| Questions |
Answers |
| What agency performs as the oversight of the IDEA program | HQ USAF/DPM |
| What agency manages the IPDS | AFMA |
| Who or what agency ensures offices administer the IDEA program | Command and installation commanders |
| What agency(s) administers the IDEA program | Command and installation (wing) level MO offices |
| Who ensures IDEAs are implemented | Commanders |
| Who checks the IDEA pool for duplicates | First-level evaluator |
| Who regularly accesses the IDEA pool for IDEAs applicable to their area of responsiblity | All Air Force employees |
| What is the IPDS used for | Using IPDS, IDEAs can be submitted, evaluated, and individual recognized for their IDEAs |
| How is a reporting official or supervisor notified that an IDEA has been submitted by a subordinate and is pending their action | Via electronic mail |
| Who is responsible for basic unit-level system administration | Unit POCs |
| When are IDEAs transferred to the IDEA pool | Upon final action |
| Who may submit an IDEA | Any individual, team, or group |
| Who determines if an IDEA is eligible | The reporting official or supervisor |
| What does the submitter do if they disagree with the job responsibility determination | They may submit a request for reconsideration |
| What is the limit for the number of co-submitters for team or group IDEA submission | There is no limit |
| What are SIP IDEAs submitted as | They are submitted as confirmatory or after-the-fact |
| Define after-the-fact IDEAs | Refers to IDEAs that are presented formally or informally to management prior to submission of an AF Form 1000 or imput into the IPDS |
| How long does a submitter retain "ownership" for an IDEA after the date of approval or disapproval | One year |
| What has to occur before an invention will be accepted as an IDEA submission | An invention will not be accepted as an IDEA until the Air Force Materiel Commande (AFMC) has processed it and an award payment has been determined for the invention |
| What occurs if evaluations of IDEAs fail to be consistent causeing inequitable awards | Credibility is lost |
| Who should make every attempt to identify tangible savings | The evaluator |
| How long is the authorized delay for evaluation of an IDEA when the evaluator is on TDY | 5 days |
| How long does the second-level evaluator have to complete all actions associated with evaluating the IDEA | 10 workdays |
| What are the two types of tangible savings | Cost avoidance and hard savings |
| Where do the funds come from for paying an IDEA award | All award will be funded from Operations and Maintenance funds at the base where the submitter was assigned when the IDEA was submitted |
| What is the maximum award for one IDEA | $10,000 |
| How much is the award amount for an IDEA that is determined to be outside the submitter's job responsibilities and the benefits are intangible | $200 |
| What is the monetary award percentage for an IDEA that is determined to be inside the submitter's job responsibilities and the savings are tangible and greater than $20,000 | 3 percent of the estimated first year savings |
| What agency is responsible for funding an award that exceeds $200 when the IDEA is adopted by a DOD componenet of federal agency outside the Air Force | The adopting agency is responsible for funding the entire amount |
| What annual award recognized the most outstanding Air Force innovator (individual or group) who contributed to continual performance improvement through the IDEA program | Air Force Exeptional Innovator Award |
| During an emergency limited to a single theater of operation, a limited communications interruption (less than a month) occurs. What action is taken for IPDS | Continue all processes including IPDS |
| How often is the assessment of the IDEA program reported | Quarterly |
| What are the five measurements used to assess the IDEA program | Overall process time, participation rate, submission rate, approval rate, and rate of return |
| What are the two PECI programs | Productivity Investment Fund (PIF) and Fast Payback Capital Investment Program (FASCAP) |
| Define amortization period | The number of months or years requried for cumulative savings to have the same value as the investment |
| What agency establishes a HQ USAF Productivity Office and administers participation in the PECI Programs | HQ USAF/DPM
|
| What agency provides technical advice to command PECI analysts | AFMA |
| Who helps officers develop PECI projects and prepare project reports | Base PECI analyst |
| In the PECI Program, what do total investment costs include | Includes PECI funds for acquisition, transportation, installation, on-time incidental cost, and command funds used |
| What must the savings be that the project officer uses to amortize the project's investment cost | Savings must be historically trackable reductions (hard savings) in manpower or O&S costs the invetment has produced |
| Who is responsible for identifying and reporting PECI project funding requirements and offsets | The command PECI analyst |
| When are manpower standard variances developed to offset PECI investment cost approved | It is approved when the project is approved |
| What is the maximum dollar amount available for a single FASCAP project | $200,000 |
| Within what time limet must a FASCAP project generate sufficient direct savings to return the cost of investment | Two years |
| Who is responsible for overseeing a FASCAP project | Project officer appointed by submitting organization |
| Who is responsible for prioritizing qualified FASCAP projects | Command PECI analyst |
| What action does the base PECI analyst take if the price of the equipment has increased since the project officer submitted the FASCAP project | Sends a written request for more funds to the command PECI analyst |
| What is the minimum investment amoun reqired for a PIF project | Over $200,000 |
| Within what time limit must a PIF project use to amortize the cost of investment | Four years |
