Overview
The National Quality Awards (NQA) Programme is Jamaica’s premier recognition of excellence, celebrating innovative companies that drive sustainable growth and national development through the effective implementation of internationally recognized management systems.
In 2004, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) through the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, launched the NQA Programme. It was envisioned as a national medium for business excellence, to highlight and promote the competitiveness of Jamaican products and services. In honour of its 10th anniversary and in response to customer feedback, the NQA Programme was evaluated and strengthened in 2014. This has resulted in the programme being restructured to a biennial cycle.
The National Quality Awards are presented to successful companies at an official ceremony and banquet.
Participation in the NQA Programme enables companies to:
- Benchmark their performance against internationally recognized best practices
- Improve productivity and service delivery outcomes
- Enhance brand credibility and stakeholder confidence
- Position themselves for national recognition at the National Quality Awards Ceremony
The NQA Programme is open to the local companies operating the:
- Manufacturing Sector
- Service Sector (Financial, Hospitality, Real Estate and Professional Services)
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
- Agricultural Sector
For the purposes of the NQA Programme, these sectors are defined as follows:
These are companies involved in the physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances or components into new products. Materials, substances or components are the products of agricultural, forestry, fishing, mining or quarrying or other manufacturing activities.
This sector includes activities involving the substantial alteration, renovation or reconstruction of goods.
These are companies that earn revenue through providing intangible products and services. Activities in this sector include retail, banks, hotels, real estate, education, health, social work, computer services, recreation, media, communications, electricity, gas and water supply.
These are enterprises that are involved in the small-scale production of goods and/or services for sale.
Enterprises qualify if they carry:
- Micro – fewer than 5 employees with a total annual turnover of less than or equal to J$15 million
- Small – greater than 5 but less than or equal to 20 employees and an annual turnover of more than J$15M but less than J$75M
- Medium – 21 to 50 employees with a capital base of less than J$425M
This sector includes farming that refers to the primary producers of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. This sector is now divided into two categories, i.e. small farms (≤5 acres) and large farms (˃5 acres).
Benefits
The National Quality Awards Programme:
- Provides a comprehensive assessment of companies using criteria designed to assist organizations with using a more structured approach to organizational performance management.
- Recognizes Jamaican companies that have successfully implemented quality systems.
- Facilitates the improvement of overall organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
- Promotes an awareness of performance excellence as an increasingly important element for enhancing the competitiveness of Jamaican businesses.
Eligibility Criteria
The NQA criteria provide a framework which any organization can use to improve its overall performance.
General Entry and Evaluation Criteria
All applicants must also meet the following eligibility requirements:
- A valid Tax Compliance Certificate
- Be registered with the Companies Office of Jamaica
- Be registered with the Bureau of Standards Jamaica or a relevant Regulatory Body, (if applicable)
- Filed Statutory Payments, G.C.T Payments and Annual Returns
All companies must have at least one of the following by the close of the application period:
a) Documented Standard Operating Procedures
b) Quality Manual/Policy Manual
c) Best Practices Manual
d) On-farm records
e) Farm Safety Plan
f) Good Agricultural Practices Manual
List of Awards Categories
The following five categories make up the award criteria and areas to be assessed during the audit:
- Organizational Focus
- Customer Focus
- Human Resource Focus
- Process Management
- Business Results
The application period for the National Quality Awards (NQA) Programme opens on 10 March 2026.
Companies interested in applying for the National Quality Awards may download the requisite sector specific forms in the table below. For further information or assistance, you may contact Mrs. Cecelia Johnson Rowe, NQA Programme Coordinator at crowe@bsj.org.jm.
National Quality Awards Application Forms
Sector | Application Form | Sample Self-Assessment Checklist |
Manufacturing | ||
Service | ||
Micro, Small & Medium | ||
Agriculture |
National Quality Awards Programme Dates
Item | Time Frame |
Application Period | 10 March 2026– 30 April 2026 |
Assessment Period | 01 June 2026 – 31 July 2026 |
NQA Ceremony Date | TBC |
Contact us
For further information or assistance, you may contact Mrs. Cecelia Johnson Rowe via email at crowe@bsj.org.jm or via telephone at (876) 303-0821.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no cost to the applicant.
Companies which do not meet the eligibility requirements.
Download the Application Form (Introductory Package) from the BSJ’s website and submit the completed Application Forms, to NQA@bsj.org.jm .
Applicants are required to submit completed application packages no later than 30 April 2026.
Documents may be collected from the offices of the BSJ in Kingston, Montego Bay, Mandeville, Ocho Rios or Savannah-La-Mar, and can also be requested via telephone: (876) 632-4275 / (876) 618-1534/ (876) 926-3140-5 or via email at nqa@bsj.org.jm.
The forms can also be downloaded from the NQA Application page.
HEAD OFFICE
Tel: (876) 926-3140-5; (876) 632-4275; (876)-618-1534 | MONTEGO BAY | OCHO RIOS Tel: (876) 795-1965 Email: ochorios@bsj.org.jm |
SAVANNA-LA-MAR Tel: (876)-918-1652 Email: savlamar@bsj.org.jm | MANDEVILLE Tel: (876)-962-7102 Email: mandeville@bsj.org.jm
|
- The submitted application package will be evaluated to determine eligibility.
- If your company has met the eligibility requirements, an onsite assessment exercise will be scheduled and a copy of your company(s) Quality Manual/Policy Manual (or other similar documents) will be requested for the assessment.
- The awardees will be selected using information garnered from the assessment exercise and the winners ratified by an Independent Examiners’ Board.
- An awards ceremony will then be held in 2027, where the winners will be awarded in the Manufacturing, Service, MSME and Agricultural Sectors.
Prizes to be awarded for the National Quality Awards | |||
MANUFACTURING SECTOR | SERVICE SECTOR | SMALL BUSINESS SECTOR | AGRICULTURAL SECTOR |
Overall Winner | Overall Winner |
Overall Winner Runner-up
| Overall Winner (Small Farm) Overall Winner (Large Farm)
|
Organizational Focus Winner | Organizational Focus Winner | ||
Human Resource Focus Winner | Human Resource Focus Winner | ||
Process Management Winner | Process Management Winner | ||
Customer Focus Winner | Customer Focus Winner | ||
Business Results Winner | Business Results Winner |
|
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- The NQA trophy
- Industry recognition
- Promotion by the BSJ
All qualified participants will receive:
- A detailed value-added report on the findings of the NQA assessment.
- A Certificate of Participation
All information obtained during the National Quality Awards Programme will remain confidential in accordance with The Standards Act 1969, which governs the activities of the BSJ. The Assessment Report and its findings are ONLY for internal purposes related to the National Quality Awards Programme.
Please contact Mrs. Cecelia Johnson Rowe via email at crowe@bsj.org.jm.