MAINE BULLETIN NO. ME 180-8-11 

1. Through public meetings, the media, and one-on-one assistance, inform landowners of the relevant program guidelines, eligible practices, signup and payment procedures.

2. Personally contact a minimum of 10 beginner and/or limited resource farmers/landowners to inform them of program guidelines, eligible practices, and signup procedures.

3. Through public meetings, the media, and private informational meetings, inform private consulting foresters about the relevant program guidelines, eligible practices, signup and payment procedures. (NOTE: These meetings are tentatively scheduled for March 2008).

1. MFS will screen a minimum of 100 forest management plans for basic appropriateness and completeness as a source for a conservation plan.

2. If there is no existing acceptable forest management plan covering the property, MFS will assist the landowner in obtaining a plan using a Maine licensed forester. This may be a Prescribed Forestry, WoodsWise Stewardship or other plan that meets the standard.

3. In cases where the landowner has an acceptable forest management plan, assist a minimum of 100 landowners and NRCS in completing NRCS applications for assistance (CPA-1200) for eligible practices.

1. Preparing or assisting with a minimum of 15 signed conservation plans in NRCS Customer Service Toolkit (CST) that will be eligible for contracting. MFS will work directly with field offices to ensure that planning and progress is communicated in a timely manner.

2. MFS will inform program applicants that they will NOT begin practice installation or begin the use of technical services for cost-shared conservation practices until they have received approval from NRCS.

1. Assisting landowners in obtaining TA to implement their program contract from an NRCS-Certified TSP from the TechReg list, or

2. The MFS, as a TSP will assist the landowner in obtaining a MFS-certified subcontractor (Stewardship Forester) to provide TA in the practice implementation.

3. TA costs to the landowner will be compensated through NRCS Conservation Program contracts using TA funds (TSP Task Items 911 – Design, 912 – Installation and 913 – Checkout) when funds are available.

1. All NRCS cost-shared practices will be completed in accordance with the USDA program contract, an approved design, Field Office Technical Guide and landowner expectations. When requested, ONLY MFS employee(s) certified in Design, Installation and Checkout Tasks for NRCS conservation practices will certify completed practices.

2. The MFS Certified Conservation Planner and District Foresters will be able to certify the following forestry-related conservation practices: Prescribed Forestry (Code 409), Access Roads (Code 560), Forest Trails and Landings (Code 655), Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666), Tree and Shrub Site Preparation (Code 490), Tree and Shrub Establishment (Code 612), Tree and Shrub Pruning (Code 660), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (Code 645) and others on a case-by-case basis.

3. Financial Assistance (FA) Payments: MFS will certify technically-acceptable and completed practices for work assisted by MFS employees or Stewardship Foresters. The Prescribed Forestry practice (Code 409) will be documented on the Completion/Checkout Certification section of the Code 409 Job Sheet. For other practices, they will use the TSP Progress Report and Certification Form. MFS will assist program participants with the request for payment (CCC-1245) by reviewing and submitting appropriate documentation if any is needed.

4. TA Payments: MFS will certify (Practice Design – 911, Installation 912, and Checkout 913) where this work was completed by Stewardship Foresters. MFS will provide the deliverables in the Statement of Work (SOW) and complete and submit the TSP Progress Report and Certification form.

1. Provide current policy, manuals, and technical guide information for eligible practices and programs. NRCS will keep MFS informed of changes in a timely manner. This includes USDA Local Working Group program decisions such as forestry allocations, ranking and evaluation deadlines, and changes in standards and specifications.

2. Provide NRCS technology and technical tools to the maximum extent possible. This includes setting up new customer folders in Customer Service Toolkit for the MFS Certified Conservation Planner.

3. Accept and process landowner applications received through the MFS.

4. Accept CCP – Certified Forestry Conservation Plans and completed practices from the MFS.

5. Enter into contracts with landowners. NRCS will also calculate Technical Service Providers NTE rates and modify contracts to add TSP Task Items (911, 912, 913) when needed and funds are available.

6. Process requests for payment from program participants.

7. Certify payment of completed cost-shared practices and TSP Task Items.