15 USC 3711a - Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 3711a.

Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award

(a)

Establishment

(b)

Making and presentation of award

(1)

The President (on the basis of recommendations received from the Secretary), or the Secretary, shall periodically make the award to companies and other organizations which in the judgment of the President or the Secretary have substantially benefited the economic or social well-being of the United States through improvements in the quality of their goods or services resulting from the effective practice of quality management, and which as a consequence are deserving of special recognition.

(2)

The presentation of the award shall be made by the President or the Secretary with such ceremonies as the President or the Secretary may deem proper.

(3)

An organization to which an award is made under this section, and which agrees to help other American organizations improve their quality management, may publicize its receipt of such award and use the award in its advertising, but it shall be ineligible to receive another such award in the same category for a period of 5 years.

(c)

Categories in which award may be given

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2), separate awards shall be made to qualifying organizations in each of the following categories—

(A)

Small businesses.

(B)

Companies or their subsidiaries.

(C)

Companies which primarily provide services.

(D)

Health care providers.

(E)

Education providers.

(F)

Nonprofit organizations.

(G)

Community.

(2)

The Secretary may at any time expand, subdivide, or otherwise modify the list of categories within which awards may be made as initially in effect under paragraph (1), and may establish separate awards for other organizations including units of government, upon a determination that the objectives of this section would be better served thereby; except that any such expansion, subdivision, modification, or establishment shall not be effective unless and until the Secretary has submitted a detailed description thereof to the Congress and a period of 30 days has elapsed since that submission.

(3)

In any year, not more than 18 awards may be made under this section to recipients who have not previously received an award under this section, and no award shall be made within any category described in paragraph (1) if there are no qualifying enterprises in that category.

(d)

Criteria for qualification

(1)

An organization may qualify for an award under this section only if it—

(A)

applies to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in writing, for the award,

(B)

permits a rigorous evaluation of the way in which its business and other operations have contributed to improvements in the quality of goods and services, and

(C)

meets such requirements and specifications as the Secretary, after receiving recommendations from the Board of Overseers established under paragraph (2)(B) and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, determines to be appropriate to achieve the objectives of this section.

In applying the provisions of subparagraph (C) with respect to any organization, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall rely upon an intensive evaluation by a competent board of examiners which shall review the evidence submitted by the organization and, through a site visit, verify the accuracy of the quality improvements claimed. The examination should encompass all aspects of the organization’s current practice of quality management, as well as the organization’s provision for quality management in its future goals. The award shall be given only to organizations which have made outstanding improvements in the quality of their goods or services (or both) and which demonstrate effective quality management through the training and involvement of all levels of personnel in quality improvement.

(2)

(A)

The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, under appropriate contractual arrangements, carry out the Director’s responsibilities under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) through one or more broad-based nonprofit entities which are leaders in the field of quality management and which have a history of service to society.

(B)

The Secretary shall appoint a board of overseers for the award, consisting of at least five persons selected for their preeminence in the field of quality management. This board shall meet annually to review the work of the contractor or contractors and make such suggestions for the improvement of the award process as they deem necessary. The board shall report the results of the award activities to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology each year, along with its recommendations for improvement of the process.

(e)

Information and technology transfer program

(f)

Funding

(g)

Report

(Pub. L. 96–480, § 17, formerly § 16, as added Pub. L. 100–107, § 3(a), Aug. 20, 1987, 101 Stat. 725; renumbered § 17 and amended Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §§ 5115(b)(2)(A), 5122(a)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433, 1438; Pub. L. 102–245, title III, § 305, Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 20; Pub. L. 105–309, § 3, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2935; Pub. L. 108–320, § 1, Oct. 5, 2004, 118 Stat. 1213; Pub. L. 110–69, title III, § 3010, Aug. 9, 2007, 121 Stat. 592; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title II, § 10246(b)(1), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1492.)

cite as: 15 USC 3711a