Transcript Technical Service Provider Orientation

TechReg and TSP Orientation
CNMP Core Curriculum
Section 10 — TSP Certification and TechReg
CNMP Development
Core Training Curriculum
These course materials have been developed as a
cooperative effort between five land-grant universities
and The Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Copyright Information
Ames, Iowa 50011, (515) 294-4111.
Copyright © 1995-2006, Iowa State University
of Science and Technology. All rights reserved.
Objectives
Upon completion the student will be able to:
• define general terms used by NRCS
• list the steps required for the eAuthentication
• recall websites for reference material
• explain TSP reporting responsibilities
• restate the purpose for NTE rates
• explain the roles and responsibilities of the TSP,
the landowner and NRCS
• list the steps of de-certification and describe the
differences between states in the verification
process.
Required Materials
• USDA – NRCS. Conservation Planning Policy (GM-180, Part 409.10).
• USDA – NRCS. Technical Service Categories and Criteria Options for
Certification. http://techreg.usda.gov/ (listed under Certification Criteria)
• USDA – NRCS. Technical Service Provider Final Rules
• USDA-NRCS. Tech Reg Website. http://techreg.usda.gov/
• Definitions for NTE rate components:
http://techreg.sc.egov.usda.gov/NTE/TSPNTE2/index.asp
• TSP Policy:http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/GM/GM_180_411.htm
• TSP Handbook:
http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/H/H_180_610_Content.htm
• NRCS TSP Certification Agreement
• List of TSP, Producer and NRCS Roles & Responsibilities
• Federal and State TSP Fact Sheets
Supplemental Materials
• USDA – NRCS. National Bulletin No. 450-5-2 Draft TSP Manual.
http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/NB/NB_450_5_2.htm
• TSP Roadmap: Five easy steps to certification:
http://techreg.usda.gov/help/FiveSteps.pdf
• Section 1242 of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended by the Farm
Security & Rural Investment Act of 2002, Public Law 107-171, (2002 Farm
Bill)
• Conservation Program Manual Title 440, part 504
• NRCS General Manual (CNMP Policy)http://policy.nrcs.usda.gov/scripts/lpsiis.dll/GM/GM_180_411.htm
• Federal Business Opportunities website:
http://www.fbo.gov/spg/USDA/NRCS/index.html
• TSP Civil Rights Responsibilities:
http://techreg.usda.gov/help/CivilRightsResponsibilities.pdf
To be discussed:
•
•
•
•
•
Acquisition of technical services
TSP certification process
Maintaining Certification
Producer reimbursement
Roles and responsibilities
Why Technical Service Providers?
• Need basis
– High NRCS Workload
– Too few employees
• Who are technical
service providers?
– Individuals employed
by:
• Private business
• Non-profit
• Public agency
Technical Service Acquisition
Method #1
Contractual
relationship
Technical
Service
Provider
• TSP certification not required
• Functions as a NRCS representative
– Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA)
• Payment rate determined in by contract terms
• Payment is directly through NRCS
Method # 1 - NRCS Acquisition
• Method of Contracting
– FedBizOps
– FedGrants
• Options available
– Competitive
• Grants
• Contracts (A&E)
• Cooperative Agreements
– Non-Competitive
• Contribution Agreements
Technical Service Acquisition
Method #2
Contractual
relationship
Technical
Service
Provider
• MUST be TSP certified for Program
Reimbursement
• FOIA does not apply
• NTE rates or NTE Exception rates
• Payment is directly through Producer
TechReg Web Site
Help
Site Login
(USDA login
and
password)
Current
Events
News
(http://techreg
.usda.gov)
Online
Certification
Application
Certification
Options and
Criteria
Online
Resource
Locator
Certification Tools Available Online
TechReg Web Site
TechReg-Step by Step Guide
Five Steps to
Certification
Certification
Categories,
Options,
and Criteria
Steps to Registration
on TechReg
• Choose certification categories
• Obtain e-Authentication
• Login to TechReg Website and
review agreement
• Complete certification requirements
• Complete and sign TSP application
TSP Application
“Common Errors”
• Wrong certification
category
• Inaccurate/Incomplete
documentation
• Inappropriate
References
All TSP Categories Are Not Equal
ALL CNMP Work
Verification
• Multi-state
certification
• Single-state
certification
• NRCS has 60
days to
complete
verification
process
Re-Certification
• Every three years
• After expiration of
de-certification
• May be required to
provide CEU
documentation
Decertification
• NRCS will decertify a TSP if
– Technical assistance does not meet NRCS
standards and specifications
– TSP violates one of more terms of
certification agreement
– Provides false information on application
– Other causes determined by NRCS to
demonstrate TSP inability to fulfill terms of
certification agreement
Your Hired – Now What?
• Project may require multiple site visits
• Schedule participant, TSP, NRCS preplanning
meeting and discuss
–
–
–
–
–
Expectations and deadlines
Management of multiple contractors
Standards of Work
Forms
Other
Not-to-Exceed Rates
• Maximum rate
reimbursed to
producers for provided
services
• Rates are based on
NRCS cost for a
similar service.
TSP Rates should be negotiated with producer.
Exceptions
• NTE rates are based on
time estimates for “typical”
situations
• NTE Exception Rates are
used in atypical situations
TSP Performance Reporting
Technical Service Provider
PRS Data Entry Worksheet
NRCS collects information concerning conservation practices put on the landscape through
Technical Service Providers (TSPs). Please submit completed forms to either your customer or
the local NRCS Field Office. Your input improves the accuracy of NRCS’s reporting systems.
Landowner Name:
TSP Name:
Contract or TSP Number:
USDA Program:
EQIP
Location of Work:
Tract Number:
Field Number:
County:
State:
Land Use: (crop, pasture, etc.)
Practice:
Name or Code:
Amount:
Units: (ac, ft, cfs, etc.)
Provide copy to
Producer or to
NRCS upon
completion of
reportable item
For each type of service you performed, enter the completion date for each. If you did not
provide a type of service, leave the date field blank.
Service Type Date Completed
Planning
Design
Installation
Checkout
•http://www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/TSP.html
Questions?