From Nine Steps’ experience, the most challenging part of participating in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) happens at the outset—once a partner has been selected for an award but before the project has begun. Negotiating with NRCS to turn a proposal into a project can be a lengthy and frustrating process, particularly for those partners not steeped in NRCS’ lexicon and processes. Nine Steps has the intimate program knowledge and relationships to take the burden of negotiating RCPP agreements with NRCS off partners so they can focus on preparing to work with farmers, ranchers and private forestland owners to get conservation on the ground. Nine Steps can help negotiate programmatic partnership agreements (PPAs) and supplemental agreements, both of which are often required to initiate a RCPP project.