[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 6]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR652.6]

[Page 458-459]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
   CHAPTER VI--NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                               AGRICULTURE
 
PART 652--TECHNICAL SERVICE PROVIDER ASSISTANCE--Table of Contents
 
                      Subpart A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 652.6  Department delivery of technical services.

    (a) The Department may procure the services of certified technical 
service providers through a contract or a contribution agreement to 
assist the Department in providing technical services necessary to 
develop and implement the conservation programs subject to this part. 
The Department shall only enter into a contribution agreement with a 
certified technical service provider if the certified technical service 
provider contributes at least 50 percent of the technical services 
needed to accomplish the goals of the project under which the 
contribution agreement is entered. The Chief may establish minimum 
contribution rates or limit the utilization of contribution agreements.
    (b) The Department may also enter into a cooperative agreement after 
competition as specified by part 3015 of this title if the principal 
purpose of the cooperative agreement is to transfer a thing of value to 
carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by law. 
The Chief or the Administrator, Farm Service Agency (FSA) may limit the 
utilization of cooperative agreements by NRCS or FSA, respectively. Only 
the Chief, NRCS or the Administrator, FSA may make a determination that 
competition is not deemed appropriate for a particular transaction and 
such determination shall only be based where a non-competitive award is 
in the best interest of the Government and necessary to the 
accomplishment of the goals of the program.
    (c) A certified technical service provider, or an individual 
providing technical services under the auspices of a technical service 
provider's certification, shall not be eligible to receive payment under 
a program contract or

[[Page 459]]

agreement for technical services provided directly to a program 
participant if that technical service provider has entered into a 
contract, cooperative agreement, or contribution agreement with NRCS to 
provide technical services to that program participant.
    (d) The Department will, to the extent practicable, ensure that the 
amounts paid for technical service under this part are consistent across 
conservation program areas, unless specific conservation program 
requirements include additional tasks.