The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) completes a Master Joint Powers Agreement (MJPA) with local government units to implement Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) conservation easement programs at the local level. Under this MJPA, local units of government, such as soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), may contract for services through work order contracts.
Most SWCDs have current MJPAs with BWSR that are effective 2020 to 2025. BWSR is currently in the process of implementing updated MJPAs that are effective 2024 to 2029.
2024-2029 MJPA
The 2024-2029 MJPA will be effective starting February 1, 2024 and ending January 31, 2029. After this new MJPA is executed, all new work orders will be created under it.
How is the new MJPA different from the old one?
- Terms of Payment: Invoices for services will no longer be required to be submitted prior to payment. When the work is complete, BWSR will make the payment.
- Stewardship: Formerly named Easement Delivery, payments for administering and inspecting easements have a higher payment cap. Payments will remain $50 per easement until additional funding is identified.
- Alterations and/or Amendments: These additional listed duties allow districts to be paid for this work at $2,500 per alteration and $1,000 per amendment.
- Easement Acquisition: Payment for the completion of Phases 1 and 2 has been increased to $2,500.
- Wetland Restoration Technical Assistance: The payment cap is increased to $4,000. Levels of payment will depend on services provided.
- Reimbursable Expenses: Reimbursable expenses have been modified. Many new items require BWSR’s prior approval to be reimbursed.
- Work Order Contracts: The master contract’s Exhibit A displays the individual work order contract template that will be used to procure services as needed; it has been edited to match the above changes.
2020-2025 MJPA
Work orders that were signed under the 2020-2025 MJPA will remain in place under that MJPA until the work is completed or the expiration of the existing master contract on June 30, 2025. The following is a summary of the work order types and how to invoice for work completed.
Easement Delivery Work Orders
On an annual basis, BWSR will issue work orders for Easement Delivery. The amount is calculated based on the number of easements within the SWCD as of June 30th of that year. This Easement Delivery Work Order is only for the SWCD duties listed under the Easement Delivery portion of the Work Order.
To begin this process, BWSR will send an Easement Delivery Work Order to each SWCD. Once all signatures are obtained on the work order, BWSR will initiate payment to the SWCD. No invoicing is required with this process.
Easement Acquisition Work Orders
After you submit an easement application and that application has been funded, BWSR will issue an Easement Acquisition Work Order. This Work Order will include $2,000 per newly funded easement. Duties are categorized into two phases: Phase 1 ($1,000) and Phase 2 ($1,000) for clarity and ease in providing partial reimbursement upon cancellation of an easement. These Phases are what BWSR considers Easement Acquisition.
SWCDs may submit for reimbursement for services covered under Easement Acquisition Work Orders when an easement is both recorded and the landowner payment has been completed.
Technical Assistance (Plan Development/Construction Implementation) Work Orders
Select funded applications that include wetland restorations will be eligible for additional payments. BWSR will identify these applications and issue a Technical Assistance Work Order.
SWCDs may submit for reimbursement for services covered under Technical Assistance Work Orders when the construction project is complete and a certification email from BWSR Engineering has been received. This email will communicate the level of assistance for which the SWCD is eligible to be reimbursed.
Invoicing
To request reimbursement for services covered under 2020-2025 MJPA work orders, SWCDs must use this form:
2020 Master Contract Invoice Form
BWSR will send out quarterly reminders to submit invoices.
Changes to Authorized Representative
If there have been any changes to the Authorized Representative that is authorized to sign Work Orders at your SWCD, please help BWSR to reflect this information by notifying BWSR via an email to bwsr.rim@state.mn.us.