Division Awards
The Federal Planning Division's Annual Award Program celebrates the great planning efforts completed by members. The awards nomination window for FY25 projects is open from 28 February through 25 April 2026. Projects completed during 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2025 are eligible for nomination.
You can find the electronic submission form here: https://form.jotform.com/samedcprograms/2025-APAFPD-AwardsForm
Submission Eligibility
Project and Place Nominations must pertain to federal installations, programs, properties, involved in federal planning. Nominations may be submitted by any interested party. All project submissions must have been completed within the last three fiscal years (i.e., final deliverable submitted and accepted by federal agency between 1 October 2022 and 30 September 2025). Completion means the sample work product submitted for consideration has been submitted and accepted/approved by the federal agency.
People nominations must pertain to federal employees or those of a company with direct support to federal planning contracts/work. Nominated individuals may not enter themselves. FPD Executive Committee Members cannot submit nominations, nor can they be nominated for these awards while they are serving in office.
Each consultant, determined by Unique Entity ID (UEI) may not submit more than one (1) nomination per category per awards year, regardless of multiple office locations. If a submission is reviewed and deemed more suitable for a different category and causes more than one submission from a consultancy to be in a category, the awards committee will coordinate with the submitter to determine which submission will remain.
Award Nomination Submission Fees
- Industry submission fee for categories 1-7 (Projects and Places): $125 per nomination.
- Industry submission fee for categories 8-11 (People): $50 per nomination.
- Federal Agency submissions with no outside consultant assistance: No fee for all categories
Please Note: Nomination fees are used to cover program expenses.
Awards Categories
The FPD Awards Program has modified and expanded categories for nominations to better reflect input from FPD Membership. These categories are:
- Outstanding Federal Planning Program
- Outstanding District/Area Development Project
- Outstanding Facility Requirements Project
- Outstanding Technical Planning Project
- Outstanding Environmental Planning Project
- Outstanding Federal Place of the Year – New
- Outstanding Federal Place of the Year – Historic
- Outstanding Planner of the Year
- Outstanding Emerging Planner of the Year
- Outstanding Planning Technician of the Year
- Rik Wiant Distinguished Service and Leadership
Category Tiers
There are three tiers of awards in categories 1–5. If, based on awards jury recommendations that an awards category should not receive recognition at all three tiers, the FPD Awards Committee will respect this decision and provide submission feedback where possible.
- Honor Award -Recognizing the highest standards of quality among all submissions received.
- Merit Award -Recognizing submissions that achieve a very high level of quality while not reaching the Honor Award level.
- Citation Award -Submissions that possess a special aspect or unique quality deserving recognition.
There are no separate award tiers for categories 6–11.
Award Categories
The APA Federal Planning Division awards categories:
Category 1 – Outstanding Federal Planning Program
For a large-scale planning program that best represents and incorporates integrated design, innovative problem solving, and an effective planning process. Programs typically include enterprise-level planning initiatives applicable to multiple locations, facilities, installations, or properties.
Examples of previous winning projects in this category: Installation Management Command Lodge Program Definition Reports and DD1391s, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Worldwide Area Development Plans (ADPs) Program, and U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Bavaria Housing Area Development Plans
Category 2 – Outstanding District/Area Development Project
For the planning project that best represents a smaller development area that is a part of a larger federal installation, campus, park, or lands. Plans typically include, but are not limited to, Area Development Plans (ADPs), District Plans, Specific Functional or Operational Plans, Housing Area Plans, Park Unit Plans, Site Plans, etc. Small, singlesite, single-mission locations could also be considered for this category.
Examples of previous winning projects in this category: Kadena Industrial Park (Chibana District) Area Development Plan, West Point Clinton District Area Development Plan, and Peterson Air Force Base Triangle Area Development Plan
Category 3 – Facilities Requirements Project
For the planning project that best represents outstanding facility space and requirements planning. Projects typically include, but are not limited to, Facility Space Utilization Plans, Facilities Requirements Documents, Customer Concept Documents, Facility Planning Charrette Reports, etc.
Category 4 – Outstanding Technical Planning Project
For a planning effort demonstrating outstanding technical competence in federal operations. This category is intended for planning studies that do not clearly fit into Categories 1-4 above. Technical plans or studies typically include, but are not limited to enterprise-level strategic basing or siting plans (e.g., new aircraft, vehicles, vessels, or organizations); range/training area or other real estate or real property asset management plans; information management and analysis tools that enhance a planner’s ability to facilitate objective recommendations to inform decision makers; business case and economic impact studies; or site feasibility or other alternative analyses.
Examples of previous winning projects in this category: Naha Military Port Plan, Zion National Park Management Scenario Tool, and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni Stormwater Management Plan
Category 5 – Outstanding Environmental Planning Project
For the environmental project that best meets the criteria. Environmental planning typically includes, but is not limited to, Natural or Cultural Resources Management Plans; Energy, Water, and/or Waste Conservation and Management Plans; Installation Sustainability Plans; National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) planning such as Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs); Air, Noise, or Water Pollution Management Plans; and site remediation and redevelopment plans.
