Alabama Bulletin No. AL340-7-6

408.0 Purpose.

This part sets forth Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policy for reporting contributions to NRCS conservation programs.

408.1 Background.

NRCS works in partnership with local conservation districts, state conservation agencies, and other Federal, tribal, State, local, private, and volunteer organizations. These organizations play an important role in leveraging funds for Federal conservation programs and are vital in demonstrating the full cost of programs to Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and others. It is important to record the value of the contributions made by partners and other entities. The value reflected by this commitment in effect supplements NRCS fiscal resources and affords the opportunity to expand and accelerate efforts towards accomplishing our mutual natural resource goals and objectives. Line and program managers should use this information in making decisions that affect agency operations.

408.2 Policy.

In order to capture the full cost of programs, NRCS will collect information on appropriations and contributions from other organizations. The intent is to capture those costs associated with NRCS programs that NRCS would have to pay, if specific goods and services were not provided by members of the Conservation Partnership and others.

408.3 Procedures.

(a) Estimated contributions to NRCS conservation programs will be reported through the Performance Measurement and Results System at the field, State, and national levels.

(b) Business definitions for reporting will be available using the online "Help" menu in the Performance and Results Measurement System and the Integrated Accountability System Reportable Items Handbook.

(c) Estimated financial and in-kind contributions (fair market value of equipment or materials and hours) by program will be reported.

(d) Data will be entered by the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter.

408.4 Sources of Appropriations or Contributions.

(a) Federal. Contributions of other Federal agencies that are relevant to capturing the full cost of NRCS programs. The intent is to capture those costs associated with NRCS programs that NRCS would have to pay, if specific goods and services were not provided by others.

(b) Tribal government. Funds or in-kind contributions by an Indian tribe regardless of whether the tribe is a Federally recognized tribe.

(c) State government. Funds or in-kind contributions by State legislature, or otherwise provided through official facilities of the State (proceeds from fish and game licenses, equipment revolving funds, etc.).

(d) Local government. Funds or in-kind contributions by all governmental subdivisions below State level, such as cities, counties, and parishes.

(e) Conservation Districts. Funds or in-kind contributions of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Natural Resources Conservation Districts not accounted for elsewhere (e.g. State and local government).

(f) Non-Governmental Organizations. Funds from private organizations, agencies, foundations, etc.

(g) Other sources. Do not include landowner/producer contributions such as constructing conservation practices on their land.

408.5 Financial (Monetary) Contributions.

Report the total estimated number of dollars contributed by external sources to support NRCS programs for the previous quarter. County level data will be entered. Funds will be entered either as technical assistance or financial assistance. Financial assistance includes funds for cost sharing programs or grants made by the partner to individuals or organizations to carry out demonstrations, or education programs, for example. Technical Assistance includes funds to pay for staff including salary, benefits and overhead. Funds that should be considered for the estimate include:

(a) Funds contributed by local or State, units of government to conduct Conservation District operations.

(b) Funds paid to landowners through state cost-share programs that implement NRCS conservation practices/systems.

(c) Funds contributed by a State or local government to complete soils mapping or digitizing.

(d) Donations or grants by private organizations to implement conservation programs or practices.

408.6 In-Kind Contributions.

Fair Market Value of Equipment or Materials. This includes the estimated value of any goods or services that NRCS would have to pay for if not being provided. Includes rent, utilities, use of vehicles, equipment, maps, etc. It does not include the real estate value of buildings. If the building is owned, estimate the fair market rental value.

408.7 Programs.

Contributions should be reported for the following programs (for definitions and a current list of programs, refer to the Integrated Accountability System Reportable Items Handbook):

• Conservation Technical Assistance General (CTA-General)
• Conservation Technical Assistance National Resource Inventory (CTA-NRI)
• Conservation Technical Assistance Grazing Land Conservation (CTA-GLC)
• Soil Survey (SOIL)
• Plant Materials Center (PMC)
• Snow Survey (SNOW)
• Resource Conservation & Development (RCD)
• Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP)
• Watershed Planning (PL-06)
• Flood Prevention Operations (WF-03)
• Small Watershed Operations (WF-08)
• Forestry Incentive Program (FIP)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP)
• Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA)
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
• Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
• Farmland Protection Program (FPP)
• Soil and Water Conservation Assistance (SWCA)
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
• Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (CRBSCP)
• Great Plains Conservation Program (GPCP)
• Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP)
• Water Bank Program (WBP)

408.8 Reports.

• Reports on contributions will be available by accessing the Performance and Results Measurement System website.
• National, State, and regional summaries, as well as program specific reports can be obtained.

408.9 Roles and Responsibilities.

(a) The Chief is responsible for:

• Approving data collection criteria.

(b) The Deputy Chiefs are responsible for:

• Monitoring contributions data for the programs for which they have assigned responsibilities and reporting any concerns with data quality to the Director, Operations Management and Oversight Division.

(c) The Deputy Chief, Strategic Planning and Accountability, is responsible for:

• Developing contributions reporting policy.

(d) Regional Conservationists are responsible for:

• Monitoring contributions data at the State level and ensuring data entry accuracy and timeliness.
• Providing training to State office employees on the policy and procedures for collecting and reporting contributions.

(e) Division Directors are responsible for:

• Ensuring contributions data for national level performance measures are entered through the Performance and Results
• Measurement System in accordance with agency policy.
• Assisting in defining and maintaining data definitions and business rules associated with contributions data.
• Ensuring that contributions data are consistent with NRCS technical standards, policy, and program guidelines and adequately addressing program management needs.

(f) The Director, Strategic and Performance Planning Division, is responsible for:

• Providing leadership regarding the design and modifications to the contributions reporting process and procedures.
• Coordinating the development of agency performance measures to support strategic and performance planning.

(g) The Director, Operations Management and Oversight Division, is responsible for:

• Developing procedures and systems for entering and reporting contributions data.
• Analyzing and providing reports on contributions data.
• Monitoring quality of the data at the national levels.
• Notifying Regional Conservationists of data quality problems and concerns.

(h) State Conservationists and Directors, Caribbean and Pacific Basin, are responsible for:

• Ensuring contributions data are reported in accordance with policy and procedures.
• Assigning responsibility for entering county level data to either a field office or State office staff.
• Issuing supplemental State policy establishing roles and responsibilities for data entry and quality assurance.
• Ensuring timeliness of data entry.
• Ensuring data is verifiable and can be validated for their states or areas.

(i) District Conservationists are responsible for:

• Entering data in a timely manner.
• Verifying and validating the data for which they are responsible.