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Why do Technical Service Providers have to report?
The certification agreement or contract or agreement with NRCS signed by technical service providers (TSPs) requires submission of information to NRCS regarding work conducted for USDA program participants. In addition to submitting documentation related directly to the technical services provided, TSPs need to confirm some basic information about these same services. This information gets stored in NRCS’s Progress Reporting System (PRS). Public entities can enter this information directly into PRS while private entities supply this information to NRCS who will enter it on their behalf. Once this information appears in PRS, NRCS may release payment for services delivered.
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How will NRCS use this information?
NRCS will aggregate TSPs’ accomplishments to gage TSPs’ contribution to NRCS meeting its natural resource conservation goals.
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Do public entity TSPs need certification through TechReg to enter performance data in PRS?
No, they do not. But public entities’ representatives who wish to access PRS need USDA eAuthentication Level 2 accounts and permission to use PRS, granted by an NRCS employee using NRCS’s affiliate link manager.
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How do service providers become certified TSPs?
Use the TechReg website, https://techreg.nrcs.usda.gov. Review the certification categories and requirements to match your background with NRCS’s needs. If you do not have an eAuthentication Level 2 account, a link provided will help you gain one. Then, complete an application for certification, electronically sign the certification agreement, and submit it. Within sixty calendar days, NRCS will get back to you with a determination. If NRCS can not certify you, NRCS will explain to you what you need in order to get certified.
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I provided technical services that NRCS did not agree to pay for in whole or in part, but which the landowner did ask me to complete. Should I include this work in my NRCS report?
No. NRCS does not want to take credit for work it did not support.
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What happens if I log in but don't use PRS for a while?
If you have not used PRS for 15 minutes, PRS times out and you must log in to PRS again. If you entered data on the screen but did not submit it, the data is lost.
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Do I lose all the information I have entered for a customer if I lose my Internet connection or if PRS times out before I submit my information?
Yes. Be sure to submit data frequently.
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Why does PRS time out?
Timing out improves the overall system performance and nationwide availability. If you get “bumped” off of the system, simply log back in.
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How can I tell if the data I entered into PRS really was saved and credited to me in the system?
You may view data previously submitted in PRS by recalling the landowner’s records. Refer to the PRS help guide for instructions on using this feature. PRS currently tracks TSPs’ accomplishments anonymously.
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It takes a long time for PRS to load on my computer, particularly when I click on maps or images. Why does it take so long?
The load speed depends on many factors, including the type of Internet connection you use and the memory your computer has available. Consider "fine tuning" the tract locations by zooming in for greater map detail. Or minimize the number of other programs that you run at the same time. Or access PRS at times when the Internet typically sees less traffic, usually in the morning or during the weekends.
Your cache settings may also influence screen loading speeds. Standard browsers store images. The first time you enter PRS, its graphics and maps may load slowly. But these files are then saved on your computer and become available for immediate use the next time you use PRS. Performance will be slower if you are using PRS for the first time or if your browser cache was deleted.
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I erred when I entered some performance data and now wish to correct it. How do I correct erroneous data?
PRS allows users to correct erroneous data. Refer to the PRS users manual for instructions on editing specific kinds of data.
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