EEA Criteria and Entry Submission Instructions

OBJECTIVE

To recognize those engineering achievements demonstrating the highest degree of skill and ingenuity while providing a significant benefit to the public welfare and practice of consulting engineering.

ELIGIBILITY

Any engineering or surveying firm is eligible to enter the awards program, whether or not the firm is a member of ACEC.

GENERAL CRITERIA

1. Both member and non-member firm entries must be submitted through an ACEC state organization (ACEC/MW) to be eligible for the National Competition.
2. Engineering or surveying projects that have won awards in state or national organizations’ programs are encouraged to be entered.
3. Projects entered in the competition may have been executed anywhere in the world. Research and Studies (Category A) or Surveying and Mapping projects (Category D) must have been publicly disclosed by the client between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2019.  Construction of projects (Categories B through L – with the exception of D) must have been substantially completed and ready for use between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2019. See “categories” section for full listing of all eligible categories.
4. Entries in the ACEC/MW competition may be placed in any one of the 12 categories. The entering firm must select the one category that is most appropriate. A project may be entered only once in any category. However, after a project entered in Category A has been constructed, it may be entered in a different category – B through L – in the year when eligible.
5. The ACEC/MW Engineering Excellence Awards Committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility and category classification for all entries.

JUDGING

Entries will be judged on the basis of overall engineering excellence in each of the 12 categories; on the basis of the work performed by the entering firm only; and according to the rating guidelines listed. Winners will be notified.

AWARDS

The top project entries will receive an ACEC/MW Grand Award; additional Honor Awards will be given to qualifying projects.  Firms winning ACEC/MW Engineering Excellence (EEA) awards are eligible to enter their projects in the national ACEC EEA competition.

JUDGING CRITERIA 

A panel selected by the Awards Committee of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington will perform the Engineering Excellence Awards judging.

ACEC/MW rating guidelines for judging are as follows:
 

1. Uniqueness and/or Innovative Applications of New or Existing Techniques	20%
2. Future Value to the Engineering Profession and enhanced public awareness/enthusiasm of the role of engineering	20%
3. Social, Economic and Sustainable Development Considerations	20%
4. Complexity	20%
5. Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs	20%

RATING GUIDELINE DEFINITIONS

1. Uniqueness and/or Innovative Applications of New or Existing Techniques:
   1. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project demonstrate the use of a new science or a breakthrough in the general knowledge of engineering?
   2. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project represent a unique application of new or existing technology, techniques, materials or equipment?
2. Future Value to the Engineering Profession and enhanced public awareness/enthusiasm of the role of engineering:
   1. Will the entrant’s contribution to the project redefine current engineering thinking?
   2. Does the entrant’s project increase public awareness/ enthusiasm about the role of engineering in their everyday lives? 
3. Social, Economic and Sustainable Development Considerations:
   1. Do the solutions identified produce secondary benefits of value to the community environment?
   2. Does the entrant’s approach provide society with social, economic, or sustainable development benefits?
   3. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project improve the health, safety or welfare of the public or affected environment?
4. Complexity:
   1. Did the entrant’s efforts successfully address highly complex criteria or unique problems?
   2. Were extraordinary problems of site, location, hazardous conditions, project requirements, or similar elements present?
   3. Did the entrant’s solutions require the use of out-of-the ordinary technology or ingenuity for achievement of the project’s goals?
5. Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs:
   1. Did the entrant successfully engage the client/owner in the overall project development process?
   2. Was it an economical and cost-effective solution?
   3. How did the final cost compare to the original budget estimate?
   4. How closely does the entrant’s solution meet the total goals of the client/owner?
   5. Did the entrant meet the client’s time schedule?ocial/Economic and Sustainable Design Considerations

PROJECT CATEGORIES

CATEGORY A: Studies, Research and Consulting

Non-design services, projects not involving the preparation of construction documents consisting of but not limited to the following types of projects:

New products, materials and technologies
Expert testimony
Basic research and studies
Computer/software technology
Technical papers 
Public outreach/involvement
Water conservation
Security plans
Project feasibility, economic, or risk studies
Value engineering

CATEGORY B: Building/Technology Systems

Mechanical/electrical/plumbing
Computer/technology
Communications
Acoustics
Software systems
Sustainability or carbon neutrality
Efficiency certification standards, e.g. LEED
Energy efficiency - new and retrofit
Secure facilities (military, research, correctional)

CATEGORY C: Structural Systems

Foundations
Tunnels
Buildings
Seismic design
Towers
Bridges
Stadiums

CATEGORY D: Surveying and Mapping Technology

Geometrics, ALTA, land title and rights surveys
Control, GPS, monitoring or construction surveying
Survey mapping, GIS/LIS, photogrammetry

CATEGORY E: Environmental

Hazardous waste
Solid waste
Restoration/reclamation/remediation
Air quality
Noise
Recycling
Waste pond management
Carbon sequestration and trading
Mitigation

CATEGORY F: Waste and Storm Water

Wastewater collection/ treatment and disposal
Residuals management and reuse
Graywater systems
CSO’s
Mine tailings
Agricultural
Storm water management
Erosion control

CATEGORY G: Water Resources

Hydraulics, hydrology
Surface and groundwater supply development
Treatment
Transmission, distribution & storage
Watershed management
Water use reduction
Flood risk management
Climate adaptation
Coastal and eco-system restoration
Locks/dams/water control structures
Irrigation

CATEGORY H: Transportation

Highways
Rail
Airports
Marine/ports
Public transit
Intermodal facilities

CATEGORY I: Special Projects

Safety and security
Corrosion protection/cathodic protection
Program and construction management
Land development
Trenchless technologies
Recreational facilities
Subsurface engineering

CATEGORY J: Small Projects

Total project construction budget does not exceed
$2.5 million
(At the entrant’s discretion, except for entries in
Category A, projects under
$2.5 million are not limited to this category.)

