The TNCPE Assessment & Awards process is a valuable tool for any organization looking to enhance their systems and focus on building a culture of excellence. Applicants complete a self assessment based on the Criteria for Performance Excellence that is reviewed and evaluated in a five-stage process by members of the TNCPE Board of Examiners.
While Level One applications are accepted year-round, the annual cycle for Level 2, 3 & 4 applications runs from roughly from May – March of the following year. Level 2, 3, & 4 Applicants must submit an Intent to Apply to have their eligibility determined prior to submitting an Organizational Profile & Criteria Response for assessment and judging.
Prior to submitting an award application, applicants must submit an Intent to Apply to confirm your eligibility for an award.
Applicants submit a written Criteria Response based on their chosen application level.
Applications are reviewed independently by each member of an examiner team before they form their consensus review.
A team of examiners conduct a site visit to gain a better understanding of operations and processes.
The Panel of Judges reviews and determines award levels to be recognized at the annual Excellence Conference. The applicant also receives a written assessment from their examiner team.
Prior to submitting an award application, all applicants must submit an initial $250 admin fee to allow TNCPE to confirm your eligibility for an award. Level 2, 3, & 4 applicants must also submit the Intent to Apply/Eligibility Form (including supplementary attachments) along with the admin fee.
Supplementary attachments include:
description of the nature of the organization’s business, including major markets, key competitors, key customers, and key suppliers/partners
organizational chart or charts
explanation of relationship to parent organization, if appropriate
Applicants will submit a Criteria Response appropriate to their application level. Please use the table provided to determine page count and response requirements. The page limits include pictures, graphs, figures, data tables, and appendices. Page limits do not include the Application Form, the five-page Organizational Profile, a glossary of terms and abbreviations, or an organizational chart. The Item Format diagram below may be helpful as you determine the scope of your response.
The Criteria response must be submitted with the Organizational Profile, Application Form, and Application Fee.
The Application Fee should be submitted to TNCPE with the application. Use the table linked below to determine your Application Fee.
The Criteria response must be submitted with the Organizational Profile, Application Form, and Application Fee.
Each application is reviewed by a team of Examiners from our Board of Examiners.
The first stage is an independent review in which each examiner conducts an assessment of the written application.
After each examiner has completed their independent review, the team will meet to reach consensus on the most important strengths and opportunities for improvement for the applicant.
The team will then prepare for the site visit by identifying the appropriate questions, documents and team members to be interviewed to verify the strengths and clarify the opportunities for improvement.
Level 2, 3, & 4 evaluations include a site visit. A team of examiners will spend one to three days (based on the award level sought) at the applicant’s worksite to gain a better understanding of operations and processes.Â
Applicants will receive a site visit agenda at least one week in advance of the site visit. The agenda may include a schedule of planned visits to facilities and operating units, a list of officials to be interviewed, and the names of examiners scheduled to participate.
Applicants must pay a Site Visit Fee based on the application level and the number of full-time equivalent employees. Organizations located outside of Tennessee may be asked to pay an additional travel fee of $1,000. Applicants will be invoiced by TNCPE following completion of the site visit.
At the conclusion of every evaluation, the applicant receives a written assessment by the examiner team called a Feedback Report. Feedback Reports are mailed to applicants after the site visit, judging, and editorial processes are complete. Strict confidentiality is observed at all times.
Each Feedback Report contains applicant-specific strengths and opportunities for improvement based on the TNCPE Baldrige Excellence Framework. The Feedback Report is one of the most valuable features of the TNCPE Award Program, as it may be used by applicants as an input to the strategic planning process in order to help organizations focus on their customers and improve overall performance.
Interest Award (Level 2) Applicant Workshop
After receiving their Feedback Report, Level 2 applicants host a half-day workshop that will help them understand and prioritize the examiners’ feedback.
After the applicant has been notified of their award level, TNCPE will publish the awards for all applicants. TNCPE also hosts an awards dinner, as part of the annual TNCPE Excellence Conference and Celebration, to celebrate their achievements. TNCPE suggests the applicant use this as an opportunity to bring their staff to congratulate them for all of their hard work.
