SPQA :: About the Award

Board Chair

U.S. Senate Productivity & Quality Award for Virginia
P.O. Box 6099
Suffolk, VA 23433

About The Medallion Award

The U.S. Senate Productivity and Quality Award for Virginia program involves an organization-wide perspective that keeps pace with best practices and innovative approaches to leadership; strategic planning; customer focus; measurement, analysis, and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results. Because our process is closely related to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, many organizations have used the SPQA program as a stepping-stone for the national award.

Ready for the Medallion? Jump to Award Process & Categories for details
Not yet ready to apply for the Medallion? Consider participating in the Discovery Program for 2010. Download the Discovery 2010 Guide PDF the Discovery Self Assessment Template MS Word and the Discovery Intent to Participate for 2010.

Core Values and Concepts

The SPQA Criteria are built upon a set of Core Values and Concepts. These values and concepts are the foundation for integrating key organizational requirements within a results-oriented framework and are the embedded behaviors found in high performing organizations. The Core Values and Concepts are:

Why should your organization apply for the Medallion?

The award criteria can serve as an internal assessment and management tool for planning, training, and implementing quality initiatives.

All applicants receive a customized written feedback report addressing strengths and areas for improvement that can be used as a road map for further progress in excellence.

Award recipients receive statewide recognition at the annual Virginia Forum for Excellence as well as numerous promotional opportunities including recognition by Senators Webb and Warner.

What types of organizations can apply?

Virginia’s SPQA is open to all private businesses, large and small, and all organizations in the public and not-for-profit sectors. Applicants may have affiliates, divisions, or head offices in other states; however, the organizational unit under consideration must be within the Commonwealth of Virginia or the District of Columbia.

Awards are organized into the five sectors listed below:
Manufacturing: includes organizations or some subunits that produce and sell manufactured products or manufacturing processes, and producers of agricultural, mining or construction products.
Health Care: includes hospitals, HMOs, long-term care facilities, health care practitioner offices, home health agencies, and dialysis centers. Also included are social service agencies, health insurance companies and medical/dental laboratories.
Service: includes organizations or some subunits that sell services, including retail businesses, and information technology organizations. Non Health Care non-profit organizations are also eligible under service.
Government: includes any federal, state or local government organization.
Education: includes elementary and secondary schools and school districts; colleges, universities, and university systems; schools or colleges within universities; professional schools; community colleges; and technical schools. Note: Departments within schools or colleges are not eligible.