State IT Recognition Awards

award statues and groups of award winners

NASCIO State IT Recognition Awards honor technology innovation and excellence in state government.

Projects and initiatives serve the public by enabling and transforming the business of state government through the optimal use of technology in the areas of:

Artificial Intelligence

harness AI to reinvent the delivery of government services

Cross-Boundary Collaboration

leverage partnerships for improved outcomes

Digital Experience: Agency/Program Solutions

enhance user experience of tailored solutions

Enterprise Technology Management

improve enterprise capabilities

Operational Efficiency

optimize the way people, processes and technology work together

Cybersecurity

strengthen security and risk management posture

Data Management, Analytics & Visualization

enable the use of data for decision making and insight

Digital Experience: Enterprise Solutions

enhance user experience state-wide and improve access at scale

Information & Communications Technology

connect stakeholders to information and services

State CIO Office Special Recognition

showcase the innovation and leadership of the state CIO office

Why Submit?

GET THE KUDOS YOUR STATE DESERVES

Teams work hard and receiving recognition from colleagues of a “job well done” is meaningful

SHOWCASE SUCCESSES TO LEADERSHIP

entries articulate what you did and why it mattered; leverage writeups with key stakeholders within your state

ELEVATE THE FIELD OF STATE TECHNOLOGY

promote awareness of transformative, results-oriented projects and tune out the stereotype of over budget and behind schedule

SHARE YOUR IDEAS BEYOND YOUR BORDERS

all projects are added to the NASCIO Awards Library where states can find inspiration and replicable ideas

open window to platform to submit award entry

Entries due Sunday, June 1 @ 11:59 pm PT

Award Details

Award Information Packet
Download Packet

CATEGORIES

ELIGIBILITY

ENTRY GUIDELINES

PROCESS

TIPS

Resources

Artificial Intelligence

harness AI to reinvent the delivery of government services

e.g., GenAI initiatives; policies and frameworks; language translation; analytics; coding assistance; cybersecurity; procurement; fraud detection/prevention

** may be in beta phase, but must be past proof of concept

Cybersecurity

strengthen security and risk management posture

e.g., governance frameworks; enterprise policies; assessment and audits; IAM; education/awareness; data privacy; data protection; disaster recovery and business continuity

Cross-Boundary Collaboration

leverage partnerships for improved outcomes

e.g., projects among multiple state agencies; state-led projects that involve other public or private entities such as localities, academic institutions, nonprofits or private companies

Data Management, Analytics & Visualization

enable the use of data for decision making and insight

e.g., BI; predictive and performance analytics; fraud detection; visualizations; data governance; data sharing or integration; personalization; related roles & responsibilities

Digital Experience: Enterprise Solutions

enhance user experience state-wide and improve access at scale

e.g., one-stop portals; human-centered design; no-wrong-door initiatives; digital identity management; enterprise brand and web standards; roadmaps; accessibility

Digital Experience: Agency/Program Solutions

enhance user experience of tailored solutions

e.g., occupations and professions licensing; benefits programs; transportation; single line of business services

Enterprise Technology Management

improve enterprise capabilities

e.g., consolidation/optimization; cloud services; budget and cost control; governance; procurement/acquisition modernization; shared services; workforce; service delivery

Information & Communications Technology

connect stakeholders to information and services

e.g., GIS; document management; public safety and emergency response; e-learning; telecommunications

Operational Efficiency

optimize the way people, processes and technology work together

e.g., project methodologies; dashboards; decision modeling; system modernization; procurement modernization; workforce reforms

State CIO Office Special Recognition

showcase the innovation and leadership of the state CIO office

*the state CIO office (or equivalent) must initiate and lead the project, not just play a role

Who can submit?

NASCIO state & territory members in good standing may submit one entry per category
Entry must be submitted by the state CIO office or from an agency with state CIO office approval
(person submitting the entry must have a state email address)

What projects can be submitted?