Examples of previous winning projects in this category: US Air Force F-35A Operational Beddown Air National Guard Environmental Impact Statement, Customs and Border Protection Advanced Training Center Sustainability Component Plan, and Vegetation Plan Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR)
Category 6 – Outstanding Federal Place of the Year – New Development
Recognition of a federally owned location that best represents considered forethought into the development of the entire space, structurally, spatially, culturally, environmentally, and sustainably. This category is open to locations which have been completed within the past 10- years.
Category 7 – Outstanding Federal Place of the Year – Historic Development
Recognition of a federally owned location that best represents considered forethought into the development of the entire space, structurally, spatially, culturally, environmentally, and sustainably which has inspired the generation of similar spaces for future users. This category is open to locations which have been completed prior to 1965.
Category 8 – Outstanding Planner of the Year
This category is open to any FPD member or federal employee who has contributed to federal agency planning in a substantial manner over the past Fiscal Year. This award recognizes effective contributions and leadership within the profession through practice, management, consulting, and promotion of sound planning within the federal sector.
Category 9 – Outstanding Emerging Planner of the Year
This category is open to any FPD member or federal employee, with less than five years’ experience, who has contributed to federal agency planning in a substantial manner over the past fiscal year. This award recognizes effective contributions and planning within the profession through practice, management, consulting, and informed planning within the federal sector.
Category 10 – Outstanding Planning Technician of the Year
This category is open to any FPD member or federal employee technical specialist in a support of planning role who has contributed to federal agency planning in a substantial manner over the past Fiscal Year. This award recognizes technical expertise within the federal sector through contributions such as, but not limited to, GIS, facilities requirements definition, project programming, visual material generation, etc.
Category 11 – Rik Wiant Distinguished Service and Leadership Award
The Rik Wiant Award is given to individuals who demonstrate sustained and significant contributions to the federal planning profession, and who have demonstrated significant leadership in promoting and encouraging planning at the federal level.
The category is open to any FPD member or federal employee who has contributed to federal agency planning in a substantial manner over a sustained period, as well as to the development and mission of the FPD in general. This award recognizes effective contributions and leadership within the profession through distinguished practice, management, consulting, and promotion of sound planning within the federal sector.
Eligibility for Rick Wiant Distinguished Service and Leadership Award: Nominated individuals may not enter themselves. Nominated individuals must either be involved within the practice of planning at the federal level (i.e., in the federal/public agency, for-profit, or nonprofit sectors) or retired from such service. Any FPD member or Federal employee other than the person nominated may submit a member’s name for the award. There is no time in service requirement for this Award.
Awards Submission Process
All Awards Nominations will be completed ONLINE. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FORM: https://form.jotform.com/samedcprograms/2025-APAFPD-AwardsForm
Please note the following:
- The Nomination Form will require the identification of a POINT OF CONTACT FROM THE INSTALLATION OR SITE TO BE COMPLETED IN FULL. Nomination Forms without a Point of Contact will not be considered.
- Due to increased federal planning projects associated with sensitive or controlled information, each submission for Categories 1–5 will require a security review by the controlling federal agency of the submission. FOUO/CUI submissions will not be accepted.
- All submissions must be anonymous and stripped of any indications of which firm or individual prepared the plan. If the submission originated in-house from a government agency, no further action is required. Remove all logos, names, and images of individuals that may identify which firm produced the plan.
- The FPD Awards Committee will no longer provide additional printed awards certificates beyond the presented framed certificate. In lieu of this, each award recipient will receive a digital PDF copy of their award to use for printing purposes. There will no longer be additional charges for certificates.
- You will need the following supporting documentation to upload to complete your nominations:
Categories 1 – 5:
- Completed nomination form (items 1–16)
- Total nomination package must not exceed 200MB
- Project Sample documents must not exceed 200 pages
- Four images (.jpg required) that are representative of the project, place, or nominee; images will be used during the Awards Ceremony and in Awards Notifications
- A $125.00 application fee (for consultant-executed projects only) must be received by 25 April 2026.
Categories 6 and 7:
- Completed nomination form (items 1–16)
- Total nomination package must not exceed 200MB
- Any project/place documentation must not exceed 200 pages
- Narrative explaining significance of nomination in relation to federal planning
- Four images (.jpg required) that are representative of the project, place, or nominee; images will be used during the Awards Ceremony and in Awards Notifications
- A $125.00 application fee (for consultant-executed projects only) must be received by 25 April 2026.
Categories 8 – 11:
- Completed nomination form (items 1–7)
- Total nomination package must not exceed 200MB
- Two letters of support explaining significance of nomination in relation to federal planning
- Four images (.jpg required; official photo and/or headshot, “action” photos) that are representative of the project, place, or nominee; images will be used during the Awards Ceremony and in Awards Notifications
- A $50.00 application fee (for consultant-executed projects only) must be received by 25 April 2026.
