's Opportunity 2000, EVE, Superior Achievement, and EPIC award nominations will be reviewed and selections made by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of OFCCP.

Clearances for award nominees are sought from all other federal government EEO enforcement agencies, and other DOL agencies. The responses are reviewed before a final selection is made.

The nominees to receive the awards will be notified of their selection at least six weeks before the awards ceremony at which time they will also be given the program specifics. Non-selected nominees are also notified.

The awards ceremony is held each September in Washington, D.C.

Nomination Submission
Nominations of federal contractors, contractor associations, and public interest groups who meet the above criteria should be submitted by the organization (if self-directed) or the Regional Directors, generally due by April 1 of each year. Check with your local Regional Director for the actual due date each year.

Mail to:

Director, Division of Policy
Planning and Program Development
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs
Employment Standards Administration
Room C-3325
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20210