CATEGORY K: Energy

Transmission and distribution
Power generation
Renewable energy
Cogeneration
Energy storage technologies
Energy usage reduction programs
Demand side management

CATEGORY L:  Industrial and Manufacturing Processes and Facilities

Petrochemical
Biotech
Manufacturing
Heavy industry
Industrial waste
Materials handling
Mining, metallurgy, mineralogy

RATING GUIDELINES DEFINITIONS

Rating guidelines are defined as follows:

1. Uniqueness and/or Innovative Applications of New or Existing Techniques:
   1. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project demonstrate the use of a new science or a breakthrough in the general knowledge of engineering?
   2. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project represent a unique application of new or existing technology, techniques, materials or equipment?
2. Future Value to the Engineering Profession and enhanced public awareness/enthusiasm of the role of engineering:
   1. Will the entrant’s contribution to the project redefine current engineering thinking?
   2. Does the entrant’s project increase public awareness/ enthusiasm about the role of engineering in their everyday lives? 
3. Social, Economic and Sustainable Development Considerations:
   1. Do the solutions identified produce secondary benefits of value to the community environment?
   2. Does the entrant’s approach provide society with social, economic, or sustainable development benefits?
   3. Does the entrant’s contribution to the project improve the health, safety or welfare of the public or affected environment?
4. Complexity:
   1. Did the entrant’s efforts successfully address highly complex criteria or unique problems?
   2. Were extraordinary problems of site, location, hazardous conditions, project requirements, or similar elements present?
   3. Did the entrant’s solutions require the use of out-of-theordinary technology or ingenuity for achievement of the project’s goals?
5. Successful Fulfillment of Client/Owner Needs:
   1. Did the entrant successfully engage the client/owner in the overall project development process?
   2. Was it an economical and cost-effective solution?
   3. How did the final cost compare to the original budget estimate?
   4. How closely does the entrant’s solution meet the total goals of the client/owner?
   5. Did the entrant meet the client’s time schedule?ocial/Economic and Sustainable Design Considerations

ACEC/MW EEA COMPETITION TIMELINE

September 23, 2019	Deadline for INTENTION TO SUBMIT form to ACEC/MW
October 14, 2019	Deadline for Official ACEC/MW EEA Entry Form and supporting materials for ACEC/MW EEA Competition
October 25, 2019	ACEC/MW sends notification letters of winners to EEA participants
December 4, 2019	ACEC/MW EEA Awards Gala and Holiday Celebration
January 3, 2020	Deadline for Official Entry Form and supporting materials for ACEC EEA National Competition (winners at the ACEC/MW level have the option to enter the ACEC EEA National Competition)
February 7-9, 2020	National Competition Judging
April 28, 2020	EEA National Awards Presentation and Gala, Washington, DC

SUBMITTING AN ACEC/MW EEA ENTRY

Please note:  The ACEC/MW EEA entry requirements are slightly different from the ACEC national competition.  Those rules will be provided to ACEC/MW Grand Award and Honorable Award winning firms.

Requirements for submitting for the ACEC/MW EEA competition are as follows:

1. Return the INTENTION TO SUBMIT form, nonrefundable entry fee, and digital images of two or three project photos or graphics to ACEC/MW by COB September 23, 2019 to:
 
Hugh “Mac” Cannon, MPA, CAE
Executive Director
American Council of Engineering Companies of Metropolitan Washington
44190 Waxpool Road, Suite 182
Unit #135
Ashburn, VA 20147
202 644 8260(P)    888 511 3530(F)    
info@acecmw.org

Entry Fee:
ACEC/MW EEA Competition Entry Fees are non-refundable.

ACEC/MW Members:  $325.00               Non-Members:  $975.00

2. Submit your complete and final entry to the ACEC/MW offices by October 14, 2019.  Entry materials should include the completed Official ACEC/MW EEA Entry Form and the ELECTRONIC COPIES only:

• Client / Owner Letter to ACEC/MW: 
  • Addressed to ACEC/MW
  • Describe the relationship the client/owner had with the entrant in the development of the project
  • Explain how the project exceeded the client/owner needs
• Executive Summary:
  • One page, single-sided maximum length
  • Project title and entry category must appear at the top of the page
  • Describe the problem and solution
• Project Description:
  • Five page, single-sided maximum length 
  • Project title and entry category must appear at the top of the page
  • Project Description may combine text, photos, graphs, etc.
  • Describe the role of the entrant’s firm in the project
  • Explain the role of other consultants participating in the project
  • Brief description of the entrant’s contribution to the project addressing each of the following:
    • original or innovative application of new or existing techniques
    • future value to the engineering profession and perception of the public
    • social, economic, and sustainable design considerations
    • complexity
    • exceeding client / owner needs.  Include budgeted cost, actual cost, schedule and actual date of completion information.

NON-DESIGN PROJECTS:  In addition to the requirements above, non-design project entries should be supplemented by a report with results of findings, graphs, drawings, etc.