What Baldrige Is

The U.S. Congress legislated the Baldrige Award in 1987. The first awards were presented in 1988.

Each year applicants for the Baldrige Award prepare detailed assessments of their management systems. Their applications respond to the Criteria for Performance Excellence. The Criteria are built upon a set of 11 interrelated core values and concepts. The seven Criteria Categories provide a systems perspective of the elements essential to achieving performance excellence. You can find the Criteria at the Baldrige program's Web site at www.quality.nist.gov.

Organizations that conduct regular assessments to evaluate and improve their performance integrate the Baldrige model into the way they operate and embed the Baldrige core values into their cultures.

Baldrige appliccants receive detailed written feedback about their strengths and opportunities for improvement from a team of independent Baldrige examiners. A Panel of Judges determines which organizations will be finalists for the Award and those organizations receive site visits to verify and clarify their applications.

U.S. healthcare organizations, manufacturers, service businesses, small businesses, education organizations, non-profits and government agencies are eligible for the Baldrige Award. Baldrige-based state award programs have a similar scope. You can request a list of state award programs through the Baldrige office by emailing nqp@nist.gov.