2003 Outstanding Program Awards Executive Summaries of all Award Nominations [Word] Award Winners from Previous Years NASCA Announces 2003 Outstanding Program Award State Government Agency Honored for Leadership and Innovation LEXINGTON, KY (July 23, 2003) - The National Association of State Chief Administrators (NASCA) announced the winners of the 2003 Outstanding Program Award for leadership and innovation. The winners of this year's Outstanding Program Award are North Carolina's Utility Savings Initiative and Delaware's Partner$ in Procurement. The winning programs were selected from an impressive field of nominations from state government organizations. The 9th annual NASCA (www.nasca.org) Outstanding Program Awards recognize state agencies, organizations or individuals that have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and innovation, creativity, advanced knowledge and efficiency in state government. This award will be presented during the NASCA Annual Conference, August 23 - 26, 2003 in Indianapolis, IN. North Carolina's Utility Savings Initiative's accomplishments include: Training in energy and water management for over 580 State Employees Reduced agency and university operating expenses and associated savings in tax dollars projected to be $600,000 from electric rate savings Environmental benefits to state occupants for reducing water consumption to maintain water supplies, particularly important during the recent drought Reduced agency and university operating expenses and associated savings in tax dollars due to conservation of energy and water Environmental benefits for cleaner air due to decreased energy use Conservation Awareness Training applied to state buildings Delaware's Partner$ in Procurement's accomplishments include: Identifying between $35 and $42 million in total contract savings Installing a rate ceiling on services that drove down costs and gave the state flexibility to choose only the providers offering the highest quality service Identifying areas of waste and overspending Bringing new purchases in line with what the state needed instead of just wanted Consolidating the number of vendors the state uses without cutting contracts to in-state vendors or minority and women-owned businesses Encouraging the Legislature to become involved by authorizing on-line reverse auctions