We chose to do it because we wanted to be excellent, not ordinary. It’s helping build credibility while also improving who we are.
– Alan Lovelace, RPM Pizza, LLC –
The {assessment} process was very well laid out, and we had lots of resources to use in submitting our application.
– Tina Reisedge, First Horizon –
It gave us a framework for all of the different types of things we were trying to accomplish.
– Elaine Boyd, TN Department of Environment and Conservation –
In keeping with TNCPE’s philosophy of encouraging participation in the Award Program, the Board of Directors strives to maintain affordable program fees. In addition to an Intent to Apply Fee, applicants pay an Application Fee and Site Visit Fee – determined by the application level and workforce size. TNCPE Members receive a 20 percent discount on the Application and Site Visit Fees.
A $250 Intent to Apply Fee is required for all levels with the Intent to Apply/Eligibility Form to cover costs associated with initial processing and eligibility determination.
The Application Fee should be submitted to TNCPE with the application. Use the table below to determine your Application Fee.
Level 1 Applicants receive feedback and coaching with the Bridge Workshop. Level 2, 3, & 4 Applicants have examiners on site during the application review.
The Site Visit Fee covers site visit expenses. Applicants outside of Tennessee may be asked to pay an additional $1,000 travel fee. Applicants will be invoiced for the Site Visit Fee following completion of the site visit. Use the table below to determine your fee.
A limited number of scholarships are available to nonprofit organizations that want to participate in the TNCPE Award Program but are limited by financial constraints. These scholarships incorporate fee discounts of up to 50 percent. Please call or email the TNCPE office for details – 615-532-4590Â |Â contact@tncpe.org.
Category | Points | Level 4 50 pgs. | Level 3 35 pgs. | Level 2 15 pgs. |
1 | Leadership | 120 | 7 | 4.2 | |
2 | Strategic Planning | 85 | 4 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
3 | Customer Focus | 85 | 5 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
4 | Measurement, Analysis, Knowledge Management | 90 | 4 | 3.2 | 1.3 |
5 | Workforce Focus | 85 | 4 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
6 | Operations Focus | 85 | 6 | 2.9 | 1.3 |
7 | Results | 450 | 20 | 16 | 6.7 |
Totals | 1,000 | 50 | 35 | 15 |
The Criteria response must be submitted with the Organizational Profile, Application Form, and Application Fee.
Glossaries, title pages, organizational charts, and tables of contents are not counted in the page limit. All remaining pages should be consecutively numbered from start to finish. Electronic materials must be saved in one PDF file and emailed to contact@tncpe.org by the deadline on the Application Form. Please do not send a PDF of a scanned document.
Assessment Level | Number of Employees | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Member | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Non-Member |
Excellence Award (Level 4) | Less than 100 | $2,160 | $2,700 |
100-500 | $3,120 | $3,900 | |
501-1,500 | $5,040 | $6,300 | |
More Than 1,500 | $6,000 | $7,500 | |
Achievement Award (Level 3) | Less than 100 | $1,920 | $2,400 |
100-500 | $2,640 | $3,300 | |
501-1,500 | $4,080 | $5,100 | |
More Than 1,500 | $5,280 | $6,600 | |
Commitment Award (Level 2) | Less than 100 | $1,680 | $2,100 |
100-500 | $2,400 | $3,000 | |
501-1,500 | $3,840 | $4,800 | |
More Than 1,500 | $5,040 | $6,300 | |
Interest Award (Level 1) | Less than 100 | $680 | $850 |
100-500 | $920 | $1,150 | |
501-1,500 | $1,400 | $1,750 | |
More Than 1,500 | $1,880 | $2,350 |
*Applicants outside of Tennessee must pay an additional $1,000 travel fee. Applicants will be invoiced for the Site Visit Fee following completion of the site visit.
