Agency Agriculture Dept

Contractor Connie Dykes

SWIFT Contract Number 161315

Project Name Farm Advocate

Project Number (if applicable) {Empty}

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The Farm Advocates contracted through this program serve Minnesota farmers who seek assistance in resolving financial problems by informing them of their rights and options as borrowers, helping farmers with lender negotiations/mediation, identifying problems and potential need for legal assistance and referrals to other assisting entities.

Project Duration

Start Date Mon, 07/01/2019 - 00:00

Original end date Wed, 06/30/2021 - 00:00

Actual end date Wed, 06/30/2021 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $67410.00

Amendments $2407.50

Contract total $69817.50

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? MN Legislature - General Fund

Is this a sole source contract? Yes

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) These are very specialized skill contractors. They need direct agricultural and agricultural financial experience. They work with people that are often times not at their best due to their situations. They have to be willing to work part-time and occasionally appear in face to face meetings for mediation and the like.

Evaluator Name Matthew McDevitt

Evaluator Email Address matthew.mcdevitt@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness Due to the mostly confidential nature of the Farm Advocates work, it can be difficult to understand any issues unless a farmer (or another interested entity) were to call and directly complain about some facet of the Advocate’s work.

Evaluate the contractor's quality Due to the mostly confidential nature of the Farm Advocates work, it can be difficult to understand any issues unless a farmer (or another interested entity) were to call and directly complain about some facet of the Advocate’s work.

Evaluate the contractor's cost The scope of work in which these contracts are expected to cover make their hourly pay on the low end of the scale if they were to do similar work in the private sector.

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance Due to the mostly confidential nature of the Farm Advocates work, it can be difficult to understand any issues unless a farmer (or another interested entity) were to call and directly complain about some facet of the Advocate’s work.

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): None

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 5 - very satisfied