Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative October 2011 Dave White Chief, USDA-NRCS Streamlining Delivery of Conservation Assistance For more information:

Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative


October 2011

Dave WhiteChief, USDA-NRCS

Streamlining Delivery of Conservation Assistance

For more information: www.nrcs.usda.gov

search “CDSI”

SLIDE 1


BackgroundAnalysis began in 2009 and NRCS Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative (CDSI) was formalized in 2010 to:

• Increase technical staff time in the field with landowners• Simplify conservation delivery – for landowners & employees• Ensure science-based conservation assistance• Streamline business processes• Integrate and improve information technology• Enhance financial management and accountability

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CDSI uses today’s technology and streamlined, integrated business processes to improve conservation delivery. It is :Good for Landowners• 75% of technical staff time spent in the field with landowners• Simplified, streamlined processes make conservation easier• Improved, increased science-based conservation planning• Integrated technical and financial assistance delivery• Expedited delivery of financial assistance • 24/7 online access• “Mobile” field office reduces need for travel

Good for NRCS• Ability to track and report environmental outcomes• Improved financial accountability

Good for healthy working lands • More conservation on the ground

SLIDE 3



Current Process *most steps performed by NRCS technical staff

Landowner completes application

& signs

Eligibility determined

Schedule appt.Landowner

drives to NRCS office

Batching period

Final planning

Schedule appt.

Contract developed

START

WAITWAIT

Landowner signs

contract

WAIT

Eligibility issues

resolved

WAIT

Start field planning

Rank tentative

practices in office

WAIT

Landowner signs

ranking

Landowner signs final

plan

SLIDE 4

WAIT



Future Process

Plan is developed & ranked

Landowner applies for assistance

online

Plan finalized

Plan implemented

Landowners have the option to apply, review documents, and sign documents online or in person, either in the office or field

SLIDE 5

Administrative/clerical support tasks either automated or handled through

centralized support staff

START



SLIDE 6



1. Streamline Business Processes

2. Align IT with Business Needs

3. Fully Integrate Science & Tools

4. Simplify Financial Assistance

5. Client-Focused Products & Services

CDSI Strategies:

SLIDE 7





3. Fully Integrated Science & Tools



Reduce steps and eliminate

unnecessary tasks

Automate workflow

Integrate technical and

financial assistance

SLIDE 8








Aligning IT around business needs will result in integrated technology and 24/7 online access

Enable mobile computing

Integrate GIS technology

Integrated technical and

financial assistance tools

SLIDE 9



1. Streamlined Business Processes





Science and technology will streamline planning processes and document environmental outcomes

Minimize data entry

Measure & report

outcomes

Simplify plan criteria

SLIDE 10








Centralize administrative

support

Integrated technology and realigned administrative support will result in more timely financial assistance

E-Signature

Streamline Ranking

SLIDE 11








Clients will be able to do many tasks with NRCS on-line 24/7, adding convenience and eliminating trips to the office

Web-based client gateway,

24/7 online access

Redesign conservation plan format

SLIDE 12



Integrated CDSI Technology

SLIDE 13

Conservation Desktop

Client Gateway

Mobile Planner

Landowners NRCS Technical Staff

NRCS Technical StaffCentralized Administrative Support Staff



Client Gateway – Landowners have 24/7 online access to conservation activities

Apply for NRCS programs and

assistance

E-sign plans and contracts

Identify goals or problem areas

Schedule appointments

Ask technical or financial

assistance questions

View plans & contracts

Check status of payments

Check on program eligibility issues

View soils & natural

resource information

SLIDE 14



Mobile Planner– NRCS technical staff can access data and tools in the field

Define fields to meet client needs

Plan and schedule practices

View & analyze resource information

Rank financial assistance applicationDocument

progress with photographs

Request additional assistance

Certify applied practices

E-sign plans and contracts

View environmental outcomes

Evaluate concerns and alternatives

View plans and contracts

SLIDE 15



Conservation Desktop (Conservation Planning)

Schedule tasks & manage workload

View and manage landowner’s technical & financial assistance information

Track performance

Access tools to design practices

Access tools to estimate outcomes

Prepare final plan documents & maps

Automatically link data between science-based tools

Conduct quality assurance

Streamline NEPA and other

compliance documentation

SLIDE 16



Conservation Desktop (Contract Management) – Integrated tool used by 350 dedicated centralized administrative support staff

Manage requests for assistance

Assist landowners with eligibility determinations

Assist landowner with legal & financial forms

Develop contract

Obtain landowner e-signatures

Complete financial assistance document reviews

Prepare client correspondence

Process payments

Process contract status reviews

Update landowner on contract progress

SLIDE 17



2012-2013 TimelineJan – Mar 2012 Client Gateway and

Conservation Desktop pilots tested in 15 States

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mid-2012 Launch Nationwide centralized document storage

Pilot test mobile conservation planning tools

Sept 2012 Release Client Gateway and full Conservation Desktop

Nationwide

2013 Release Mobile Planner Nationwide

Add new functionality to Client Gateway and Desktop, including environmental outcomes tracking and reporting

CLIENT GATEWAY CONSERVATION DESKTOP

SLIDE 18



NRCS Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative

Landowner-focused CDSI seamlessly integrates technical and financial assistance to make conservation easier for America’s farmers and ranchers.

CDSI…Using Today’s Technology…Simplifying Processes …Spending More Time in the Field with Landowners Getting more conservation on the ground

For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov and search “CDSI”

SLIDE 19

Conservation Delivery Streamlining Initiative October 2011 Dave White Chief, USDA-NRCS Streamlining Delivery of Conservation Assistance For more information:

Documents

initiative slide

nrcs conservation delivery

financial assistance

field slide

wait slide

accountability slide

ground slide

search cdsi slide