# CHELCIE Funding Success Rubric
## What Gets People Funded — And What Doesn't
**Version 1.0 | August 24, 2026 | Internal Product Document**

---

## Why This Exists

56,500 valid, approved EQIP applications went unfunded in FY2026. FSA loan denial rates run 30–40% for first-time applicants. The gap between "eligible" and "funded" is entirely predictable — and CHELCIE's job is to close it. This rubric defines every factor that determines funding outcomes, scored by impact weight, and maps each factor to what CHELCIE currently does vs. what it must do.

---

## The Funding Outcome Framework

Funding success is determined by three sequential gates:

```
Gate 1: ELIGIBILITY (Pass/Fail)     → Are you allowed to apply?
Gate 2: RANKING SCORE (Points)      → Do you score high enough to be selected?
Gate 3: READINESS (Documentation)   → Can you survive scrutiny and execute?
```

Failing Gate 1 means automatic disqualification.
Passing Gate 1 but failing Gate 2 means you're "valid but unfunded" — the most common failure mode.
Passing Gates 1 and 2 but failing Gate 3 means contracts are rescinded or payments are withheld.

---

## GATE 1: ELIGIBILITY — HARD DISQUALIFIERS

These are binary. Any single failure = no funding, no exceptions.

### EQIP / CSP (NRCS Programs)

| Disqualifier | What It Means | CHELCIE Captures Today? |
|---|---|---|
| **Work started before contract** | Any practice installation before NRCS executes the contract = ineligible for that practice. No exceptions, no appeals. | ❌ Not tracked |
| **HEL/WC non-compliance** | Must be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions. Certified with FSA. | ❌ Not tracked |
| **AGI over $900K** | Adjusted Gross Income above $900K = ineligible for EQIP/CSP payments. Filed with FSA, not NRCS. | ❌ Not captured in intake |
| **No FSA farm number** | Cannot process an EQIP application without a farm number in FSA records. | ⚠️ Captured as "not sure" — not flagged as blocker |
| **Prior federal loan delinquency** | Unresolved delinquency on any USDA loan = ineligible. | ✅ Captured in intake |
| **Payment limit exceeded** | $450K/year, $900K over 6 years. Prior contracts count against limit. | ❌ Not tracked |
| **Incomplete entity docs** | LLC/entity applicants must submit proof of signing authority and member structure. | ⚠️ Partial — not verified |

### FSA Loan Programs

| Disqualifier | What It Means | CHELCIE Captures Today? |
|---|---|---|
| **Unacceptable credit history** | Patterns of slow/unsatisfactory debt repayment. FSA pulls credit report. | ⚠️ Bankruptcy question only — insufficient |
| **Inability to prove farming experience** | Farm Ownership Loan requires 3 years in last 10. Direct loan. | ✅ Now confirmed via attestation |
| **Unable to prove inability to get credit elsewhere** | Required for direct loans. Guaranteed loans don't have this requirement. | ❌ Not assessed |
| **Cash flow infeasibility** | Projected cash flow must cover all debt service + living expenses. | ❌ Not scored |
| **AGI certification missing** | Must be filed with FSA before loan processing begins. | ❌ Not tracked |
| **Entity member eligibility** | All LLC members must meet beginning farmer criteria OR be family-related. | ⚠️ Member capture exists; eligibility check missing |

---

## GATE 2: RANKING SCORE — WHAT EARNS THE MOST POINTS

This is where most applications fail. Being eligible doesn't mean getting funded. NRCS uses CART (Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool) to score every eligible application. The five scoring components:

### EQIP CART Ranking Components

| Component | What It Measures | Weight | How to Maximize |
|---|---|---|---|
| **1. Vulnerability** | How severe is the resource concern at the site RIGHT NOW? Degraded pasture scores higher than healthy pasture. | High | Document the problem with photos, field measurements, soil tests. The worse it looks, the higher you score. |
| **2. Planned Practice Effects** | How much will the proposed practices improve the resource concern condition? | High | Bundle practices that compound improvement. 528+382+614+516 together scores far higher than any single practice. |
| **3. Resource Priorities** | Does the application address national and/or state priority resource concerns? | High | Align practices to state-published priority concerns. In Kansas: water quality, grazing land health, soil health, Ogallala (west). |
| **4. Program Priorities** | BFR/SDFR status, geographic initiatives, first-time adopters, priority watersheds. | Medium | Claim every designation you qualify for. Beginning Farmer alone adds priority points nationally. |
| **5. Cost Efficiency** | Environmental benefit per dollar of NRCS investment. | Medium | Don't over-engineer. Right-size practices for the resource concern. |

