Award Nominations

Distinguished Service Award

Eligibility

1. An individual in the deep foundations industry.
2. The nominee can be in an active job position or retired.
3. Nominations can be posthumous.
4. Nominees do not have to be DFI members.
5. Nominees will be considered for three years then they must be renominated.
6. Any DFI member can nominate a candidate.

Nomination Package

1. A statement of reasons for nomination (500 words or less).
2. A brief one-page curriculum vitae of the nominee.
3. Completed online nomination form.

Selection Criteria

Consideration given to duration of career in industry, industry leadership, technological leadership, technological innovation, strength of curriculum vitae, character, DFI contributions and accomplishments, and contributions to the advancement of the deep foundations industry.

Committee

The DSA Committee is an anonymous judging committee selected by the DFI President. The DSA Committee then submits its nominee to the DFI Board of Trustees for a vote. Members being considered for the current year’s DSA are not eligible to serve on the DSA Committee in the year they are considered for award.

Award Information

1. The award may not be made to more than one individual each year. A selection each year is not mandatory.
2. The award is presented at the Awards Banquet held during the Annual Conference on Deep Foundations.
3. The winner receives a bronze replica of a Leonardo da Vinci pile driver mounted on a marble base.
4. The winner’s name is inscribed on a permanent plaque of all recipients, which is displayed at each Annual Conference.

Deadline: April 15 

Innovative Solutions Award

Eligibility

1. Open to any individual or team in the deep foundations/excavation sector, including (but not limited to) industry professionals, academics, students, contractors, vendors, and start-ups so long as the nomination is submitted by a DFI member. Students who are not members agree to become DFI members at no cost when applying.
2. Submissions may be for work completed or under development; where work is in progress, applicants must document demonstrated outcomes or a clear pathway to impact.
3. Students are strongly encouraged to apply either as solo applicants or with faculty/industry partners.
4. A submission may be nominated by the innovator(s) themselves or by a third party. When a third party nominates, the nominee must confirm consent of the innovator with a letter from innovator included with nomination submission.

Nomination Package

1. One page project/innovation summary including project/innovation name; lead applicant(s) and affiliation(s); primary contact; brief summary describing the innovation, problem addressed, novelty, and status (concept / prototype / fielded), and impact statement with clear description of benefits (Ex: technical, safety, sustainability, cost, schedule, scalability, or industry adoption potential).
2. Technical description (up to 2 pages): Detailed description of the innovation, methodology or technology, timeline, collaborators/partners, and the applicant’s role. Include data or evidence demonstrating performance, advantages, and impact.
3. Supporting materials: up to 10 high-resolution photos, drawings, diagrams, short video (optional, link), test data or charts (PDF).
4. IP & commercialization status (if applicable): Disclose intellectual property status and any commercialization plans.
5. If third party nominator, provide letter of consent from the innovator.
6. Completed online nomination form.

Selection Criteria

1. Innovation & originality — is the approach, means and methods and/or quality assurance novel relative to current practice?
2. Technical merit & evidence — demonstrated performance, test data, pilot results, or rigorous analysis.
3. Impact & scalability — potential to improve safety, cost, sustainability, productivity, or knowledge.
4. Applicability to geotechnical practice — relevance to the industry and ease of adoption.
5. Clarity of presentation / supporting materials — completeness of nomination package and quality of supporting media.

Additional Considerations

1. Multiple nominations can be made by the same member.
2. Collaborative submissions are welcome — nominators should confirm recognition preferences among partners before submission.
3. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Committee

1. Industry award nominations shall be judged by the Innovative Solutions Award Committee, which shall be an anonymous judging panel appointed by the DFI President.
2. Student award nominations will be judged by members of the student engagement committee appointed by the DFI President.
3. Judging Committees may elect more than one winner per year.
4. Committees’ recommendation (s) shall be approved by the Board of Trustees.

