Web Managers Best Practice Awards - 2006

Winners Announced at the Fall Workshop

Four federal websites were chosen as winners of the second annual Government Web Managers Best Practice Awards – two in the “general” audience category and two in the “specialized” audience category.

Web managers from across the country recognized winners and finalists at the Fall 2006 Workshop for Government Web Managers held on September 19, 2006 in Washington, DC.

Winners in the General Audience Category

Nasa.gov -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Fsis.usda.gov -- Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Winners in the Specialized Audience Category

Employeeorientation.nasa.gov -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Employee Orientation website
Usability.gov -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

These websites were chosen by their peers as federal websites that are best-in-class and that demonstrate best practices we can all replicate.

Winners were chosen from among 11 finalist websites. See our list of finalists to read the nominations of each of these outstanding websites.

How Were Winners and Finalists Selected?

Web managers from dozens of federal agencies submitted over 50 nominations.
A judges panel reviewed all nominations and selected eleven finalists – five in the general audience category and six in the specialized audience category.
Each site was reviewed by at least three judges.
Judges did not review the nomination of any website that they'd personally worked on within the past 3 years.
Nominations were judged not just on the quality of their website but on the quality of the written nomination.
After reviewing each site, judges recorded scores in each of the four categories, with each site earning a cumulative score between 0 and 35 points.
Websites with the highest cumulative score were selected as "finalists."
Members of the Web Content Managers Forum reviewed the list of finalists and voted for their top sites, based on the judging criteria below. Sites with the most votes were selected as “winners.”
Only members of the Forum were allowed to vote to ensure that the awards are truly “peer” awards.

What were the Judging Criteria?

This year, we've recognized "best overall" websites, based on combined success in four areas. Judges rated websites in each area, using a 0-10 rating scale.

Content and Interactivity (10 points): Content is engaging, timely, and relevant to the audience. Can include text, video or other content that communicates the mission of the site and helps achieve the agency's (or agencies') mission. Uses plain language and is easy to read and scan. Content is informative, but also allows visitors to participate and interact with government, such as online services, contact and feedback forms, automated FAQs, RSS feeds, email alerts, etc.
Design, Usability and Accessibility (10 points): Navigation and site structure are consistent and intuitive and offer easy access to the breadth and depth of the site's content. Graphic elements add value and are relevant to the audience. Search engine and site map (or subject index) allow users to quickly find content on the site. Meets 508 requirements and anticipates diverse user requirements, including varying download speeds, browsers, file formats, and other special access needs.
Evaluation and Metrics (10 points): Site has a documented evaluation strategy for routinely assessing user needs, measuring effectiveness of visitors' experience, making improvements, and measuring the impact of the website in achieving agency mission. Should provide specific examples of how the site has improved and achieved greater efficiency over time.
Wildcard Category (5 points): Tell us about an area that you excel in -- that you haven't mentioned in the other categories. For example, describe your accomplishments in governance, emergency planning, training your web team, or maintaining content in another language. Explain a specific innovation or project that helped achieve your agency's mission and improved service to your target audience.

What Will Finalists and Winners Receive?

Finalist websites received:

Recognition in front of hundreds of your peers at the awards ceremony, held during the Fall Government Web Managers Workshop on September 19, 2006, in Washington, DC.
One free admission to the Fall workshop
A "Best Federal Website" certificate
Recognition on Webcontent.gov and in a press release announcing the award-winning programs
A "best practices award" logo to post on your website.

Winners received all of the above plus a Web Manager Best Practices awards trophy.

Page Updated or Reviewed: September 21, 2006