Alaska Bulletin AK300-8-6

Date:                      December 11, 2007

Subject:                 LTP - Farm Bill Technical Work

Purpose:                To transmit requirements for action on all Financial Assistance program contracts.

Expiration Date:    September 30, 2008

Background

Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alaska has a backlog of contracts with practices which have financial obligations related to them, but do not have site specific specifications, job sheets and designs developed. This leads to confusion with participants regarding our expectations of them in fully complying with contracts. NRCS has a responsibility to provide clear and timely technical assistance to its program participants.

Farm Bill Practices, 1): Site Specific Specifications, Job Sheets and Designs Completed and Approved: April 30, 2008

Farm Bill Practices, 2): Fully Developed Site Specific Specification, Plans and Designs before Contract is Obligated by NRCS: April 30, 2008 Onward.

Technical Practices: District Conservationist will assure that Technical Practices are Entered into the Jobs Database: January 15, 2008.

Progress Reports: District Conservationist will send a report to the State Conservationist detailing progress: January 31, February 29, March 31, and April 30, 2008.

Farm Bill Practices

1. All contracted practices in Farm Bill program contracts will have full site specific specifications, job sheets, and designs completed and approved. Both landowner and NRCS technical representative will sign in acknowledgement and agreement. Where landowner decisions and signature cannot be obtained, DC will proceed with contract termination/cancellation. April 30, 2008.
2. All practices contained in the farm bill program contracts will have fully developed site-specific specifications, plans and designs before contract is obligated by NRCS. April 30, 2008 Onward.

Technical Practices

Each DC will assure that all technical practices, which are not yet completed, have been entered into the Jobs Database. This database will be utilized for monitoring and scheduling of all technical work related to FA program contracts. January 15, 2008.

Progress Report

On the last day of each month, each DC shall send a progress report to the State Conservationist detailing progress made toward the April 30, 2008 deadline. This report will include total number of jobs requiring development of specifications, and the number of jobs, which have completed technical specifications. January 31, February 29, March 31, and April 30, 2008.

If you require further guidance, questions may be referred to Tom Hedt, Assistant State Conservations (Programs) at (907)761-7757 or e-mail thomas.hedt@ak.usda.gov.

/s/ ASTC(P) for

ROBERT JONES
State Conservationist

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