If you don’t have all of the supporting documents and images at the time of submission or you want to complete the nomination at another time, you can save the form for later editing.
Evaluation Process
The nomination packages will be reviewed for submission compliance by the FPD Awards Committee prior to being evaluated by the awards jury members. There will only be one round of review and evaluation by the jury this year.
Nominations for categories 8-11 will be reviewed by the FPD Executive Committee. FPD Executive Committee Members cannot submit nominations, nor can they be nominated for these awards while they are serving in office. The FPD Executive Committee reserves the right to not recognize a category winner if submissions do not meet award requirements.
Evaluation Criteria
The awards jury will review submissions for awards categories 1–7 based on the following criteria:
- Effectiveness – Describe the critical needs that prompted the initiation of your entry and how your entry addressed them. Be explicit about how the results have or will make a difference in the lives of the people affected and the effectiveness your entry will have over time.
- Innovation – Document how your entry presents an innovative or excellent planning approach to address needs. Explain how your planning approach enhanced standard federal planning practices.
- Comprehensiveness – Explain how your entry effectively applies planning principles to promote federal and public objectives.
- Analytical Process – Demonstrate how your entry used a proven, unique, or atypical planning process that provided clear outputs. Illustrate how your entry’s components and methodology promote good federal planning.
- Compatibility – Demonstrate how your entry integrates and supports the overall planning goals of the broader context of the associated locational or operational context (region, site, or stakeholder groups) that the submission resides within.
- Integration – Describe how your entry has been integrated into or aligned with other relevant planning efforts such as a corresponding comprehensive or master plan or other related initiatives. Detail how your entry will help further the cause of good planning and support the broader needs of the subject community, surrounding region, or stakeholder groups.
- Engagement – Explain the extent of public or stakeholder involvement. Show how your entry obtained broad support.
- Implementation – Address what steps have been taken to build momentum and support for following and implementing the plan. Demonstrate that your entry communicates clear recommendations with a logical methodology to implement the proposed solution(s).
- Transferability – Document the potential your entry has for application in other areas or projects.
- Promotion of Federal Planning – Clarify the role, significance, and participation of planners in the work. Demonstrate the connection between the effort’s success and increased awareness in the federal community of planners and planning.
- Presentation – Submissions will also be judged on the excellence of writing, graphics, and character of presentation.
The FPD Executive Committee will review submissions for awards categories 8–10 based on the following criteria:
- Support of Federal Planning – Specify how the nominee’s work supported or increased the understanding of planning principles and the federal planning process.
- Support of the APA Federal Planning Division – Detail how the nominee’s participation in, and contribution to, FPD has furthered the cause of the association.
- Effectiveness – Describe the level of effectiveness the nominee has had in formulating and implementing his/her ideas, subsequently furthering the cause of federal planning and the FPD.
- Significant Accomplishments – Notable achievements by the nominee over the previous awards period in demonstration of excellence within their category.
The FPD Executive Committee will review submissions for the Rik Wiant Distinguished Service and Leadership Award based on the following criteria:
- Support of Federal Planning – Specify how the nominee’s work has increased the understanding of planning principles and the federal planning process. This would include promoting an understanding of the importance of federal planning, whether within a federal agency or among the public, interested/involved stakeholders, and/or elected officials. Specify how the nominee has promoted the professional development of young planners and encouraged them to contribute and commit to careers in the federal planning profession. Mr. Wiant was an exceptional supporter of volunteering across the federal planning career field. Please note how the nominee has demonstrated similar support and action.
- Support of the APA Federal Planning Division – Detail how the nominee’s participation in, and contribution to, FPD has furthered the cause of the association.
- Effectiveness – Describe the level of effectiveness the nominee has had in formulating and implementing his/her ideas, subsequently furthering the cause of federal planning and the FPD.
Awards Notification and Distribution
Winners will be notified in early August 2026, and awards will be presented virtually later that month.
Questions?
For any additional questions, feedback on the Awards, or issues with the online submission process, Please email Diana DeGonzales, Chair of the Awards Committee, at FPD.Awards.Submissions@gmail.com.
2024 Award Winners
Category 1 - Outstanding Federal Planning Program
Category 2 - Outstanding District/Area Development Project
Category 3 - Outstanding Facility Requirements Project
Category 4 - Outstanding Technical Planning Project
Category 5 - Outstanding Environmental Planning Project
Category 6 - Outstanding Collaborative Planning Project
Category 7 - Outstanding Federal Place of the Year - Historic
Category 8 - Outstanding Planner of the Year
Category 9 - Outstanding Emerging Planner of the Year
Category 10 - Outstanding Planning Technician of the Year
Category 11 - Rik Wiant Distinguished Service and Leadership Award
