Title Search, Update and Closing Services
The United States Department of Agriculture - Farm Production and Conservation Services is looking to hire a contractor to perform Title Search, Update and Closing Services for the State of North Dakota.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easement component (ACEP-WRE), the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), Emergency Watershed Protection Program - Floodplain Easements (EWPP-FPE), and the Healthy Forest Reserve Program (HFRP) authorize the acquisition of conservation easements from willing landowners for the purpose of restoring and protecting wetlands, floodplains, grasslands, or forest lands. NRCS is the lead USDA agency that is charged with administering these programs.
The contractor must coordinate and facilitate the following services:
1. Obtaining and updating chain of title, including copies of all instruments that
created rights, interests, or encumbrances on the property.
2. Providing easement boundary and ingress and egress descriptions.
3. Providing preliminary title commitments and issuing final title insurance policies (aka ALTA).
4. Other services, as necessary, to finalize the easement transaction.
The contractor will perform the same services as in a commercial transaction, including obtaining and recording deeds, and any necessary curative instruments to ensure merchantable, insurable title to the easement area in the name of the United States of America. However, NRCS obtains final signature from the landowner before the Deed is recorded.
Scott A. Crist, Contracting Specialist, Phone 317-295-5830, Email scott.crist@wdc.usda.gov