### High-Value Ranking Boosters (Apply to Almost All Programs)

| Factor | Impact | CHELCIE Captures Today? |
|---|---|---|
| **Beginning Farmer/Rancher designation** | Priority ranking + 90% cost share + advance payment eligibility. One of the highest-value single flags in USDA programs. | ⚠️ Collected in intake but not auto-flagged on program recommendations |
| **Socially Disadvantaged Farmer/Rancher** | Women-owned, minority-owned, veteran = same priority tier as BFR. | ⚠️ Collected but not surfaced |
| **Multiple resource concerns addressed** | Applications addressing 3+ resource concerns score significantly higher than single-concern apps. | ❌ Not modeled in scoring |
| **Practice bundling** | Comprehensive conservation systems (grazing + fence + water + pipeline) score higher than individual practices. | ❌ Not recommended in matching |
| **State priority alignment** | Each state publishes priority resource concerns. Kansas FY2026: water quality, grazing, soil health. | ❌ Not mapped at state level |
| **Geographic targeting** | Priority watersheds, Ogallala overlay, LPCI areas, Mississippi River basin — get dedicated funding pools. | ❌ Not mapped |
| **First-time conservation practice adopter** | Bonus points for producers with no prior NRCS contracts. | ❌ Not captured |
| **Riparian/wetland resource concern** | Streams and wetlands on property = water quality concern = high-priority resource = more points. | ⚠️ Captured in intake — not scored |
| **Conservation plan in place** | Having an existing plan at application time shows readiness and saves NRCS staff time. | ❌ Not tracked |

### FSA Loan Ranking Factors

| Factor | Impact | CHELCIE Captures Today? |
|---|---|---|
| **Financial feasibility of business plan** | #1 denial reason when failed. Cash flow must cover all obligations. | ❌ Not scored |
| **Cash flow projection quality** | Detailed, realistic, documented = higher confidence from loan officer. | ❌ Not collected |
| **Collateral coverage** | Assets vs. debt ratio. Over $1M assets, over $1M debt = scrutinized. | ⚠️ High-level only |
| **Business plan specificity** | Unexplained circumstances = denials. Supporting docs (degrees, employment records, photos) = approvals. | ❌ Not guided |
| **Credit explanation letters** | Adverse events explained by temporary circumstances beyond control = forgiven. Unexplained = denial. | ❌ Not guided |

---

## GATE 3: READINESS — DOCUMENTATION THAT SURVIVES SCRUTINY

Getting selected isn't the same as getting paid. Applications that score high but can't execute lose contracts or have payments withheld.

| Readiness Factor | What NRCS/FSA Looks For | CHELCIE Captures Today? |
|---|---|---|
| **Photo documentation of resource concern** | Visual evidence of degraded pasture, cedar encroachment, bare areas, water issues. | ❌ Not collected |
| **Site maps and aerial imagery** | Parcel boundaries, practice locations, stream/wetland locations. | ❌ Not collected |
| **Conservation plan quality** | Written plan developed with NRCS planner. More specific = faster contract execution. | ❌ Not tracked |
| **LLC/entity signing authority** | Articles of Organization, operating agreement showing who can sign contracts. | ⚠️ Referenced but not collected |
| **Lease agreements for any leased acres** | Landowner must authorize conservation practices on leased land in writing. | ❌ Not collected |
| **Ability to front costs** | EQIP reimburses AFTER completion. Can the producer fund the work and wait? Advance payment helps but must be requested. | ❌ Not assessed |
| **Contractor capacity** | Can the producer find a contractor to do the work within the contract period? | ❌ Not assessed |
| **Record-keeping system** | NRCS conducts spot-checks. Receipts, invoices, practice completion records must be maintained. | ❌ Not built |

---

## COMMON FAILURE MODES — RANKED BY FREQUENCY

### EQIP
1. **Score too low** — valid application, insufficient ranking score. 56,500 producers unfunded in FY2026.
2. **Single practice, no bundle** — missed the practice bundling multiplier.
3. **Wrong funding pool** — applied to general pool instead of priority pool they qualified for.
4. **BFR status not claimed** — left priority points and 90% cost share on the table.
5. **Work started before contract** — automatic disqualification, no exceptions.
6. **Applied after batching deadline** — rolled to next cycle, waited 12–18 months.
7. **No FSA farm number** — application can't be processed.
8. **HEL/WC certification missing** — blocked until filed with FSA.

