It's that time again. ENR Midwest once again is accepting entries for its Best Projects Competition, an annual program that honors outstanding achievements in design and construction in categories ranging from health care, higher education and highways to water, energy and industrial plants.


Firms have until July 1 to submit entries, but can avoid a $50 entry fee if submissions are completed by May 24. Be sure to take advantage of this early-bird special!


Here's how the competition works: Projects first compete in 10 regional contests, with an expert panel of design and construction professionals evaluating projects on the basis of teamwork, quality, safety, workmanship and community impact. Winning projects for each of the competition's 20 categories will be profiled in regional editions of ENR. One of the projects also will be named Project of the Year, and receive extensive feature coverage in the same issue.


ENR Midwest will honor winners in its Nov. 18 edition. Winning projects in all 10 regions also will be recognized at an awards breakfast this fall.


And that's just the beginning.


Winners of regional competitions then will compete against one another in ENR's national Best of the Best Projects 2013 competition. There’s no need to re-enter.Winners will be profiled in the national edition of ENR.


To get started, click here.


Want to see the Midwestern projects honored last year? You can do so byclicking here.


Best of luck, and be sure to submit your entries by July 1.