Number of Employees (Full-Time Equivalent) | Workshop Fee (L1) / Application Fee (L2,3,4) Member | Workshop Fee (L1) / Application Fee (L2,3,4) Non-Member |
Less than 100 | $920/$1,600 | $1,150/$2,000 |
100-500 | $1,640/$3,040 | $2,050/$3,800 |
501-1,500 | $2,600/$4,960 | $3,250/$6,200 |
More Than 1,500 | $3,800/$7,360 | $4,750/$9,200 |
*This application fee table applies to Levels 2, 3, & 4.
Assessment Level | Number of Employees | Intent to Apply / Administration Fee | Application/Workshop Fee - Member / Non-Member | Site Visit/Workshop Fee* - Member / Non-Member | Total with 20% Member Discount | Total at Regular Rate |
Excellence Award (Level 4) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $2,160/ $2,700 | $3,610 | $4,450 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $3,800 | $3,120/ $3,900 | $6,010 | $7,450 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $5,040/ $6,300 | $9,850 | $12,250 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $6,000/ $7,500 | $13,210 | $16,450 | |
Achievement Award (Level 3) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $1,920 / $2,400 | $3,320 | $4,150 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $2,000 | $2,640/ $3,300 | $5,480 | $6,850 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $4,080/ $5,100 | $8,840 | $11,050 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $5,280/ $6,600 | $12,440 | $15,550 | |
Commitment Award (Level 2) | Less than 100 | $250 | $1,600/ $2,000 | $1,680/ $2,100 | $3,130 | $3,850 |
100-500 | $250 | $3,040/ $3,800 | $2,400/ $3,000 | $5,290 | $6,550 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $4,960/ $6,200 | $3,840/ $4,800 | $8,650 | $10,750 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $7,360/ $9,200 | $5,040/ $6,300 | $12,250 | $15,250 | |
Interest Award (Level 1) | Less than 100 | $250 | $920/ $1,150 | $680/ $850 | $1,850 | $2,250 |
100-500 | $250 | $1,640/ $2,050 | $920/ $1,150 | $2,810 | $3,450 | |
501-1,500 | $250 | $2,600/ $3,250 | $1,400/ $1,750 | $4,250 | $5,250 | |
More Than 1,500 | $250 | $3,800/ $4,750 | $1,880/ $2,350 | $5,930 | $7,350 |
Workforce size is based on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) employees working for the applicant. FTEs are defined as those who regularly work 37.5 or more hours a week and are entitled to benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, and insurance coverage. Each instance of job sharing, where multiple individuals fulfill the responsibilities of a single position that require 37.5 or more hours per week, is counted as one FTE.
Requirement | Commitment Award (Level 2) | Achievement Award (Level 3) | Excellence Award (Level 4) |
Intent to Apply/Eligibility Form | REQUIRED FOR ALL Submit by May 31 Intent to Apply due with $250 non-refundable fee | ||
Organization Profile | REQUIRED FOR ALL 5-page maximum The Organizational Profile is submitted along with the Application Form, Application Fee, and Criteria Response. (see below) | ||
Application Form & Fee | REQUIRED FOR ALL Submit by July 15 Applicants must use the Application Form via tncpe.org. | ||
CEO Signature | REQUIRED FOR ALL | ||
Criteria Response | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Basic Item Questions 15-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Overall Item Questions 35-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format | 1. Organizational Profile 2. Multiple Item Requirements 50-page maximum One electronic copy saved in PDF format |
Site Visit* | One day, plus half-day workshop** | Two days | Three days |
Recognition Eligibility | Commitment or Interest | Achievement, Commitment, or Interest | Excellence, Achievement, Commitment, or Interest |
Applicant Responsibilities | Provide at least one TNCPE examiner***
| Provide 2 or more TNCPE examiners† (a balanced combination of new and experienced)
Participation in annual Conference |
* Applicants must pay a site visit fee to cover site visit costs. See table below for details.
** After receiving their Feedback Report, Level 2 applicants host a half-day workshop that will help them understand and prioritize the examiners’ feedback.
*** Examiners are provided for the next application cycle.