Minnesota Government Information Technology Symposium 2007 Awards

Government IT Recognition Awards
Recognizing Outstanding Achievements by Units of Governments in Minnesota

Has your organization been involved in an effort that incorporated IT to improve government services or operations? If so, you are encouraged to apply for the 2007 Government IT Recognition Awards.

What are the Government IT Recognition Awards?
The Government IT Recognition Awards recognize outstanding achievements in the area of IT within government. With the push for government to become more efficient, successes in IT deserve to be highlighted and shared — now more than ever!

Who is eligible to apply for the awards?
Staff or officials from state agencies, counties, cities & education How many “winners” will be selected in each category and when will they be ackowledged? There will be one winning entry for each category. The awards will be given at the Award Ceremony which will occur during the Symposium’s Closing Luncheon.

Can a project be submitted in more than one category?
No, you must choose one category.

Who selects the winners?
A selection committee consisting of representatives from the sponsoring organizations.

What do the winners receive?
Recognition in the IT Symposium Final Program, on sponsors’ websites, In a variety of other publications, and at the Symposium Award Ceremony where winners receive a handsome plaque.

AWARD CATEGORIES:

Customer Service Applications
Projects involving IT that deliver significant new functionality or significant improvements in the level and quality of direct service to citizens/clients at large. Examples include unemployment compensation, welfare benefits, licensing, vehicle registration, justice/safety programs, insurance, retirement programs, environmental service, tax collections, etc.

Digital Government
For innovative programs that use the Internet to provide information to and conduct transactions with citizens and businesses. Special consideration will be given to nominations that include attention to governance, infrastructure, security and privacy. Examples include procurement, certification, licensing, economic development, e-commerce, governing and payments.

Innovative Use of Technology
Projects involving IT that involve substantial business process redesign of core business activities. The change must involve demonstrable improvements in efficiency or effectiveness through IT-enabled changes in operation. Examples include video conferencing in corrections, electronic funds transfer to pay taxes, online “mock election” balloting for students, and online personnel/payroll system.

Collaboration
Projects involving IT that create partnerships between two or more levels or types of government entities (e.g., state/state, state/county, county/county, county/city, city/ school). Both entities must make a significant contribution in effort, financing and decision-making, and the project must have demonstrable benefits to both partners, e.g. optimize resources, produce cost savings, and maximize outcomes.

DEADLINE

Entries must be received by 5:00 PM, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
E-mail to Rich Spencer at rspencer@mngts.org
Hardcopy Version: Mail to: Rich Spencer, GTS, 2233 University Ave. W., Suite 150, St. Paul, MN 55114

FORMAT and CRITERIA
Applicants are limited to one nomination per category. Nominations will be evaluated on the clarity, quality and completeness of information presented in the following sections. Each area will be weighted equally. All nominations must be submitted in an electronic form with an accompanying hard copy and should include the following elements:

CONTENT
1. Cover Page - information below MUST be on cover page:

Award Category
Title of Nomination
Contact Information for Individual(s) Involved: First and Last Name, Job Title, Unit of Government, Department, Address, City, State and Zip, Phone and Fax numbers (with area code), e-mail address, contact information for person submitting nomination (if different from above)

2. Executive Summary - a one-page summary suitable for posting on website and reproducing in hardcopy

3. Project Profile - Specific information on the nomination addressing the 4 areas listed below in the same order and in as much detail as appropriate.

Description of project including length of time in operation.(Include description of hardware/software if applicable.)
How the project involved a significant level of new programming or implementation of purchased products.
Improved services and/or operations realized by recipients, government entities involved, etc.
Measurable benefits to government entities involved, recipients, taxpayers, etc. Examples include increased productivity, cost reductions, improved level of service and/or operational efficiencies. Special consideration to nominations that quantify benefits in terms of dollars.

LENGTH REQUIREMENTS
Maximum Overall Length — No longer than six 8.5 x 11 typed pages (this includes cover page, executive summary and project profile). Line spacing should be single spaced, font size: 12 point.