State-focused projects that:
- were implemented within the past 24 months
- have not previously been named as an award recipient in this program
A project may only be entered into one category
Multi-state projects are encouraged – one state will submit and all will be recognized

Entries must follow outlined format to be considered

Entry file name: StateAbbreviation_Category (ex. KY_Cybersecurity)
Entry submitted via online platform as PDF with max of 7 pages
- Page 1 | Cover Page (state, agency, award category, project title, project dates and contact)
- Pages 2 – 7 | Executive Summary & Project Description
  - ENTRY MUST INCLUDE THE SECTIONS OF IDEA, IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT
  - It is highly encouraged the entry use the questions in each section to organize the narrative
Links may be included, but scores are based on written entry; no attachments or supplemental materials accepted
While no requirements on font, size, margins, etc., you will be asked to resubmit if anything is too hard to read
Entries may reference private-sector partners, but may not include company/product names in the entry title or be on company letterhead

Project Description

IDEA (25%)

What problem or opportunity does the project address?

* Explain how the project solves a critical business problem, improves business processes, or increases citizen engagement with/access to state government

Why does it matter?

* Outline the business rationale for why this issue should be addressed and what change it will make

* Provide relevant data for support, such as cost, human resources, size of constituent group, or consequences of not addressing

What makes it different?

* Showcase what makes the project innovative and distinct from similar initiatives

What makes it universal?

* Specify what the project addresses that is universal to all states, such as mandates or one of the State CIO Top Ten Priorities

IMPLEMENTATION (25%)

What was the roadmap?

* Describe how this project fits into an enterprise view

* Describe the project management approach

* Outline how the project will be assessed and what successful implementation looks like

Who was involved?

* From concept to fruition, profile the groups key to the success of the project

* Share how approval, buy-in, awareness and adoption were obtained from these stakeholders and include key pieces of communications/marketing plans

How did you do it?

* Outline the resources needed, such as financial, human and time

* Give a brief overview of the technical architecture focusing on why it matters more than how it was delivered

IMPACT (50%)

What did the project make better?

* Tell the story of why the project matters, connecting the results back to the business rationale

* Compare the environment before and after the project was completed

How do you know?

* Include the data – quantitative and qualitative- to support the story, such as cost savings / avoidance, ROI, usage, transaction times, customer feedback, constituent experience

* Provide a testimony of either a citizen or business area underscoring the impact

What now?

* Detail the longer-term plan for the project, including how the project will be maintained

* Tell us why this project is worthy of the initial investment and any ongoing investment

Entries to be submitted via the online platform by the deadline
- the award contact will receive an email that the entry has been received
After the entry window closes, entries are reviewed for eligibility, adherence to format guidelines, and alignment with award category
- the award contact will receive an email that the entry has been been accepted
  - the award contact will be notified of any issues and granted 48 hours to resolve the situation
    - entries that remain non-compliant will not be reviewed by judges
Entries are judged by a volunteer panel of NASCIO state and corporate members
- Judges will use the project description (idea, implementation and impact) as the basis of their scores
- NASCIO makes every effort to avoid potential conflicts of interest; judges do not score projects from their own state or in which their company played a role
In each award category, the 3 highest rated projects will be named as finalists; the highest rated will be named the recipient
- A state can be recognized as an award recipient in no more than two categories a year
  - If a state has recipient-level scores in more than 2 categories, the state CIO will be allowed to choose the two categories that receive recipient status, with the others receiving finalist status.
Scores are presented to the NASCIO Executive Committee for approval
Award contacts are notified of their entry’s status
Finalists are announced via press release and all entries are added to the NASCIO Award Library
Recipients are announced during the Awards & Recognition Dinner at the NASCIO Annual Conference

Submit strategically.
Projects may relate to multiple categories; to decide, read descriptions and review past entries in the Awards Library.

Focus on why, not how.
Paint a picture of how government is better because of this project (why undertake it). Technical specifications (how) may be necessary to touch on, but shouldn’t take center stage.

Show. Us. The. Data.
A good story without supportive facts reads more like a fairy tale. Include whatever metrics are meaningful to your project – cost or time savings, increased engagement, improved satisfaction, thwarted threats …

Get creative.
Visuals aids, such as photos, graphs and flowcharts may be included to support the written description as long as the entry remains within the 7-page limit.

Set the scene.
While the content of the entry is what matters most, your title does set the tone; find a balance of catchy and descriptive.