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MD.300.8.7, LTP - Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP) Annual Payments

Maryland Bulletin: 300-8-7
Subject: LTP - Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Conservation Security Program (CSP) Annual Payments (CSP)
Date: July 7, 2008

Purpose. To direct CSP 08 Field Offices to proceed with 2008 CSP contracting. To provide instructions for Field Offices to conduct on-site self-assessment verifications on 100 percent of FY 2008 CSP contracts as soon as practical after contract approval and before the initial annual payment.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2008.

Action Required By: July 23, 2008

All applications with a ProTracts status of Eligible as of 7/3/2008, can be marked approved by Field Offices starting on 7/8/08. Participants are not allowed to make changes to their offer as a result of contract approval. Any changes to applications must be limited to minor ProTracts data entry corrections discovered at contract review.

Field Actions follow the procedure below:

  • Change status of Eligible applications to Approved in ProTracts (Status buttons will be activated on Tuesday 7/8/08)
  • Notify applicants by letter (Approved/Ineligible Letters, Mailing List, and Instructions attached)
  • Review contract with participants and obtain their signatures
  • Email the required signed 1202, 1199 and POA for entities to CSP Program Manager by COB JULY 23

The CSP Program Manager will conduct a second level review and will sign and obligate contracts by July 25th.

Action Required by: August 13, 2008

Explanation.

The Conservation Program Manual (CPM), Part 518, Subpart K, Section 518.105 directs NRCS to complete self-assessment verifications as necessary to verify any questionable information or situations about participants’ self-assessment and benchmark condition inventory. With this bulletin, CSP policy is clarified to align with CPM, Part 512, Subpart F, Section 512.55 which directs NRCS to conduct self-assessment verifications on ALL CSP contracts as soon as practicable after contract approval.

Field Offices will conduct field visits on 100% of all FY 08 CSP contracts. All information and situations described on the self-assessment and benchmark condition inventory will be verified.

The self-assessment verification for 100% of FY 2008 CSP contracts will be documented in the Contract Review- CPA 13 in ProTracts no later than August 13, 2008. Use the ‘Need for Technical Assistance’ text box within the ProTracts contract review module to document the current status of the benchmark enhancements.

A discrepancy in the contract due to no fault of the participant may be remedied by the participant by correcting the deficiency within a reasonable period of time. The Designated Conservationist will work with the participant to document any required actions and timeframes for completion. The FY 2008 annual payment will not be issued until a corrective action agreement has been signed by the participant and the Agency. A letter may be used for this purpose. If the participant cannot complete the agreement within the timeframe specified in the agreement, the contract will be considered in noncompliance and handled according to procedures in CPM, Part 512, Subpart H.

Cases of suspected misrepresentation, scheme or device will be documented on the Contract CPA-13 and referred through channels to the State Conservationist for further investigation. If the State Conservationist determines that a participant erroneously represented any fact affecting a CSP determination, the case will be handled according to procedures in CPM, Part 512, Subpart F, Section 512.55F.

Contact. If you have questions, please contact M. Tiffany Laws, CSP Program Manager, at (443) 480-2960 or tiffany.laws@md.usda.gov .

/s/

TIM CLIPPINGER
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs (Acting)

Attachments: See email dated July 7, 2008

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