| Where do HQ USAF activities submit PIF project initates at the headquarters level | Directly to the HQ USAF Productivity Office |
| Who approves and disapproves PIF projects | HQ USAF PECI manager |
| What are the five PIF project limitations that must not occur | Add equipment, change the project scope, increase the cost, lengthen the amortization period, and decrease the IRR, ROI, or manpower savings |
| What action is taken when costs increase and will not allow amortization of all costs within 4 years | The organizations submitting the project must return the funds through regular budget channel to HQ USAF |
| What award does the individual or small group selected for the Air Force Productivity Excellence Award qualify the selectees for | Secretary of Defense Productivity Excellence Award |
| What are the four criteria for the Air Force Productivity Excellence Award | Initiative, innovation and creativity, applicability, and tangible savings benefit |
| Up to how many winners will the panel of judges select based on the award criteria for the Air Force Productivity Excellence Award | 10 |
| What is the intended purpose of the Air Force Productivity Awards for Professional Excellence | Enhance participation in the PECI programs and other productivity programs |
| What are the determining factors in selecting commands, groups, and individuals for the Air Force Productivity Awards for Professional Excellence | The determining factors are specific, imaginative, and innovative achievements that have increased productivity through PECI programs, ideas, special acts, or other management improvement initiatives |
| What is the basis for selection of the outstanding command | Based on the per capita savings versus total end strength for the fiscal year |
| What does the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award recognize | Recognizes outstanding team performance and shares best practices within the Air Force |
| How many applications for the CSTEA can each MAJCOM submit | Two |
| What are the three sections for the CSTEA award criteria | Organizational approach, execution, and results |
| What team will evaluate each CSTEA nomination package prior to team presentation | Technical Review Team |
| What does the President's Quality Award Program recognize | The President's Quality Award Program recognizes federal organizations based on performance and results of an organization in relationship to the president's management agenda |
| What are the five governmental-wide management initiatives | Strategic Management of Human Capital, competitive courcing, improved financial performance, expanded electronic government, budget and performance integration |
| Which organization is responsible for oversight of the Air Force IDEA program | HQ USAF/DPM |
| Who authorizes the issue of funds for IDEA award payments | Disbursing official |
| The automated system designed to provide all Air Force users access from any Air Force computer is the | IDEA Program Data System |
| After the submitter submits their IDEA, how is the supervisor notified | By Electronic mail |
| The IDEA pool includes all | finalized IDEAs |
| When evaluating an IDEA, who is responsible for determining job responsibility | Reporting official |
| What would render an IDEA submission ineligible | Submitter is anonymous |
| Within how many days after the presentation of an IDEA to management must and after-the-fact IDEA be submitted | 30 |
| Who is responsible for ensuring management validates the accuracy of tangible savings reported by the evaluator | Base MO office |
| How many days does the reporting official or supervisor have to complete all actions when reviewing an IDEA | 3 |
| Which personnel are eligible to receive a monetary award for an approved IDEA | Air Force Academy Cadets |
| The maximum award for an IDEA with intangible benefits is | $200 |
| IDEA awards are based on the estimated saving in which year of implementation | First |
| How is the amoun for a monetary award for multiple submitters of an approved IDEA with tangible savings that is outside the submitters' job resonsibility calculated | 15 percent of the first year savings split equally among submitters |
| How often are reports covering the five areas of measurement assessing compliance with the IDEA program required | Quarterly |
| Which organization serves as the Air Force PECI manager | HQ USAF/DPM |
| Who conducts staff assistance visits and trains Productivity Enhancing Capital Investment (PECI) managers | Air Force Manpower Agency |
| What is not a duty of the Base Productivity PECI manager | Staff and approve or disapprove PECI projects |
| How often does the project officer submit reports while a PECI project is amortizing | 6 months |
| Which PECI project allows organizations to compete for self-sustaining funds to finance investments in equipment and facilities over $200,000 | PIF |
| Which PEF project would have highest priority for funding | A PIF project with the greatest return on investment |
| hich award recognizes individuals and small groups who have made substantial improvements in the quality and productivity of operations through suggestions which result in a savings of at least $1 million | Air Force Productivity Excellence Award |
| Which group can not be awarded the Air Force Productivity Excellence Award | A group of 5 |
| The Air Force Awards for Professional Excellence are intended to enhance participation in the | PECI Program |
| How many categories are awarded the Air Force Awards for Professional Excellence | 5 |
| Who administers the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award program | AFMA |
| The Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award is divided into | Organizational approach, execution, and results |
| Which awards program is awarded based on the five governmental wide management initiatives | President's Quality Award Program |
| When can commands reivest savings (dollars and manpower) to satisy valid unfunded requirements | When the equipment becomes operational as long as the new requirement is valid |
