Frequently Ask Questions

What documents are accepted as proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency?
To be a member of the Baldrige Program’s volunteer Board of Examiners, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States with your primary residence in the United States or its territories. If you did not serve on the board of examiners in 2011, you will be required to present valid proof of U.S. citizenship during the onsite training registration process. If you served on the board in 2011 you will not be required to present proof of U. S. citizenship again. The following documents can be used to verify United States citizenship or permanent residency:

• U.S. Passport

• Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county, or state

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth

• Naturalization Certificate

• Certificate of Citizenship

• Permanent Resident Card

Should you have any questions, please call the Examiner Help Center at (877) 237-9064, select Option 1.

Where is the examiner training location?
All training classes will be held at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland. Transportation will be provided between the hotels and NIST during training. For those driving to training, NIST has free on-site parking. You will need photo identification to enter the campus and may be requested to show photo identification while on the NIST grounds. For additional information, download the 2012 Examiner Training Logistics Information book.

How do I request to change or cancel my training week?
If you need to cancel or change your training week, contact the Baldrige Program immediately via e-mail at examinerlogistics@nist.gov or you can call the Examiner Help Center phone line (877) 237-9064 (select option 1 in the automated voicemail system), 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.

What time does the training start and end each day?
Classes will start at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday (for Senior and New Examiners) and Wednesday (for Returning Examiners) through Friday. Classes end at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my self-study/prework assignment?
For questions related to the self-study/prework assignment, please call (877) 237-9064 (select option 2 in the automated voicemail system) or send an e-mail to examtrng@nist.gov.

What is the name and location of the hotel where I’ll be staying during training?
HILTON GARDEN INN AND HOMEWOOD SUITES
14975 Shady Grove Rd., Rockville, MD 20850
Hilton Garden Inn: (877) 782-9444 or Homewood Suites: (800) 225-5466

You can not make your hotel reservation until after receiving an e-mail message from the Baldrige office confirming your training week.
For additional information, go to http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/examiners/resource_center/logistics.cfm.

What is the hotel room rate?
Blocks of rooms have been reserved for examiners at the Hilton Garden Inn ($167/night) and Homewood Suites ($176/night). All reservations must be made by midnight EDT on Friday, April 13, to get the training block rate.

How do I make a hotel reservation?
Make a reservation online or contact the hotel reservation center at Hilton Garden Inn: (877) 782-9444 or Homewood Suites:
(800) 225-5466.

You can not make your hotel reservations until after receiving an e-mail message from the Baldrige office confirming your training week.

Will transportation be provided from the airport to the hotel?
Examiners are expected to make arrangements and pay for their own transportation to the hotels. Additional information on traveling from the airports to the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites can be found in the 2012 Examiner Training Logistics book.

Will transportation be provided to the airport on Friday?
Yes. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided to the Hilton Garden Inn and the Homewood Suites, the three area airports, and the Shady Grove Metro Station (the subway servicing the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area) immediately after training on Friday afternoon. Transportation is reserved for Baldrige Examiner Training course participants only.

Can examiners receive a discount on airline and car rental fares when attending training?
The Baldrige Foundation is offering United Airlines and Avis Car Rental promotions to the 2012 Baldrige Examiner Training participants. Examiners are eligible to receive a 5%–10% discount on United Airlines and United Express airfares (excluding first class). Participants are also eligible to receive a discount of up to 15%-30% on car rentals through Avis Car Rental.  For additional information, download the 2012 Examiner Training Logistics Information book.

Can my employer be recognized for supporting me as a Baldrige examiner?
Yes. Employers have a unique opportunity to be recognized, to make a contribution to the competitiveness of U.S. organizations, and to support the significant leadership-development experience of their Baldrige examiner by supporting the time and travel/lodging expenses for those selected to serve on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) Board of Examiners. Employers will be recognized on the Baldrige Web site for the year in which the examiner serves on the board.

Can I get receive reimbursement for expenses incurred while attending the training?
No. The Baldrige Program is not charging participants a fee to take the training course or for the course materials provided on site. However, this year examiners or their employers will need to cover travel-related costs to attend the training in Gaithersburg, Maryland, including airfare and lodging, if needed. Fortunately, the Baldrige Program has secured a discounted rate at the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites Rockville-Gaithersburg for training participants and will provide free daily transportation between the hotel and the training site, free daily lunches during the training course, and the free Baldrige Director’s Reception on Wednesday evening. The Baldrige Foundation has once again arranged airline and car rental discounts for training participants. Additionally, should examiners be asked to participate in a site visit during the 2012 award process, all travel-related costs will be covered by the program.*

*This statement applies to the volunteer Baldrige Board of Examiners only.

Additional Examiner Training Logistics Information can be located at http://www.nist.gov/baldrige/examiners/resource_center/logistics.cfm.