NASA Announces Winners of 2012 George M. Low Award for Quality

June 21, 2013

Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087
beth.dickey-1@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-185

NASA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2012 GEORGE M. LOW AWARD FOR QUALITY

WASHINGTON -- Two companies that share a commitment to teamwork,
technical and managerial excellence, safety, and customer service
have been selected to receive NASA's premier honor for quality and
performance, the George M. Low Award.

NASA recognizes URS Federal Technical Services Inc. of Germantown,
Md., in the large business award category and ATA Engineering Inc. of
San Diego, Calif., in the small business award category.

"NASA's industry partners are crucial in our work to reach new
destinations and expand our nation's capabilities, and we're happy to
recognize these two companies with the high honor of the George M.
Low Award," said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. "Their success
both in space and on the ground has demonstrated excellence and
innovation that will help us reach our challenging goals and keep
America the leader in space exploration."

URS Federal Technical Services Inc. is the institutional services
contractor at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. With 1,100
employees and subcontractors, the company maintains 1,250 facilities,
roadways, railroad tracks and an airfield; provides utilities, indoor
climate control, life support and propellant storage; conducts
non-destructive evaluation; cleans, samples and calibrates
components; and coordinates logistics.

Evaluators cited URS' automation initiative, which deployed tablet
computers to employees to reduce their paperwork burden; its process
for ensuring customer satisfaction; and the breadth of its safety
program in an industrial environment with so many potential hazards.

ATA Engineering Inc. supported development of the Mars Science
Laboratory and its robotic rover, Curiosity, at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. With 93 employees, the company played
a key role in the mission by conducting detailed mechanical
simulation work to support spacecraft's challenging entry, descent
and landing at Mars in August last year.

Evaluators cited ATA's problem-solving ability, demonstrated with the
design of Curiosity's sampling scoop; its emphasis on contracting
with small business and hiring young talent with high potential; and
its strong culture of teamwork.

"I congratulate these companies for winning our premier award. It's
our recognition for their management's leadership and employee
commitment to the highest standards in performance," said Terrence
Wilcutt, the agency's chief of safety and mission assurance. "For
NASA to do the kind of things the country asks us to do in
exploration, science, research, and technology development, we depend
on our contractors to operate at an exemplary level. URS Federal
Technical Services Inc. and ATA Engineering Inc. have set the example
for all of us."

The Low award demonstrates the agency's commitment to promoting
excellence and continual improvement by challenging NASA's contractor
community to be a global benchmark of quality management practices.

The award was established in 1985 as NASA's Excellence Award for
Quality and Productivity. It was renamed in 1990 in memory of George
M. Low, an outstanding leader with a strong commitment to quality
products and workforce during his 27-year tenure at the agency. Low
was NASA's deputy administrator from 1969 to 1976 and a leader in the
early development of space programs.

For more information about the George M. Low Award, visit:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/codeq/gml

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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