4. Create a category within the Malcolm Baldrige Award for quality in the federal government. (2) The President should authorize one set of awards for quality in the federal government. These awards should be part of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program. This set of awards would take the place of the four sets of quality awards currently administered by FQI, PCMI, and OPM. The Secretary of Commerce will have to notify Congress of his intent to add the federal government to the Baldrige Award program. Currently, there are three eligibility categories for the Malcolm Baldrige Award: manufacturing companies, service companies, and small businesses. In accordance with the intent and authorization of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Improvement Act of 1987, a Malcolm Baldrige Award for excellence in government services should be proposed to Congress. Consideration might also be given to expanding the award at some later date to include state and local governments as well as nonprofit groups. NIST's existing Office of Quality Programs should manage the award program and seek advice from FQI on the program's federal component. FQI should work with NIST to manage a properly phased transition from FQI to incorporate the existing Presidential Award for Quality into the NIST effort. Combining existing awards will facilitate cooperation and the exchange of information between public and private organizations. It will also improve efficiencies by leveraging examiners, cost, and time. It also demonstrates that the federal government is willing to measure itself by the same standards with which it measures the private sector.
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