MODIFICATIONS

1
MODIFICATIONS
2
Modifications clarified 512.50

• Contract Modifications
• are specific changes to a contract that require
  an NRCS Approving Official and participant
  signature
• are documented on either the Revision of
  Conservation Plan/Schedule of Operations
  (NRCS-CAP-1156, or the Transfer Agreement
  (NRCS-CPA-152)
• signed electronically by NRCS Approving Official
  and MANUALLY by participant
• decision maker will become default signature for
  modifications and payments to generate signature
  box on CPA-1156 but can be changed through a
  modification to select additional or different
  participants

3
Modifications clarified 512.50

• Minor Contract Changes
• changes that do not increase or decrease by more
  than 1000
• do not require approval by a NRCS Approving
  Official
• do not require signature by participants
• minor contract changes are captured in ProTracts
  and do not require documentation in the contract
  folder

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Modification Process

• Modification will be submitted for approval by a
  NRCS Approving Official using NRCS-CPA-1156 or
  NRCS-CPA-152
• NRCS-CPA-1156 must be generated through ProTracts
• basis for modifying the contract must be clearly
  stated
• contract items will not be rescheduled to avoid
  loss of payment due to violation of HELC/WC
  compliance provisions
• modification that result in an obligation
  increase must be within the scope of original
  contract and are generally categorized as a cost
  overrun approval is based on availability of
  funds
• modifications involving a change of scope are
  prohibited

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EQIP Manual ChangesModification Procedure

• 515.102
• 515.102G Successor-In-Interest
• Added the successor-in-interest must meet all
  eligibility requirements for EQIP
• 515.102H Repairing Damaged Conservation
  Practices
• EQIP funds may be used to restore practices
  damaged by a natural disaster for active contract
• ECP funds no longer eligible for any practice
  still under a USDA program lifespan

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WHIP Manual Changes

• Change in scope modifications no longer
• permitted for WHIP

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Modifications No Signature Required
(participants)

• changes within the original length of the
  contract
• increase/decrease planned amount of conservation
  practice or components when the payment amount
  per contract item is not increased by more than
  1000 per conservation practice, or activity
• add/delete a component from a planned practice
• edit crop types or acres
• edit livestock type
• add a vendor code to a participant

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Modifications Signature Required (participants)

• adding land (only CSP)
• losing control of some of the land under contract
• extending or reducing the contract period
• substituting a new CIN
• adding or deleting a CIN (deleting an CIN must
  have a valid reason not adverse to the Government
  interest or conservation objectives)
• destruction of established practice
• adding a participant or adjusting participant
  shares
• reapplying a conservation treatment that failed
• adding an item to the contract that utilizes TSP
  funds
• changing a method of cost-sharing or adding a
  payment cap for a practice
• CSP changing tier or contract length

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TSP PaymentsModification Requirements

• The participant requests a modification of his or
  her CPC to include funding for the desired
  services. This modification must me signed by
  the NRCS Approving Official before the
  participant is authorized to use TSP services
• All work to be performed by a TSP must be
  substantially completed during the same fiscal
  year that funds are obligated in a CPC for TSP
  assistance

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Documentation of Contract Modifications

• Modification Action Form
• Cancel a contract Form generation is not
  required. The Designated Conservationist (DC)
  is required to write canceled and date on
  all contract documents in the folder, and change
  the contract status to cancelled in
  ProTracts. This requires documentation
  supporting the participants request or
  approval on Form NRCS-CPA-153 or formal
  correspondence.
• Terminate a contract Form generation is not
  required. The DC is required to write
  terminated and date on all contract
  documents in the folder, and change the
  contract status to terminated in ProTracts.
  This requires formal documentation with appeal
  rights provided to the participant
• Add a participant Form NRCS-CPA-152, Transfer
  Agreement
• Delete a participant Form NRCS-CPA-152, Transfer
  Agreement
• Change participant payment
• shares Form NRCS-CPA-152, Transfer Agreement
• Change contract expiration date Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change contract land units or
• legal description Form NRCS-CPA-1156

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Documentation of Contract Modifications cont.

• Modification Action Form
• Change acres under contract Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change CSP eligible acres Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change CSP contract tier Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change CSP contract years Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Add a practice/contract item Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change contract item
• TA fund code Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Delete a practice/contract item Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156
• Add land units to a practice Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156
• Remove land units from a practice Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156
• Change contract item
• benchmark indicator Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Decrease component
• cost-share rate Form NRCS-CPA-1156
• Increase component cost-share rate Form
  NRCS-CPA-1156

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Approval of Contract Modifications

• all contract modifications and minor contract
  changes will be completed through ProTracts
• the participant and NRCS Approving Official will
  sign all contract modifications
• contracts modifications that exceed the lesser of
  20 of the current contract obligation or 10,000
  will require approval of the State
  Conservationist or designee
• all other modifications Approving Official is
  Contracting Officer or designee