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Technical Service Providers

Wisconsin's Technical Service Provider (TSP) process is intended to help professionals interested in providing  technical assistance to landowners and farmers under one of the Farm Bill conservation programs. Technical Service Providers: Photo of two hands shaking

How to become a Technical Service Provider

Register to become a Tech Service Provider through the TechReg website at http://techreg.usda.gov.

The premise behind the TSP process is that the demand for technical assistance to do conservation work is increasing and will exceed the current staffing capacity of the NRCS. Technical assistance includes conservation planning and design, installation and checkout of approved conservation practices. NRCS has traditionally provided these technical services and will continue to do so. What is new is that USDA will now reimburse producers for technical services provided by a USDA certified TSP.

Go into TechReg  to find detailed information on how to become a TSP. You will need a USDA user ID account and password. Instructions for establishing an e-government account are available online or through a USDA Service Center. An even more streamlined certification process is available to members of a Certifying Organizations already partnering with USDA. Be sure to check TechReg for approved MOUs.

Quick Access

To use TechReg, a potential TSP must first register for a Level 2 eAuthentication account.  To do that, you must go to the TechReg home page and click on the "Get a Level 2 eAuthentication Account for TechReg" button. You will be directed to the eAuthentication site where you will be able to register for a Level 2 e-government account.  Once you have completed the registration process you will have to go to a local USDA Service Center with a picture ID and ask to be entered into the Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS).  Your identity will be validated and your account activated.  Once your account has been activated, you will be able to log-in to TechReg using the user ID and password you created.  You will then be able to go into the TechReg site and interact regarding TSP and other USDA business.  See a map and find NRCS offices in Wisconsin.

 

Why become a Certified Technical Service Provider?

Certification is required for an EQIP participant to be reimbursed for technical services they receive. NRCS staff, partner agencies, non-profit organizations, as well as private contractors and businesses may be certified to provide technical assistance through NRCS.  Different tasks require different certifications. Check the Certification criteria for the practices that you are interested in providing. TSP can only provide services for which they have been specifically certified by NRCS in TechReg.
 

Training

The NRCS Conservation Planning Training Modules 1-5 are available online through AgLearn, the USDA online training website. Conservation Planning is required for TSP certification. You will need to register for an AgLearn account.
Instructions to get your AgLearn Account.

For questions on AgLearn accesss or training, contact   Brock Chalmers, Training Officer,   (608) 662-4422 x 292  brock.chalmers@wi.usda.gov
 

Statements of Work 

The Statement of Work details what is necessary to complete the technical services for program participants.

For example, if the "590-Nutrient Management" practice is to be completed, the statement of work will detail exactly what is expected of the TSP to satisfactorily complete the required technical services for each component (design, installation and checkout) of the practice. 

Each Statement of Work provides information about how to complete a practice and has specific information about "deliverables" for each component, which are required to meet WI NRCS Standards and Specifications.

The "deliverables" are the technical services required for each practice.  This is what a client hires a TSP to provide.

  • Go to NRCS's eFOTG site.
  • Select the county of the project.
  • Select Section IV of the eFOTG, then select subsection B - Conservation Practices.
  • Select the conservation practice.
  • Below the name of the conservation practice selected will be a selection which repeats the selected conservation practice name and the words STATEMENT OF WORK.
  • Select STATEMENT OF WORK for the selected conservation practice.
     

Qualifications for Wisconsin TSP Certifications

In TechReg, you will find  different TSP certification categories and the criteria for each.  You only need to meet the criteria for one option group to satisfy the certification requirements for a category.

Basic NRCS Resources for Technical Service Providers

  • e-FOTG

    •     The NRCS's Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) is the resource for all conservation practice standard and specifications.  Contact the local field office for assistance with portions that have not been published to the eFOTG website. 

  • Technical References

    •     Though much of the information needed to design and apply conservation practices is provided in the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG), some may not be. Our Technical Notes section provides additional information not found in the FOTG.

  • Program Information

    •   Program requirements are not found in the FOTG. Under the programs in this section you will find the program requirements, forms, and other information needed by the Technical Service Provider in advising landowners and farmers. To signup for these programs, farmers and landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center or visit the USDA's eGOV site.

For more information on TSP in Wisconsin, contact John Pingry, TSP Coordinator for NRCS in Wisconsin at john.pingry@wi.usda.gov 0r 608-662-4422 ext. 271.