Award Information

1. The Innovative Solutions Award will be presented during the DFI Annual Conference on Deep Foundations.
2. The company or individual nominating the project will be the recipient of the award unless they determine differently and notify DFI of the company to be recognized.
3. The recipient(s) will be provided one complimentary full conference registration. Student recipients will also be provided with up to $1500 travel reimbursement to attend the conference and accept the award.
4. Additional copies of the award are available at cost at the winner’s request for other companies involved in the project.
5. Recipients are encouraged to write a paper for consideration of publication and presentation at the DFI Annual Conference.
6. The winning submission will have a feature article in Deep Foundations magazine. Support for the article is required from the recipient project applicant, including article and photos.
7. Special Recognition Awards for projects nominated that year are awarded at the discretion of the committee and may be featured in Deep Foundations magazine.

Deadline: April 15 

Legends Award

Eligibility

1. An individual Engineer, Contractor or Manufacturer/Supplier in the deep foundations industry.
2. The nominee can be in an active job position or retired.
3. Nominations can be posthumous.
4. Nominees do not have to be DFI members.
5. Nominees will be considered continuously for future awards.
6. Any DFI member can nominate a candidate.

Nomination Package

1. A statement of reasons for nomination (500 words or less).
2. A brief one-page curriculum vitae of the nominee.
3. Completed online nomination form.

Selection Criteria

1. Impact, value and sustainability (contributions they made are still pivotal to the technological advancements we have today) of achievements.
2. Legacy.
3. Pioneering contributions.
4. Exceptional industry leader; visionary, mentor.
5. Technological ingenuity, innovation and/or application of advancements of design, construction or equipment.
6. Steadfast professionalism, character and integrity.
7. Ingenuity of design and construction techniques.
8. Broad impact on industry.

Committee

The DFI President selects a committee chair who consults with the boards of both DFI and the Trust to select a judging committee of industry leaders as well as an organizing committee for the Awards Ceremony at the DFI Annual Conference. Members being considered as a recipient are not eligible to serve on the Legends Committee in the year they are considered for the award.

Award Information

1. The award is made to three practitioners, an Engineer, a Contractor and a Manufacturer/Supplier, every four years.
2. The awards are presented at a DFI Annual Conference in a dedicated awards ceremony.
3. The winners receive a bronze medal depicting Leonardo da Vinci mounted in a display case.
4. Recipients are perpetually recognized on the DFI website.

Deadline: February 1

Outstanding Project Award

Eligibility

1. Open to all deep foundation and deep excavation projects, regardless of size, scope, or budget.
2. Project work must have been completed within three (3) years of the nomination deadline. Completion is defined as the geotechnical phase of the work being submitted has been completed soundly and has been validated by qualifying for payment.
3. Nominations must be submitted by a current DFI member.

Nomination Package

1. One-page project summary including project name, completion date and project team (owner, engineer, GC, foundation contractor, material/equipment suppliers).
2. Project highlights – Clearly describe the unique challenges, creative delivery solutions and techniques that met owners needs and make the project stand out.
3. Up to 10 high-resolution digital photos.
4. Completed online nomination form.

Selection Criteria

Projects will be evaluated based on:

1. Ingenuity of design and construction techniques used.
2. Effectiveness of solutions to meet owner needs and address geotechnical conditions.
3. Overall impact of the project on advancing the practice of deep foundations.

All projects — whether large-scale international efforts or small, highly specialized local works — will be considered equally on their merits.

Additional Criteria Notes:

1. Multiple projects can be nominated by the same member.
2. Collaborative submissions are welcome — nominators should confirm recognition preferences among project partners before submission.
3. Incomplete submissions may not be considered.

Committee

The OPA Committee is an anonymous judging panel appointed by the DFI President. Please note, judges can select more than one winner per year.

Award Information

1. The OPA is presented during the DFI Annual Conference on Deep Foundations.
2. The company nominating the project will be the recipient of the award unless they determine differently and notify DFI of the company to be recognized.
3. Additional copies of the award are available at cost at the winner’s request for other companies involved in the project.
4. A project presentation at the DFI Annual Conference is required.
5. The winning project is featured as the cover story in the Sept/Oct issue of Deep Foundations magazine. Support for the article is required from the recipient project applicant, including article and photos.
6. Special Recognition Awards for projects nominated that year are awarded at the discretion of the committee and may be featured in Deep Foundations magazine.

Deadline: April 15