1. How Can NRCS Clients Use the Conservation Client Gateway

2. What is the Conservation Client Gateway? Client Gateway Benefits
Conservation Client Gateway is a new NRCS public website that provides individual landowners and land users the option to request conservation technical and financial assistance from NRCS.
Through Client Gateway, individual clients can also access conservation program financial assistance applications and contracts, and conservation plans and track payments due them.
Client Gateway Benefits
Client Gateway is a benefit to both clients and the NRCS Field Office staff.
Requests can be made by the client and automatically sent to the NRCS Field Office where the land in the request is located
notification are sent to the client and field office staff when requests have been submitted
Documents can be electronically signed on-line by the client
Financial assistance can be applied for on-line
All this can save gas and time on the part of the client and the field office staff.

3. Accessing the Conservation Client Gateway Conservation Client Gateway
No special software is needed. Conservation Client Gateway works with most standard Web browsers.
Note - The first version of the Client Gateway isn’t fully compatible with mobile devices and is only for clients operating as individuals. Updates to support businesses entities, along with mobile devices will come in a later version.
Clients will need the following to access the Client Gateway:
A USDA eAuthentication Level 2 Account
A USDA Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS) record that is linked to their eAuthentication account
Internet access.
Using
Conservation Client Gateway
5 tabs at the top of the Client Gateway Home Page provides the user options to request assistance, or to view information.

4. Request Assistance Tab
Through “Request Assistance” tab clients can:
Request Conservation Technical Assistance
Request a new conservation plan
Request technical assistance for natural resource concerns
Request other technical assistance
Apply for Financial Assistance
Clients can apply on-line for financial assistance conservation Farm Bill programs
Clients can eSign applications and other documents on-line
Access technical reference websites
Submit questions to their Service Center Office
View their requests submitted through the Request Assistance tab

5. Plans and Practices Tab
Through the “Manage Plans and Practices” tab clients can:
View their conservation plans and associated practice schedules
View plan and practice summary and detail information, and view documents associated with a plan
Report completed practices
View plan modification and practice requests
Agreements Tab
Through the “Agreements” tab clients can:
View financial assistance applications
View and manage financial assistance contracts
Make and view contract modification requests
Report completed contract items
View practice certification requests

6. Manage Payments Tab Account Tab
Through the “Manage Payments” tab clients can:
View payments due them for completed and certified contract items
Request payments by signing the NRCS-CPA-1245, Request for Payment
Account Tab
Through the “Account” tab clients can:
View their current customer profile information, which is stored in the Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS)
Request changes to the SCIMS information
NOTE: Requests to change SCIMS profile information are sent to the NRCS Field Office.
The change in Client Gateway will occur once the SCIMS record has been updated.

7. Visit the Conservation Client Gateway website at
Choose the “Get Started Button” on how to access the system for the first time
If you already have access, choose the login button

8. Manage Payments Tab Account Tab
Through the “Manage Payments” tab clients can:
View payments due them for completed and certified contract items
Request payments by signing the NRCS-CPA-1245, Request for Payment
Account Tab
Through the “Account” tab clients can:
View their current customer profile information, which is stored in the Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS)
Request changes to the SCIMS information
NOTE: Requests to change SCIMS profile information are sent to the NRCS Field Office.
The change in Client Gateway will occur once the SCIMS record has been updated.

9. Conservation Client Gateway - Get Started
The signup process for Conservation Client Gateway involves a few steps:
Creating a USDA eAuthentication (eAuth) Level 2 account to access Client Gateway
Validating your identity (either in-person or online).  A process to ensure that you, and only you, can access your account information through Conservation Client Gateway.
Linking your eAuth Account to your USDA Customer Record (either in-person or online)

10. Step 1 - Getting Your Information Together
To access the Conservation Client Gateway, you need to have an individual client record in the USDA Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS). 
Your SCIMS record needs to be up-to-date with a valid address in order to sign up for Conservation Client Gateway. 
If you unsure if you have a USDA SCIMS client record, or whether it has a valid primary address, contact your local NRCS or FSA office. 

11. Step 2- Create your eAuthentication Account
Sign up for a USDA eAuthentication Level 2 account (create a User ID and Password) 
You will receive an from USDA eAuthentication, click the link to “Activate your account” within 7 days
Choose how to validate your identity, in person or online
Note - If you already have an eAuth account used as Technical Service Provider (TSP) or, to work with NRCS as a partner, you will need a new public Level 2 Account.

12. Step 3 – Validate your Identity
You have 2 options to validate your identity:
Visit a Local Registration Authority (LRA) in- person at your local Service Center
Online using the NRCS Application Access Assistant (AAA)

13. Option 1 – In-Person with an LRA
Call the Service Center Office and make an appointment to visit the LRA in person
Take your government issued photo ID
The LRA will validate your identity and promote your account
Note You will receive an from USDA eAuth to notify you your account is now a Level 2 – No action is required
Ask the LRA to have your SCIMS record linked to your eAuth account
Once your eAuth account is a Level 2 and linked to your SCIMS record, you can go to the Conservation Client Gateway website and use the login button to access your information and submit requests for conservation assistance.

14. Option 2 – Online using the NRCS AAA
Go to the Conservation Client Gateway website and click the login button:
You will be prompted to enter your social security number
You will be taken to a page with a list multiple-choice questions. Select the correct answer for each of the questions
You will receive an from USDA eAuth to notify you your account is now a Level 2. The does not provide links to the Client Gateway and is for reference only
Note the SSN is used temporarily as part of the identity verification process and will not be used or stored by USDA or NRCS. The questions are provided by a third party identify proofing service

15. Option 2 – Online using the NRCS AAA Cont.
You will receive an from USDA eAuth to notify you your account is now a Level 2. The does not provide links to the Client Gateway and is for reference only.
You will be taken through a process to link our SCIMS record to your eAuth account online
If you encounter any problems using the AAA, follow the instructions to contact the Client Gateway Call Center via phone
When the AAA is successfully completed you will automatically be taken to the Client Gateway Home Page, Where you will be able view your information and submit requests for conservation assistance.

16. National Conservation Planning Partnership

17. What is the NCPP?
NCPP is a partner-led conservation planning effort to reinvigorate conservation planning by enhancing and strengthening the conservation planning process through a strong relationship and conservation partnership.

18. Who is involved in NCPP?
The NCPP Leadership Team and Action Teams are composed of leaders and staff from the 5 conservation partners:
• NRCS
• NCDEA
• NARC&D
• NASCA
• NACD

19. Mike Brown- NASCA Astor Boozer- NRCS
Co-Chairs
Mike Brown- NASCA
Astor Boozer- NRCS

20. What are the objectives for NCPP?
Three overarching objectives for this initiative are:
• Reinvigorate conservation planning
• Improve capacity of conservation partnership to deliver conservation planning assistance
• Ensure Science-based Assistance

21. How is NCPP structured?
NCPP is led by a Leadership Team co-chaired by NRCS and NASCA, and 5 Action Teams:
• Training, Development and Certification
• Technical Processes, Tools and Integration
• Partnership and Leveraging Capacity
• Communication and Messaging
• Performance, Goals, Outcomes and Accountability
There are also plans for a producer focus group

22. Questions?