Technical Service Providers are Essential

Remarks by Bruce I. Knight, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service
at the USDA Outlook Conference, Arlington, VA
February 21, 2003

I am glad to see that so many of you decided to come to this morning’s discussion of the Technical Service Provider process. The Technical Service Provider process is very important to the successful implementation of the farm bill.

Not only does the farm bill authorize the use of technical service providers, but the magnitude of the farm bill requires that we rely heavily on technical service providers. In fact, what we are doing is building an industry of certified professionals to help us get the job done.

NRCS will still have plenty to do, providing the service landowners have come to expect, and fulfilling the inherent government responsibilities assigned to our agency.

Technical service providers, will be important because they will expand our capabilities well beyond what we can do ourselves.


PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

We at NRCS want to make sure the process works well, both for the farmers and ranchers who will use these services, and for the technical service provides who will be performing the services. We have made every effort to involve both providers and users of technical services in the rule making process by conducting listening sessions across the country last spring, holding many meetings with stakeholder groups, and conducting two national video conferences.

As you know, the public comment period for the interim final rule on the Technical Service Provider process ended February 19. The blizzard here in Washington, D.C., may have delayed some last-minute comments, so we are hoping to announce a 30-day extension to the comment period.

We want as many comments as possible, so we can make improvements in the process. I promise that we will do everything we can to make the process work for everyone. At the same time, we need to implement the process as quickly as possible.


IMPLEMENTATION

The effective date for the rule is March 1, and we now have the 2003 budget for conservation programs, so we need to move quickly to help farmers and ranchers meet their conservation objectives. We will not be ready to award contracts on March 1, because we still need to establish not-to-exceed rates for the services.

The procedures for setting these rates will be contained in an amendment to the Technical Service Provider rule. We hope to have that amendment out with the next few days, with a 90-day comment period, so we can begin gathering the data we need for establishing the rates.

The important thing about the amendment is that it will establish the methodology for determining – and adjusting – the not-to-exceed rate for payments. The intent is to let market forces determine what the government – and the landowner – will pay for technical services.

We are setting up a system to use the Federal Business Opportunities site on the internet, FedBizOpps.gov, to solicit – or survey – pricing information from those who want to provide services. The FedBizOpps notices will be posted soon and may cover suites of work, such as determining CRP eligibility and doing preliminary work for EQIP and WRP.

So, as of March 1, we will start certifying technical service providers and begin the process of establishing payment rates. We are setting up a Web site that will act as a registry for technical service providers. This web site will also be up and running on March 1.


RECOMMENDING ORGANIZATIONS

In the meantime, we have been signing memorandums of understanding with several major professional organizations that will be recommending their members for certification as technical service providers.

We signed an MOU with the Society for Range Management, covering Certified Professionals in Range Management and Certified Range Management Consultants. And with the American Society for Agronomy, covering Certified Crop Advisers, Certified Professional Agronomists, Certified Professional Crop Scientists and Certified Professional Soil Scientists.

We are also working on a new MOU with the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants. And, we are talking with other groups about MOUs, such as the Land Improvement Contractors of America, the Wildlife Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the University of Tennessee, and others.


CONCLUSION

To sum up, I am confident the Technical Service Provider process will be good for the earth, good for landowners, and good for technical service providers. Now, let’s hear from our panelists.