CPEC AWARD PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Commandant’s The primary purposes of the CPEC Award Program are to:
Performance • Encourage management excellence for successful mission execution by providing
Excellence
a framework to assess current performance, reveal opportunities for improvement,
Criteria (CPEC)
identify role model practices, and provide actionable feedback from trained,
Award Program
impartial examiners.
Purpose
• Educate Coast Guard leaders and managers about the meaning, framework, and
practical utility of the Criteria (CPEC);
• Identify and Publicize organizational achievements and successes, sharing role
model practices for Coast Guard wide use and learning; and
• Recognize CPEC Award recipients as Coast Guard organizational role models that
demonstrate excellent, sustained performance results while being good stewards of
the public trust.

Award Program  A. The award uses the CPEC, also known as the Baldrige National Performance
Excellence Criteria.
Basics
B. The CPEC Award is the USCG’s capstone Criteria-based program, considered the
enterprise performance improvement system highest achievement level.
C. Award nominees must be recommended by OPCs and officially nominated by
their Flag/SES-level command/directorate.
D. Award nomination packages require minimal, yet standardized, nominee effort.
E. Award submission packages include 1) 5-page organizational profile in response
to CPEC/Baldrige requirements; 2) responses to “CPEC What Questions”, and
3) a 1-page nominating Flag/SES endorsement.
F. The award process identifies role model leadership and management practices.
G. Examiner Teams will conduct full-week on-site evaluations (site visits).
H. Examiner Teams will meet to prepare for site visit either face-to-face or virtually
(TBD) to plan and coordinate.
I. The nominee’s designated OPC(s) will work with the nominee to prepare for site
visit and to assist with analyzing and using the feedback report.
J. Team Leaders will be Senior/Master OPCs with CPEC/Baldrige-based experience,
including site visits (i.e., CPCs, CQA, or State/National Award participation).
K. Examiner Teams will include: a Team Leader, Back-up Team Leader, and 6-8
Team members. A Program Representative will support the team in all process
stages. Team size shall be appropriate to nominee size and complexity.
L. Site visits will typically include document and CGBI reviews, command cadre and
employee interviews, and focus groups (senior, mid-level and junior).
M. Examiner Teams will complete a Role Model Practice form on one or more
practices for use in Coast Guard wide sharing.
N. At site visit end, Team Leaders will provide an out-brief of key strengths and
opportunities for improvement and an Executive Summary; the Site Visit
Scorebook will be submitted to CG-0931 within one week; and CG-0931 will
deliver a Feedback Report to the command/staff, the nominating Flag/SES, and
designated OPC(s) within 30 days of site visit end.
O. CG-0931 will coordinate award determination process, award designations,
presentations, examiner recognition, announcements, and publicity.
P. CPEC Award participants and recipients will be recognized at the Annual
Innovation Expo.