Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence | Save the Date for the 2026 TNCPE Excellence Conference

Step 5: Judging & Feedback

After the site visit, our independent Panel of Judges reviews your application and finalizes your award determination.

✔ All applicants receive a detailed Feedback Report in December
✔ Feedback includes strengths and opportunities for improvement
✔ Awardees are recognized at the Excellence Conference

Feedback is the most valuable part of the process—award or not.

Step 4: Participate in a Site Visit

Your examiner team visits your location to learn more, ask clarifying questions, and validate key processes.

✔ Scheduled between September 15-October 10
✔ Length varies by award level (1–3 days)
✔ We’ll send you a prep guide and logistics info

This is a low-stress, learning-focused visit—meant to support your journey.

Step 3: Review by Examiners

Our examiners independently evaluate your application, then come together to form a consensus and prepare helpful feedback.

✔ Based on Baldrige Criteria scoring guidelines
✔ Conducted by trained volunteers
✔ All examiners sign confidentiality agreements

The review sets the stage for your site visit and personalized feedback.

Step 2: Complete Your Application

This is your written response to the Baldrige-based Criteria. The depth and length depend on your chosen award level.

✔ Due by July 31
✔ Submit PDF + Application Form
✔ Pay full fee or request invoice

Download Criteria Guidelines

Step 1: Submit Your Intent to Apply

Before you submit your application, let us know you’re planning to apply! The Intent to Apply form confirms your eligibility and helps us plan examiner resources.

✔ Due by May 31
✔ Includes your contact info, award level, and fee

Once submitted, you’re officially on the path toward a performance excellence assessment.

Level 1 Workshop Descriptions

Level 1 assessment includes two interactive workshops:

Organizational Profile Workshop
Description: The Organizational Profile Workshop introduces participants to the foundational elements of the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Attendees will learn how to develop an Organizational Profile, providing a snapshot of their organization’s purpose, key relationships, and strategic context. Answering the questions in the Organizational Profile helps leadership teams agree on what is most important, align operations with their mission and performance goals, and kickstart their journey to excellence.

Level 1 Bridge Workshop
Description: The Level 1 Bridge Workshop is a pivotal session designed to transition organizations from crafting their Organizational Profile to engaging with the foundational questions of the seven categories within the Baldrige Excellence Framework. This interactive workshop provides participants with tailored feedback and actionable insights, highlighting their strengths and opportunities for improvement in each category of the Criteria. By engaging in this workshop, organizations are equipped with the tools and guidance to set the stage for exponential improvement, positioning them for greater performance and strategic alignment.

Page Allocation Table

Category	Points	Level 4 50 pgs.	Level 3 35 pgs.	Level 2 15 pgs.
1 \| Leadership	115	7	4.2	1.8
2 \| Strategic Planning	90	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

Site Visit Fee Table

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.

Application Requirements

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 31 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*** Assistance to other organizations	Provide 2 or more TNCPE examiners† (a balanced combination of new and experienced) Assistance to other organizations Participation in annual Conference Best Practice tour

* 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.

Application Fee Table

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 fee table represents the application fees only. Site visit fees will be invoiced following completion of the site visit.

TNCPE Assessment Fee Table

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	$4,010	$4,950
	100-500	$250	$3,040/ $3,800	$3,120/ $3,900	$6,410	$7,950
	501-1,500	$250	$4,960/ $6,200	$5,040/ $6,300	$10,250	$12,750
	More Than 1,500	$250	$7,360/ $9,200	$6,000/ $7,500	$13,610	$16,950
Achievement Award (Level 3)	Less than 100	$250	$1,600/ $2,000	$1,920 / $2,400	$3,770	$4,650
	100-500	$250	$3,040/ $2,000	$2,640/ $3,300	$5,930	$7,350
	501-1,500	$250	$4,960/ $6,200	$4,080/ $5,100	$9,290	$11,550
	More Than 1,500	$250	$7,360/ $9,200	$5,280/ $6,600	$12,890	$16,050
Commitment Award (Level 2)	Less than 100	$250	$1,600/ $2,000	$1,680/ $2,100	$3,530	$4,350
	100-500	$250	$3,040/ $3,800	$2,400/ $3,000	$5,690	$7,050
	501-1,500	$250	$4,960/ $6,200	$3,840/ $4,800	$9,050	$11,250
	More Than 1,500	$250	$7,360/ $9,200	$5,040/ $6,300	$12,650	$15,750
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.

Application Formatting

The Criteria response must be submitted with the Organizational Profile, Application Form, and Application Fee.

The Criteria response should follow these guidelines:

Must Respond To a 2023-2024 version of the TNCPE Baldrige Excellence Framework.
Must be typed, using a font size no smaller than 10 point.
Charts, graphs, tables, and other figures must be legible, using a font size no smaller than 8 point.
Should identify the category and/or item number designation.
Must not exceed the applicable page limits. Applicants may present fewer pages than noted if they wish.

The Organizational Profile is a required part of all award applications and must be submitted along with the Application Form, Application Fee, and Criteria response.

The Organizational Profile must be no longer than 5 pages and respond to the questions on pages 4-6 of the Criteria.
Inclusion of a glossary of terms and abbreviations, as well as an organizational chart, is strongly encouraged. The glossary and organizational chart do not count in the Organizational Profile’s 5-page limit.
The number of pages in the Organizational Profile does NOT count toward the page limit in the organization’s Criteria response.

A glossary of terms and abbreviations is highly recommended.

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.

29 Sep Save the Date for the 2026 TNCPE Excellence Conference