Resources for Lead Partners of RCPP Projects

This page offers resources to help you negotiate an RCPP Programmatic Partnership Agreement, Supplemental Agreements (if applicable), and how to work with NRCS to implement conservation activities on the ground. The resources on this page are specific to projects awarded under Farm Bill 2018.

New Awardee Guides and Orientation

New Awardee Orientation for Lead Partners (1 MB)

New Awardee Guide for RCPP Classic Projects (930.46 KB)

New Awardee Guide for Alternative Funding Arrangements (935.09 KB)

Watch the Orientation Video for FY23 Orientation for New Awardees

Getting Started

The first step to beginning an RCPP project is for the lead NRCS State Office and the lead partner to negotiate a Programmatic Partnership Agreement.
If an eligible partner will be reimbursed by NRCS for delivering either financial assistance or technical assistance, NRCS will negotiate a Supplemental Agreement with that specific partner prior to beginning reimbursable work.
NRCS will coordinate with the lead partner on setting up funding opportunities for producer contracts and/or easement parcel contracts.

RCPP Agreements and Templates

Programmatic Partnership Agreement (PPA)

The programmatic partnership agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of both NRCS and the lead partner. This will include how funds will be allocated (by state, activity type, and year) as well as partner expectations for reporting on deliverables and outcomes.

Supplemental Agreements (SA)

A supplemental agreement may be negotiated after a PPA has been signed by the lead partner and NRCS. Each agreement will include specific deliverables to be completed by that eligible partner. Please see the new awardee guide for information on SA types.

Agreement Templates

Please note, all agreements are negotiated through the NRCS Programs Portal. The following templates are for informational purposes only.

Classic PPA (395.33 KB)

AFA PPA (393.86 KB)

PPA Confidentiality Agreement (221.73 KB)

PPA Reporting Requirements (147.32 KB)

SA Type I (Technical Assistance and FA for Due Diligence) (744.88 KB)

SA Type II (Classic Land Management and Watershed Activities) (713.41 KB)

SA Type III (AFA Land Management, Rental, and Watershed Activities) (770.77 KB)

SA Type IV (Program Agreement for Entity-Held Easement Holders) (728.46 KB)

RCPP Easement Minimum Deed Term Templates

All entity-held easements entered into under a RCPP project must use one of the six sets of minimum deed terms (MDT) below. The MDT establish one of three levels of restrictiveness of the easement (categorized as highly, moderately, or minimally restrictive) by identifying the easement purposes, the allowable uses, the limitations on use, and prohibitions. In addition to choosing the level of restriction, the partner and NRCS must also decide whether to include a U.S. Right of Enforcement (ROE). For more detailed descriptions of the MDT templates see Exhibit 531.206T, Entity-held MDT comparison below.

Partners should work with their RCPP State Coordinator to determine the appropriate MDT for a given project.

Exhibit 531.206T, Entity-held MDT Comparison (178.41 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Agricultural Use (Minimally Restrictive) – No Right of Enforcement (367.6 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Compatible Agricultural Use (Moderately Restrictive) – No Right of Enforcement (286.4 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Agricultural Use (Minimally Restrictive) – With Right of Enforcement (292.5 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Conservation Values (Highly Restrictive) – No Right of Enforcement (252.62 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Compatible Agricultural Use (Moderately Restrictive) – With Right of Enforcement (292.29 KB)

RCPP Entity Held for Conservation Values (Highly Restrictive) – With Right of Enforcement (259.25 KB)

AFA Minimum Deed Term Requirements (125.49 KB)