Build Nebraska Awards
Submission Requirements
- Entries must be received by 5:00pm on September 30, 2026.
- All entries must be submitted on a flash drive and be accompanied by a non-refundable entry fee of $295.00. Your first project entry fee would have been included with your Intent to Enter form.
- Your company name and entry category must be attached to the flash drive.
- Included on the flash drive should be:
- Your submission .pdf file which includes the Entry Form as the first page. All information should be combined into one .pdf file.
- A folder that includes all of the photos in your submission .pdf. Each photo should be saved in a high-resolution .jpg format in 300dpi resolution. These photos will be used to create the award presentation video.
- Any supplemental materials, saved as separate files, including videos, drone footage, and media coverage.
Criteria Requirements
Please ensure you answer ALL nine criteria sections.
Entries must include the following criteria: (100 points)
1. Overall Presentation and Appearance of Entry – 10 points
a. Company name and entry category must be displayed or attached to the flash drive.
b. All information will be submitted as a .pdf file.
c. Each photo should also be saved as an individual .jpg file, in a folder separate from the .pdf file.
d. The completed Entry Form is included in the .pdf file, as the first page.
e. Each section must be labeled with a cover page or have a separate header on the page.
f. No more than 25 pages. Not including cover pages or photo pages.
2. Project Description – 10 points: Begin the written part of your entry with one page summarizing why the project should receive a Build Nebraska Award and the key points that make your project truly unique.
a. Provide a detailed description of your project’s scope (up to one page).
b. Include:i. Type of construction
ii. Size of project
iii. Contract value
iv. Project duration – start date, completion date
v. Percent of project that was self-performed
vi. Management team
3. Narrative – 40 points: Submit several paragraphs that succinctly describe how your project meets each of the following criteria. Use the criteria as a heading for each section of your narrative. Tell a story. From the initial concept to the final ribbon cutting, each step is a chapter in a narrative of innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. (Use two or three paragraphs for each point)
a. Meeting the challenge of a difficult job. Identify the unique and difficult challenges this project posed and the steps your firm took to overcome those challenges. Such as how you overcame challenging site access, unexpected circumstances, use of new materials, or any other challenges to complete the project successfully. (10 possible points)b. Excellence in project management. Explain the steps your firm took to successfully manage the project to ensure an on-time and on-budget delivery. Include using innovating approaches and project management techniques to better manage the complex construction process. Was partnering utilized? Were value engineering proposals used? Elaborate on your project delivery method and how it benefited the Owner and provide information about roles and responsibilities. (5 possible points)
c. Contractor’s state-of-the-art advances, innovation in construction techniques or use of materials. Explain the steps your firm took to incorporate innovative construction practices with this project. Include use of innovative construction techniques, materials and /or technologies. Explain why you decided to use those innovative practices and how their use helped with the ultimate success of the project. Explain what new technology, if any, was used and how it helped the project. (5 possible points)
d. Contractor’s sensitivity to environment and surroundings. Explain the steps the team took to protect the nearby natural and built environments during the construction of the project. Identify any measures the team took that go beyond the minimum required.Explain why the team took those steps and provide any data demonstrating the success of those measures. (5 possible points)
e. Excellence in client service. What steps did the project team take to provide the highest possible level of client service, including setting and meeting expectations, helping make the construction process as easy as possible for the project owners and all other groups with a stake in the project's success. (Specialty Contractors: Excellence in service to the prime contractor: How did you meet or exceed the prime contractor’s expectations?) (10 possible points)
f. Contractor’s contribution to the community. What steps did the project team take to improve the local community during the construction process? Did the team make additional enhancements to the nearby community as part of the project? Did the team take steps to recruit and train local workers, partner with local school groups, and/or participate in any philanthropy projects related to the project? List any steps the project team took to contribute to the community during the construction of the project. (5 possible points)
4. A minimum of 10 color pictures and a maximum of 18 color pictures | .jpg format - 300 dpi | 5 points: The photos submitted will be featured in a media presentation shown during the awards dinner. ALL PHOTOS should be saved in a folder, separate from the submission .pdf file. Photos should highlight the construction process, as well as the finished project. Photos can freeze a moment in time that showcases the design, craftsmanship, innovation, and impact of the project. Photos of special techniques or unique conditions that make the project outstanding are most helpful.
5. Presentation Narrative - 5 points: Provide the highlights of the project. This will be used in the awards presentation and post-award media announcement (300 words). This narrative should include two or three of the special aspects of the project.
6. Safety Section – 15 points: Provide any safety initiatives applied throughout the construction process. The completed Safety Form is the first page in the Safety section.
7. References – 5 points: Include a Letter of Recommendation from the project owner OR a letter from the design team. (Specialty Contractors: include a letter of recommendation from the prime contractor.)
8. Project Support Team – 10 points: List all subcontractors, suppliers, and associates who contributed to the project, list what their role was. Designate Nebraska Building Chapter AGC members.
9. Supplemental Material Provide any additional material you feel is important to the project, i.e. short videos, drone footage, press releases, graphics, pictures, letter of commendation, programs from special events related to the project (ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, etc.), etc. Limit five pages--it does count in the total allowed pages.
Helpful Guidelines and Tips
- The judging criteria mirror AGC of America’s Build America Awards.
- The highest score a project can receive is 100 points. The judges look for complete information as outlined above in this material. They will also be looking at your presentation of the information.
- Make sure that your entry meets the general requirements outlined on Categories, Forms, and Rules page.
- Complete all the information requested on the Entry Form. Be certain that the completion date for your project is in the appropriate year. For example, projects submitted for 2026 Build Nebraska Awards must have been completed in 2024, 2025, or 2026.
- All entries must be delivered by the September 30, 2026 deadline. All entries must be submitted in an electronic format on a flash drive. All information should be compiled and saved in a .pdf format. Each flash drive should be labeled with the company name and entry category.
Submissions should be delivered or mailed to:
Nebraska Building Chapter AGC
301 South 13th Street Suite 200
Lincoln, NE 68508
If you need assistance, please contact the chapter office at 402-438-0400.
