[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 7, Volume 6] [Revised as of January 1, 2008] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 7CFR652.6] [Page 532] 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 enter into a procurement contract, contribution agreement, cooperative agreement, or other appropriate instrument to assist the Department in providing technical assistance when implementing the conservation programs covered by this part. (b) The Department will ensure that such legal instruments contain qualification and performance criteria necessary to ensure quality implementation of these conservation programs. When the Department obtains assistance from a technical service provider through a procurement contract, contribution agreement, cooperative agreement, or other similar instrument, the technical service provider is authorized to provide technical services and receive payment even if such technical service provider is not certified in accordance with subpart B of this part nor identified on the approved list. (c) The Department will implement procurement contracts, contribution agreements, cooperative agreements, and other appropriate instruments in accordance with applicable Federal acquisition or USDA Federal assistance rules and requirements for competency, quality, and selection, as appropriate. (d) A technical service provider may not receive payment twice for the same technical service, such as once from a participant through a program contract or written agreement and then again through a separate contract or agreement made directly with the Department. (e) 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.