Awards and Recognitions

Dover had been designated as a Blue Ribbon Contractor in Federal Supply Code 2840 until the Blue Ribbon Program (BRP) was terminated in May 1997. The government decided to terminate the BRP due to the "significant administrative burden of the program which outweighed the benefits. Changes to the Federal Acquisition Regulation has been mandated to use the collection of past performance information...". Defense Supply Center Richmond VA (DSCR) has now been using an Automated Best Value System (ABVS). ABVS is "a computerized system which collects a vendor's past performance data and translates it into a numeric score 0-100". Other Department of Defense are using a similar system. The Navy and Air Force are using the Red/Yellow/Green (RYG) program, an "automated tool designed to help reduce the risk of receiving nonconforming products and late shipments. RYG classifies the risk degree by assigning a color to a contractor’s historical quality and delivery performance in individual Federal Stock Classifications (FSCs). Red is high risk, Yellow is moderate risk, and Green is low risk." Our current RYG status within the last three years for both delivery and quality is Green (see our RYG report last updated by DOD, 03/30/08).

Based on past performance data for the year 2000 and 2001 with a perfect score of 100, DSCR awarded the "Gold Medalist" awards to Dover Tool Company . The 2001 award was presented by Brigadier General James P. Totsch. Medalist awards were determined based on 10 line items or more shipped per year.

Dover has a high level of commitment to the quality program. We have been doing urgent and 'DX' priority work for years and have highly developed strategies for meeting difficult delivery requirements. We often do jobs over the weekend or on very tight schedules to allow our customers to keep their engines moving without interruption.

We have also received recognition from the commander of Army Aviation, Major General Donald R. Williamson. This was based on a request for help from him on one of our contracts. The General hand-wrote in the margin 'Need Your Help.' The AVSCOM quality staff confirmed for us that this was his own signature and the statement is characteristic of the General. In the end, Dover was able to meet a critical need he wanted filled, which had grounded helicopters during Desert Storm in 1991. He sent a very gracious personal commendation for meeting the requirements, of which we are quite proud. As to what we actually did, the part involved is complex and required several special processes by subcontractors before, during and after our machining. It is rated 'flight safety critical' by AVSCOM. Normal turnaround time for the whole order would be six to nine months from receiving forgings, including the first article test.

We put on overtime, expedited and hand carried parts to and from all our subcontractors, stood and waited while special inspections were performed at vendors and brought the parts back for final processes. We completed the fastest first article test on record with AVSCOM: two days from beginning of the test to final acceptance. (With the help of the government quality people of course.) Our report itself is now used by AVSCOM as a model for other contractors of a complete First Article Test Report (FATR) that meets their content requirements. Most important for this job, we made delivery in time to alleviate the problem of grounded Chinook helicopters supporting the ground and air offensives. The deployment of these parts also improved the confidence level for some aircraft that had been scheduled for replacement of the part, but had kept flying for lack of it.

For this and other high priority work during Desert Storm, we received a commendation from the DCMAO district headquarters in Boston. The award was presented by Bridgeport DCMAO's commanding officer, USAF Lt. Colonel G. Steven Sultemeier and signed by the Boston commander, USAF Colonel James F. Cashman (see article).