Technical Service Providers (TSP)

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The 2002 Farm Bill authorized USDA to use Technical Service Providers (TSPs).  TSPs are private sector, non-profit, and public agency professionals that provide Farm Bill technical assistance to landowners and farmers.  Building a cadre of certified TSPs capable of providing direct technical assistance and help NRCS deliver conservation programs in a more timely manner.

Technical assistance includes conservation planning and design, layout, installation, checkout and certification of approved conservation practices.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and conservation districts have traditionally provided these technical services, and will continue to do so. What’s new is that USDA will now reimburse producers for technical assistance provided by certified Technical Service Providers. The NRCS is committed to ensuring quality technical assistance no matter whether this service comes from NRCS employees or a TSP. 

The NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) and the NRCS National Planning Procedures Handbook are the quality benchmarks for providing these services.  NRCS is also committed to a Technical Service Provider process that is farmer or producer friendly. Technical Service Provider technical assistance will be offered in ways that will be convenient to farmers and ranchers and designed to meet their needs. That means program participants will have a choice of providers…they may use NRCS technical assistance; or, may elect to use a Technical Service Provider certified by NRCS to provide their technical assistance if funds are available.

The NRCS TechReg website provides general information on the TSP program.

Technical Service Providers in North Carolina

Use of TSPs varies somewhat each year depending on requests from program participants and funding. Although TSPs have been used to provide a broad range of technical services, NRCS has prioritized their use in North Carolina for the following:

1. Nutrient Management Plan preparation, installation and checkout In addition to meeting national criteria, must be
   NC Soil and Water Conservation certified ‘Technical Specialists’ in WUP/NM category and be PLAT Qualified and use NC
   Nutrient Management Software to prepare nutrient management plans. 
   See NCSU Nutrient Management in NC for software downloads and training opportunities.
2. Pest Management Plan preparation, installation and checkout
3. Prescribed Burning plan development and checkout

How to Become a TSP?

Becoming a TSP and managing individual TSP services is all done online through the TechReg website (http://techreg.usda.gov). 
Follow the steps in TechReg to become a TSP. 

Producer Reimbursement for Using TSP Services

If funds are available, program participants are given the option of utilizing and being reimbursed for TSP’s for services.  Program participants must communicate with their NRCS technical contact annually and insure that their contract(s) has been modified to add money for TSP technical services.  Additionally, the program participant must use a TSP who has completed the USDA/NRCS TSP Certification process and who is certified in the correct category for the work to be done.

Approved program participants will be reimbursed for TSP services based on TSP payment rates.  North Carolina has granted an exemption to these rates for Nutrient Management and Pest Management.  These are outlined below:

When work is complete TSP’s provide certification through a Warranty of Technical Service Provided form.   

Quality Assurance of TSP Services

North Carolina TSP Quality Assurance Plan  (PDF; 30 KB)  (Last Modified 10/26/2006)

Summary Notes of 2006 TSP Trial Quality Review Process

Technical Information for TSP’s

• North Carolina Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG)

• North Carolina Technical References

• National Technical References

• NC Supplement to TSP Handbook  (PDF; 84 KB)  

Program Information

Current programs that utilize TSP’s in North Carolina. 

• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Farm Services Agency

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)

• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

TSP Contacts

TSP Training

CNMP Nutrient Management and Nutrient Management

Completion of NCSU courses below and achievement of Technical Specialist Certification WUP/NM from the NC Soil and Water Conservation Commission is considered equivalent of completing NRCS Nutrient Management Modules 1-7.

TSP Policy and Handbooks

Technical Information for TSPs

Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG) - NC

Web Soil Survey SoilDataMart (NC counties) NRCS Policy, Manuals, Directives, Handbooks & Tech Notes RUSLE2
 

TSP Payment Rates

TSP Forms

Last Modified: 06/26/2008