Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Requesting Deployment of FEIRS and Related Equipment (July 2017)

SCI Division Inspection Series

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REQUESTING DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRESH ELECTRONIC INSPECTION 

REPORTING/RESOURCE SYSTEM (FEIRS) PROGRAM AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

FEIRS is utilized to inspect and certify Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division and FederalState Terminal Market Inspection (TMI) fresh fruit and vegetable commodities. FEIRS also is 

used to bill for these services completed by SCI Agricultural Commodity Graders (ACGs) and for 

administrative use for reviews and retrievals of certificates completed by both SCI and FederalState ACGs. FEIRS can be deployed to a ruggedized laptop or tablet for ACG field use or to a 

non-ruggedized laptop or tablet for administrative office use. The information below describes the 

process in requesting deployment of FEIRS.

Deployment to a Ruggedized Laptop/Tablet for ACG Field Use for Inspections

Minimum ACG Requirements

Successful ACG use of FEIRS is dependent on a strong grasp of the fundamentals of TMI grading 

principles and procedures. FEIRS is not intended to correct deficiencies in fundamentals.

Deficient or unacceptable performance in grading fundamentals must be corrected before FEIRS

deployment is requested. If following requirements are not met or maintained deployment may be 

denied or rescinded.

A. ACG Performance Level

1. SCI 

a. Based on the most recent Performance Evaluation, Supervisory Review and 

ACG Probationary Performance/Conduct Evaluation Forms performance is 

at least fully successful.

b. Proficient in these critical areas of inspection and grading performance:

notesheet/certificate thoroughness, grade statement accuracy and

mathematical calculation accuracy.

2. Federal-State Market Licensee

a. Maintain a minimum of a grade three (3) or equivalent rating.

B. ACG Experience Level

1. SCI

a. Qualified to grade a minimum of eight (8) fresh commodities with 

established U.S. Grade Standards for Quality and Condition without direct 
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supervision as indicated with supervisor signature on most recent On the Job 

Training (OJT) Task Checklist.

2. Federal-State Market Licensee

a. Maintain all minimum market license requirements. 

C. ACG Activity Level

1. SCI 

a. Complete at least ten (10) terminal market inspections for fresh 

commodities a month.

2. Federal-State Market Licensee

a. Complete at least two (2) terminal market inspections for fresh commodities 

a month.

D. Training

1. SCI and Federal-State Market Licensee

a. Complete the FEIRS Program Basics training course within two weeks of 

deployment.

b. FEIRS Program Basics training will be issued by a qualified Training 

Officer (TO), Federal Program Manager (FPM), Officer-in-Charge (OIC), 

Assistant Officer-in-Charge (AOIC) or other senior level ACG, Training or 

Market Specialist as approved by HQ Inspection Operations.

c. A minimum score of 70% is required on the FEIRS Training Evaluation in 

order for the training to be considered complete.

E. Laptop/Tablet Care 

1. SCI and Federal-State Market Licensee

a. Review, sign and date the FEIRS Laptop/Tablet Care Guidelines form 

(Appendix I) and forward to the Regional Operations Branch Chief (ROBC)

or FPM.

Requesting Procedures

A. OIC, AOIC or Fed-State Supervisor will forward a request to their ROBC or FPM 

respectively to have FEIRS and a FEIRS ruggedized laptop/tablet deployed to an ACG. 

Request will include:

1. ACG name and terminal office market city and state.

2. Current performance level as measured by the requirements stated above.

3. Current OJT Checklist or Fed-State market license number.
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4. Current and projected number of terminal market inspections performed per month 

by the ACG.

5. Requested date of deployment.

6. Requested dates of FEIRS Program Basics training.

7. Requested provider of FEIRS Program Basics training.

B. ROBC or FPM will review and forward verified requests with supporting documentation to 

HQ Inspection Operations for approval.

C. HQ Inspection Operations will:

1. Review request and approve if minimum requirements are met.

2. Assign a FEIRS inspector ID code.

3. Forward the approved request and assigned inspector ID code to FSS.

4. Message the ROBC or FPM confirming approval and submission to FSS.

D. Once request is approved the ACG must complete all application requirements for 

USDA/AMS computer and network access. Contact Field Support Services (FSS) for 

current requirements and application documents. Completed documents must be submitted 

via the ROBC or FPM to FSS before deployment.

E. Once laptop/tablet is deployed, OIC, AOIC or Fed-State Supervisor will:

1. Complete arrangements for delivery of FEIRS Program Basics training as outlined 

in the approved request as stated above.

2. FEIRS Program Basics training material can be found on the SCI Inspection 

Operations SharePoint site or by contacting HQ Inspection Operations.

3. Maintain all FEIRS training records within the ACGs training file.

4. Forward the reviewed, signed and dated FEIRS Laptop/Tablet Care Guidelines 

form (Appendix I) to the Regional Operations Branch Chief (ROBC) or FPM.

Deployment to a Non-ruggedized Laptop/Tablet for Administrative Office Use

Minimum Employee Requirements

FEIRS for administrative office use is for billing of TMI handwritten certificates, FEIRS data 

collection for handwritten certificates and for FEIRS certificate reviews/research by Inspectors-inCharge (IICs) and field supervisors. FEIRS can be deployed to any SCI computer and used by any 

employee once the following requirements are met.

A. Practical knowledge in general computer navigation.

B. For Administrative Billing:
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1. Must be familiar with all procedures listed in the Instructions for Billing Paper 

Certificates Using the FEIRS Billing System AIM document.

C. Employee must receive a basic tutorial in navigating the FEIRS program within two weeks 

of deployment.

1. Tutorial will be provided by a qualified and experienced FEIRS user and will 

include:

a. Opening and closing the program

b. Selection of a form (certificate)

c. Completion of the form

d. Signing of the form

e. Transmitting of completed forms

f. Cancelling and superseding of completed forms according to the 

Superseding or Canceling Fresh Electronic Inspection Reporting/Resource 

System (FEIRS) Certificates AIM document.

g. Proper Section 8e formatting according to the Completion of FEIRS FVE301 and FV-E300 Certificates for Section 8e Inspections AIM document.

h. FEIRS On-Line Services navigation for certificate review.

Requesting Procedures

A. OIC, AOIC or Fed-State Supervisor will forward a request to their ROBC or FPM 

respectively to have FEIRS deployed to a SCI computer. Request will include:

1. Employee name and office city and state.

2. Requested date of deployment.

3. Requested dates of FEIRS basic tutorial.

4. Requested provider of FEIRS basic tutorial.

B. ROBC or FPM will review and forward verified requests to HQ Inspection Operations for 

final approval of deployment.

C. HQ Inspection Operations will:

1. Review request and approve if minimum requirements are met.

2. Assign a FEIRS inspector ID code.

3. Forward the approved request and assigned FEIRS ID code to Field Support 

Services (FSS) for timely deployment.

4. Message the ROBC or FPM confirming approval and submission to FSS.

D. Once FEIRS is deployed and request is fulfilled, OIC, AOIC or Fed-State Supervisor will:
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1. Complete arrangements for delivery of FEIRS basic tutorial as outlined in the 

approved request as stated above.

2. Ensure that the FEIRS basic tutorial is administered according to requirements 

stated above. 

3. Maintain all FEIRS training records within the employee’s training file.
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APPENDIX I – FEIRS LAPTOP/TABLET CARE GUIDELINES FORM

Electronic version of the FEIRS Laptop/Tablet Care Guidelines form
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“SCI moving forward in the 21st Century using technology, innovation, and old fashioned hard work”

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