NRCS provides conservation planning and technical assistance to agricultural producers and others who make natural resource management decisions.
For additional information on TSPs, see the National NRCS TSP website.
What is a Technical Service Provider or TSP?
Technical Service Providers (TSPs) offer services to agricultural producers such as farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners on behalf of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
TSPs help these producers plan, design, and implement conservation practices or develop conservation activity plans to improve agricultural operations.
TSPs include individuals, private businesses, American Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies.
TSPs expand the number of availabilities of conservation technical experts capable of offering customized, one-on-one conservation advice to agricultural producers.
What are the expectations of a TSP?
The Technical Service Provider Certification Agreement states what is required of a TSP. The agreement indirectly states expectations. The expectations are that a certified TSP will know NRCS conservation practice standards, specifications, and statements of work (SOW) located within the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG). Also they will know the requirements when using Conservation Planning Activities (CPA), Design and implementation Activities (DIA), or Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMA). When a TSP signs off on a conservation plan or certification of a practice, they are stating that plan or practice meets NRCS standards and specifications and all required documents outlined on the SOW and/or National CPA, DIA, or CEMA Technical Criteria for each practice has been provided.
Prior to submitting your application, please verify that you meet the qualifications for the categories or practices for which you are pursuing certification. The following information can be found by following the links below to the National TSP website and the section “Becoming a TSP?”.
How to become a TSP?
The national TSP webpage has additional information on the “why should I become a TSP”, “who benefits from being a TSP”, and more details on the eauth account creation process for new TSPs.
TSP Practice Payment Worksheets
When construction is completed, the TSP completes one of the following EQIP Practice Payment spreadsheets based on the fiscal year of the EQIP contract. Submit the completed spreadsheet to the NRCS Field Office where the project is located.
FY2019 Practice Payment Spreadsheet
FY2020 Practice Payment Spreadsheet
FY2021 Practice Payment Spreadsheet
FY2022 Practice Payment Spreadsheet
FY2023 Practice Payment Spreadsheet
FY 2024 EQIP FA Estimator FY 2024 RCPP FA Estimator FY TA EQIP/RCPP Estimator
South Dakota Documents
South Dakota NRCS has compiled resources for NRCS employees, TSPs and program participants to help guide the process of providing technical assistance
Technical Service Providers (TSP) Step-by-Step Process Document (For CPA, DIA, and CEMA)
Technical Service Providers (TSP) Step-by-Step Process Document (For Implementing Conservation Practices)
Guidance for Program Participants
SD-ADS-6 Information Release or Receipt Authorization
Program Participant Roles and Responsibilities
Using a TSP for Barn Design
Selecting a TSP Guide Sheet
Considerations in Selecting a Contractor
SD-ENG-62 County Zoning Approval Verification
Guidance for Technical Service Providers
Becoming A Technical Service Provider (South Dakota Fact Sheet)
TSP Roles and Responsibilities
Warranty of Technical Services Provided
Guidance for NRCS Employees
NRCS Roles and Responsibilities
Agricultural Waste Management System Preliminary Feasibility Report
Pre-Design Meeting Checklist
Pre-Construction Meeting Checklist
NRCS Technical Resources
Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG)