Pennsylvania Technical Service Provider (TSP) Program
Click here for important information
regarding CNMP, TSP, and EQIP contracts.
Welcome to our TSP page!
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
provides technical and financial assistance to address environmental
resource concerns on privately owned agricultural lands. Due to a high
demand in our field offices, provisions were made to facilitate the
installation of needed conservation practices using the services of
private consultants to work as Technical Service Providers (TSP). A TSP
is a source of technical assistance that, based on specific criteria,
has been certified as such by NRCS.
The information on this page refers to TSP work through individual Farm
Bill conservation contract items. For more information on TSP, please
contact Gary Smith at 717-237-2204.
TSPs provide direct
technical assistance and deliver conservation services to landowners and
others. The TSP program, authorized by
the 1985 Farm Bill and amended by the 2002 Farm Bill (P.L. 107-171),
expands the availability of technical services to carry out NRCS
Conservation Programs. TSPs are available in Pennsylvania
for a variety of technical services relating to implementation of the
2002 Farm Bill. To find a TSP in your state or county, use the TSP
Locator by clicking
here. 
Who can become a Technical Service Provider?
Any individual, business, non-profit organization, or public agency that
performs the categories of service specified on the TechReg website (NRCS
employees are not eligible, and employees of public agencies must only
practice under the auspices of their employing agency). For more
information click here.
Who can hire a Technical Service Provider and be
reimbursed by USDA? Anyone who is eligible and subsequently
receives funding through an NRCS conservation program (and a TSP is
available in the geographic area for the types of services needed).
The TSP program utilizes an online application process.
Potential TSPs must obtain a Level 2 e-Government account (login and
password) from the USDA e-Authentication web site at
http://www.eauth.egov.usda.gov/. A government-issued photo ID must
be presented at the nearest USDA service center to complete the account
process. To find a nearby Service Center,
click here.
Once an e-Government login and password have been set
up, applicants can become certified by registering and completing the
certification process through TechReg.
NRCS will review your application and verify that it
meets NRCS requirements for certification within 60 days. If there is a
problem, we will advise you and allow time for you to make corrections.
If NRCS approves your application, you will electronically sign a
Certification Agreement with NRCS. This grants you certification and
places you on the list of approved TSPs.
TechReg is the
website for registering and locating Technical Service Providers (TSPs).
Certification is required to be reimbursed for technical
services provided to landowners and farmers under the 2002 Farm Bill
conservation programs. 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. TSPs can only provide services for
which they have been specifically certified by NRCS in TechReg.
All technical services provided must meet NRCS Technical
Standards and Specifications that are located in the electronic Field
Office Technical Guide (eFOTG).
In addition, TSPs are required to follow NRCS and
Departmental policies and guidelines as well as meet program
requirements for the USDA program serviced. Policy, guidelines, program
manuals, and handbooks can be found in the Online Resources on
TechReg.
State and local information not available online can be
obtained by contacting your local
Service Center
or Pennsylvania’s State NRCS Office at 717-237-2100.
SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY TSP'S
The services a TSP can provide are limited by the technical
service categories that the consultant is certified to perform in the state of
Pennsylvania. Certification in different states and counties is optional for the
consultant. The demand for services will depend, among other things, on the
availability of assistance provided by NRCS and partners, the willingness of the
producer to hire a TSP and program funds allocated for this purpose.
Most of the work performed by TSPs in Pennsylvania has been in the following
areas:
-
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)
–
It is a goal
of the USDA to help producers meet existing environmental regulations and
maintain a healthy environment. NRCS provides technical and financial
assistance for the planning and implementation of the required CNMP elements.
Under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), participants
installing a waste storage or treatment facility must develop and implement
a CNMP. Consultants can be certified to plan and assist with the
implementation of one or all of the CNMP elements. These elements are the
Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage, Land Treatment, Nutrient
Management and Record Keeping that is the responsibility of the farmer. Two
other elements– Feed Management and Other Utilization– are optional.
-
Nutrient Management Planning – When the utilization or
disposition of nutrients creates a resource concern and/or a program has a
nutrient management requirement (as is the case of EQIP), a nutrient
management plan that follows NRCS conservation practice Nutrient Management
(Code 590) is planned for the operation.
-
Animal Production Waste Management – Livestock and poultry
production is big business in our state. For example the state ranks fourth
in the nation for milk production and third in egg production. Conservation
plans addressing resource concerns related to water quality require
implementation of practices such as Waste Storage Facility (Code 313),
Manure Transfer (634) and Animal Mortality Facility (316).
-
Heavy Use and Barnyard Areas– Pennsylvania livestock farms
tend to be small and, because of issues with water accessibility in the old days,
a great number of them are located close to streams. Runoff across the heavy
use area transports nutrients to the water creating a water quality issue.
The conservation treatment for these areas includes practices such as Heavy
Use Area Protection (Code 561), Roof Runoff Structure (558) and Diversion
(362).
-
Pest Management – NRCS in Pennsylvania has been providing
incentives to motivate farmers to start implementing no-till systems. To
develop a more holistic approach one of the key components of the system is
the pest management plan.
HOW A TSP GETS WORK
When TSP funds are approved for a contract participant, NRCS directs the
person to the TechReg webpage to find possible TSPs. NRCS does not promote
any particular TSP. The participant is free to choose any TSP that will meet
his/her expectations. Due to this, it is in the best interest of the TSP to
promote and market its services.
Certification for some categories of service requires
the completion of national NRCS training courses (i.e., Conservation
Planning Training Modules 1-5). National training opportunities can be
accessed through TechReg (see
Online Resources).
Pennsylvania will post on this site, as available, local
and state training opportunities. Professional organizations provide
training for certain certifications.
TSP Express may also list
available training.
- CNMP Training
- Conservation Planning Training
OPPORTUNITIES
USDA Initiative Benefits Farmers and TSPs
(requires Adobe Acrobat)
PROGRAM INFORMATION
TSP Hiring Process
-
When TSP services are needed, the participant
requests the assistance from the NRCS District Conservationist.
-
If the request is approved, the program contract will be
modified to add the funds that will be used to pay the TSP. The funds
are calculated based on what it will cost NRCS to do the work and are
determined to be a not-to-exceed rate (NTE). Any cost above the rate
approved will be the responsibility of the participant.
-
Knowing the amount approved, the participant “shops” for
a TSP.
-
When a TSP is selected, the contract terms are established
between the participant and the TSP. All work must be done during the same
federal fiscal year the TSP funds were approved. Participants have until August
31 to certify practice completion.
-
At completion, the TSP will certify and sign form CCC-1245
(boxes 15 and 16) that was previously provided by the participant. The TSP will
also provide to the participant an invoice for services rendered.
-
The participant will complete form CCC-1245 by answering
questions 18 & 19 and signing and dating at the bottom of the form. The
participant is responsible for returning the CCC-1245 form and the invoice to
NRCS.
-
With these documents NRCS will process payment to the
participant. If the participant authorizes NRCS to pay directly to the TSP,
he/she will need to fill out form CCC-36 (“Assignment of Payment” form).
Pennsylvania State TSP Contact:
Gary Smith
One Credit Union Place, Suite 340
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 237-2204
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