The announcement came at the group's 26^th National Conference held here March 21 through 24.

According to Rhys Ord, chairman of AMSUG's Communications/Awards Committee, the purpose of the award?which will be given in 2003?is to "honor insurance companies for their technology initiatives.

"We are focusing on company initiatives that are real world initiatives," said Mr. Ord. "We are not looking to honor some companies that say they can do something?maybe next year. We hope to honor someone next year for a real world solution to the problems we face as independent agents.

"By that, we mean [that the solution is] working in two or three agency offices, live in full production," he added.

Mr. Ord said the main objectives of the Quantum Award are:

? To encourage carriers to deploy single-entry interface technology that utilizes best-of-breed technology, ACORD standards, and real-time programming, rather than proprietary software.

? To recognize and reward those carriers who successfully deploy such technology in live, working agency environments, "and have helped their agencies grow and profit beyond normal levels."

? To enhance the value of the partnerships between AMSUG and the carriers used by its members.

"We really are going to stick by this business of ?real world'," Mr. Ord emphasized. He said the group is seeking to recognize "solutions that help us in a way that we can look with pride upon [them] and not wish they were just something different."

In particular, he noted, the group will be looking at real-time processing, standards and "integration with our management systems" in judging systems. Any proprietary system, he added, "probably won't get much credibility."

AMSUG said nominations for the award will be accepted from carriers, vendors, agency personnel and others. The nominations can be submitted online (www.amsug.org) through Dec. 31. The group's board of directors will select award recipients who will participate in a special presentation during the group's 2003 national conference.