NRCS-CA Area Wide Market Analysis (AWMA)

1 U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS Easement Programs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) AWMA Specifications, May 2021 Natural Resources Conservation Service Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP-WRE) Areawide Market Analysis Statement of Work and Specifications A. Background Information 1. The United States of America, acting through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), purchases conservation easements to assist the landowners in restoring, protecting and enhancing wetlands. These lands may be placed under a conservation easement through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program -Wetland Reserve Easement Component (ACEP-WRE). 2. The purpose of ACEP-WRE is to protect, restore, and enhance the functions and values of wetland ecosystems and lands enrolled that are farmed or converted wetlands, former or degraded wetlands, or agricultural lands that are altered by flooding or soil saturation and have a high water table as a result of offsite or subsurface hydrologic changes. Previously restored lands and adjacent lands are also included in the areas enrolled in ACEP-WRE. 3. NRCS plans to obtain an Areawide Market Analysis (AWMA) for an initial fiscal year (FY) and subsequent annual recertifications or amendments for each following FY not to exceed 4 additional years. The FY begins October 1 st and ends September 30th . 4. All Areawide Market Analyses (AWMA) completed for ACEP-WRE must comply with instructions provided by NRCS. a. Proposed market areas are determined by the NRCS State Conservationist and identified in Exhibit 1. b. Proposed land use types are determined by the NRCS State Conservationist and identified in Exhibit 2. 5. NRCS National Appraiser resolves questions that arise from these specifications. The NRCS National Appraiser(s) can be reached at NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov. 6. Delivery of AWMA products will be approved by the NRCS State Conservationist and designated Easement Programs Division (EPD) staff. The National Appraiser will review and provide final approval of the AWMA products. Corrections and additions may be required for final approval. A copy of all deliverable products and recommendations should be sent to NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov. 7. The client is NRCS and the AWMA and other value reports will be USPAP compliant. 8. These specifications apply to the new AWMA and any subsequent recertifications, amendments, or reports. 9. Deliverables include: written and digital products, meeting participation, and attendance in at least one NRCS approved training session. B. Qualifications of Vendor 1. The vendor must be a State-certified general real property appraiser or obtain a temporary practice permit equal to State-certified general real property appraiser in compliance with title XI of the Financial Institution’s Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) in the State or States where the AWMA is -- 1 of 13 -- 2 U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS Easement Programs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) AWMA Specifications, May 2021 conducted. 2. The vendor must be in good standing with the licensing authority where the credential was issued, and not the recipient of disciplinary action within the past 5 years from the licensing authority. 3. The vendor must have demonstrated competency in compliance with USPAP in conducting market analyses of rural and agricultural properties of the requested type. C. Purpose of the Area Wide Market Analysis 1. The purpose of the AWMA is to provide the fair market value (FMV) of the land for the land use types typically enrolled in ACEP-WRE in the market areas identified by NRCS. 2. FMVs must be provided for each market area outlined by NRCS and land use on a per-acre basis. D. Information Provided by NRCS to the Vendor 1. Electronic copy of a map showing the market areas to be analyzed. The map may include potentially eligible ACEP-WRE areas based upon technical criteria (such as soil drainage class, soil types, or other factors that demonstrate eligibility). 2. GIS shapefile showing: a. Regions or counties with similar land uses and b. Boundaries of each market area to be analyzed. 3. List and definition of each land use to be valued in each market area. The definition will describe the types of eligible land typically enrolled in ACEP-WRE. The definitions must be as descriptive as possible to adequately define the land uses to be analyzed. E. Training, Coordination, and Communications 1. NRCS Easement Programs Division (EPD) will provide vendor training for the Statement of Work via remote participation platform such as a webinar. (Please see https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/easements/acep/) 2. EPD will coordinate vendor meetings with the NRCS State office as needed. 3. EPD will provide Farm Bill update training as needed. 4. The state-level NRCS contact and NRCS.NationalAppraisers@usda.gov should be copied on all communications with the contracting officer. F. Meeting with NRCS 1. If market areas and land uses are not representative of the market areas found, the vendor shall notify NRCS and the contracting officer in writing that modification to the assignment is necessary. The Vendor will meet with NRCS to discuss Vendor’s recommendations. 2. NRCS will coordinate a meeting with the Vendor to: a. Discuss the AWMA process. b. Discuss the vendor’s market research, market area, and land use recommendations when the vendor does not find sufficient sales data for the market area and land use. -- 2 of 13 -- 3 U.S. Department of Agriculture NRCS Easement Programs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) AWMA Specifications, May 2021 c. The expansion of the sales market area. d. The vendor should discuss any market conditions, levee restrictions, encumbrances, or access issues that are not typical for the market that may…