Applicants will submit a Criteria Response appropriate to their application level. Please use the table provided to determine page count and response requirements. The page limits include pictures, graphs, figures, data tables, and appendices. Page limits do not include the Application Form, the five-page Organizational Profile, a glossary of terms and abbreviations, or an organizational chart. The Item Format diagram below may be helpful as you determine the scope of your response.

Each application is reviewed by a team of Examiners from our Board of Examiners.

• The first stage is an independent review in which each examiner conducts an assessment of the written application.
• After each examiner has completed their independent review, the team will meet to reach consensus on the most important strengths and opportunities for improvement for the applicant.
• The team will then prepare for the site visit by identifying the appropriate questions, documents and team members to be interviewed to verify the strengths and clarify the opportunities for improvement.

Each OQF evaluation includes a site visit. A team of examiners will spend one to three days (based on the award level sought) at the applicant’s worksite to gain a better understanding of operations and processes.

At the conclusion of every evaluation, the applicant receives a written assessment by the examiner team called a Feedback Report. Feedback Reports are mailed to applicants after the site visit, judging, and editorial processes are complete. Strict confidentiality is observed at all times.