### FSA Loans
1. **Business plan financials don't pencil** — cash flow doesn't cover debt + living expenses.
2. **Farming experience not documented** — especially for Farm Ownership Loan.
3. **Credit history issues unexplained** — lender can't tell if pattern vs. temporary circumstance.
4. **Incomplete FSA-2001** — especially training/experience section left blank.
5. **Entity member eligibility not verified** — one member doesn't qualify, whole entity denied.
6. **Can't prove credit unavailable elsewhere** — required for direct loans.

### Universal
1. **AGI over threshold** — ineligible for most USDA programs over $900K.
2. **No existing USDA relationship** — no farm number, no prior filings, cold start = slower processing.
3. **Missing documentation at appointment** — application delayed, rolled to next cycle.

---

## PROGRAM-SPECIFIC SUCCESS BENCHMARKS

| Program | Funded Threshold | Typical Funded Score | Competitive Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQIP (Kansas FY2026) | 20+ points | 20–40 points | 40+ points |
| EQIP (Competitive states) | 100–130 points | 130–170 points | 170–200 points |
| CSP | CART stewardship threshold on 2+ resource concerns | — | Enhancements bundle |
| FSA Operating Loan | Cash flow positive after debt service | DTI < 1.25 | DTI < 1.0 with collateral |
| FSA Ownership Loan | Same + 3yr experience + can't borrow elsewhere | — | Strong business plan |

---

## WHAT CHELCIE MUST DO — PRODUCT GAP ANALYSIS

### Intake Gaps (Collect at Onboarding)
- [ ] **AGI amount or range** — flag if approaching $900K
- [ ] **HEL/WC certification status** — filed? pending? unknown?
- [ ] **FSA farm number** — confirmed? None? Need to establish?
- [ ] **Conservation plan status** — none / in progress / current / expired
- [ ] **Prior NRCS/FSA contracts** — program, year, status, payment received (tracks against payment limit)
- [ ] **SAM.gov registration** — not required for FSA loans, required for federal grants
- [ ] **Photo documentation available?** — flag if none
- [ ] **Lease agreements on file?** — for any leased acres
- [ ] **Business plan / cash flow projections** — for FSA loan readiness
- [ ] **BFR / SDFR status explicitly confirmed** — not just year formed, but specific designation claimed
- [ ] **All LLC members and their individual eligibility**

### Scoring Gaps (Fix the Capital Score)
- [ ] **Hard disqualifier layer** — before any score, run eligibility checks. Surface blockers first.
- [ ] **HEL/WC flag** — blocks all USDA cost-share programs
- [ ] **"Work started" flag** — if producer has started work on any practice, block EQIP for that practice
- [ ] **Resource concern severity score** — how bad is the problem? (Degraded = high score)
- [ ] **Practice bundle optimization** — recommend combinations that maximize CART score, not single practices
- [ ] **State priority alignment** — score each application against published state resource concern priorities
- [ ] **BFR/SDFR designation multiplier** — auto-apply priority weight when confirmed
- [ ] **Riparian/wetland premium** — streams on property = high-value ranking signal, should boost score
- [ ] **First-time adopter bonus** — no prior NRCS contracts = bonus points available, flag it
- [ ] **Geographic initiative overlay** — Ogallala, LPCI, RCPP project areas, priority watersheds
- [ ] **Cash flow feasibility score** — FSA loan readiness: does income cover debt service + living?
- [ ] **Payment limit tracker** — track against $450K/year and $900K lifetime EQIP caps

### Matching Gaps (Surface the Right Programs)
- [ ] **County Conservation District programs** — state cost-share programs run alongside EQIP, often missed
- [ ] **Carbon market compatibility check** — confirm no double-counting with EQIP before recommending
- [ ] **Farm Credit YBS programs** — Young/Beginning/Small farmer programs at Farm Credit institutions
- [ ] **RCPP overlay** — if operation is in an active RCPP project area, higher funding probability
- [ ] **Guaranteed vs. Direct loan routing** — if producer can't meet "credit unavailable elsewhere" test, route to guaranteed

