Program Participant Responsibilities When Using Technical Service Provider (TSP) Assistance

As a USDA program participant, you have been authorized to utilize the services of a Montana registered TSP to accomplish the practice(s) and service(s) on the contract item(s) listed on form MT-CPA-TSP-1. NRCS has contracted to make payment to you for the respective technical services at the current fiscal year’s Not-To-Exceed (NTE) Rate for the contracted practice(s).

The participant recognizes that he or she is responsible for the following items:

1. Selecting and entering into an agreement with a TSP who has been certified to provide the services for the practice(s) listed on form MT-CPA-TSP-1. The TSP is selected from the list of Montana registered TSPs found on the Locate Technical Providers webpage.
2. Acknowledging that the NRCS’s financial obligation for the contracted services will be at the units and amount specified in the program contract for the current fiscal year. NTE rates may be calculated online at Not-To-Exceed Rates for Technical Service Providers.
3. Insuring that the TSP has the necessary information to perform the contacted services(s) to meet the applicable NRCS standard(s) and specification(s). The participant may release information directly to the TSP or the participant must provide NRCS with written authorization to release appropriate program and plan materials to the TSP (see Authorization for Release of Information to a TSP, form MT-CPA-TSP-2).
4. Ensuring that all work is performed in accordance with all applicable tribal, federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, such as:
   a. National Historic Preservation Act
   b. National Environmental Policy Act
   c. Threatened and Endangered Species Act
   d. Clean Water Act (Section 404 Dredge and Fill Permit)
   e. 310 Permit.
    
5. Payment to the TSP for the services rendered. Participant may authorize NRCS in writing for the USDA program technical services payment to be made directly to the TSP.
6. Services listed on form MT-CPA-TSP-1 are to be provided and completed in the fiscal year scheduled in the program contract.
7. Submit the completed and signed form MT-CPA-TSP-1 when practice and/or service is certified by TSP as meeting NRCS standard(s) and specification(s).
8. Provide NRCS with all required deliverables [See conservation practices' Statement of Work (SOW)] provided by the TSP to certify the payment for technical services and any applicable cost share for conservation practices applied.

Program participant responsibilities are also available in Adobe Acrobat format.

Program Participant Responsibilities When Using Technical Service Provider (TSP) Assistance MT-CPA-TSP-3 (17 KB)

Last Modified: 07/09/2007