### Guidance Gaps (Tell Them What To Do)
- [ ] **Ranked action list** — "Do these 3 things before your NRCS appointment to maximize your score"
- [ ] **Appointment prep checklist** — what to bring, what to say, what to ask for
- [ ] **Practice bundle recommendation** — "Apply for these 4 practices together, not separately"
- [ ] **Deadline calendar** — batching dates, ranking periods, disaster assistance deadlines
- [ ] **"Don't start work" hard warning** — persistent alert until contract is signed
- [ ] **Credit explanation template** — for FSA loan applicants with adverse credit events

### Compliance / Tracking Gaps (The SaaS Layer)
- [ ] **Contract milestone tracker** — NRCS contracts have practice completion deadlines; missed = rescission
- [ ] **Payment request reminders** — EQIP doesn't auto-pay; producer must request payment after practice completion
- [ ] **Spot-check preparation** — maintain receipts, invoices, completion photos in CHELCIE
- [ ] **Renewal alerts** — CSP 5-year contract renewals; FSA loan annual reviews
- [ ] **New batching deadline notifications** — alert when next NRCS ranking cycle opens
- [ ] **AGI monitoring** — alert if income approaches program thresholds

---

## PRIORITIZED PRODUCT ROADMAP

### Tier 1 — Fix Before Next Client (Prevents Active Harm)
1. Add hard disqualifier layer to Capital Score — run eligibility before scoring
2. Add "work started before contract" warning — persistent, dismissal-resistant
3. Capture FSA farm number status in intake — block NRCS programs until confirmed
4. Capture HEL/WC status in intake — block cost-share programs until confirmed
5. Surface BFR/SDFR designation on every program recommendation with specific benefit shown

### Tier 2 — Core Differentiation (Makes CHELCIE Worth Paying For)
6. Practice bundle optimizer — recommend combos that maximize CART ranking score
7. State priority alignment scoring — match producer's resource concerns to state priorities
8. Riparian/wetland resource concern premium in scoring
9. Cash flow feasibility assessment for FSA loan readiness
10. Ranked pre-appointment action list (what to do before the NRCS visit to score higher)

### Tier 3 — SaaS Retention (Why They Stay)
11. Contract milestone tracker (EQIP/CSP practice completion deadlines)
12. Payment request reminders (EQIP reimbursement is not automatic)
13. Batching deadline calendar with proactive alerts
14. Document vault (receipts, photos, practice completion records for spot-checks)
15. Carbon market compatibility check before recommending alongside EQIP

---

## APPLICATION TO MT LAND & CATTLE

Scoring MT- Land & Cattle against this rubric today:

| Factor | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| AGI under $900K | ✅ Under $50K gross — passes | None |
| HEL/WC compliance | ❓ Unknown | Confirm at FSA appointment |
| FSA farm number | ❓ "Not sure" | Establish at FSA — first appointment |
| Work started before contract | ✅ None started | Maintain — hard warning to Derek |
| BFR designation | ✅ Confirmed — LLC formed 2025 | Claim on CPA-1200 Section 3b |
| Multiple resource concerns | ✅ Grazing + water quality + soil | Bundle 528+382+614+516+314 |
| Riparian/wetland | ✅ Streams on property | Flag in NRCS appointment — high ranking value |
| Practice bundle | ✅ Recommended in package | Bundle applied |
| State priority alignment | ✅ Grazing + water = KS priorities | Confirmed |
| Conservation plan | ❌ None | NRCS will create at site visit |
| Photo documentation | ❌ None collected | Derek should photograph degraded areas before appointment |
| Cash flow feasibility | ⚠️ Under $50K gross / over $1M debt | Needs detailed projections for FSA loan |
| SAM.gov registration | ❓ "Not sure" | Verify — needed for any federal grants |
| County confirmed | ✅ Osage County — confirmed | Update intake form from Johnson → Osage |

**County note:** Confirmed Osage County. The intake form and existing Excel analysis incorrectly show Johnson County — update Airtable and the Kansas Cattle Funding Opportunities workbook. The correct office is Osage County NRCS/FSA in Lyndon, KS.

---

*Sources: FY2026 EQIP National Ranking Criteria (NRCS, December 2025) · FSA Farm Loan Common Mistakes (farmers.gov) · EQIP Unfunded Applications Analysis (Agri-Pulse, 2026) · National Agricultural Law Center EQIP Overview · FY2026 Kansas EQIP Payment Schedule · CHELCIE — Kansas Agriculture & Cattle Funding Opportunities (internal)*