; (B) the development of a watershed or habitat plan; and (C) establishing baseline metrics to support the development of the assessment required under section 1271B(c)(1)(E). ; and (5) by adding at the end the following: (f) Technical assistance (1) In general At the time of project selection, the Secretary shall identify and make publically available the amount that the Secretary shall use to provide technical assistance under the terms of the partnership agreement. (2) Limitation The Secretary shall limit costs of the Secretary for technical assistance to costs specific and necessary to carry out the objectives of the partnership agreement. (3) Third-party providers The Secretary shall develop and implement strategies to encourage third-party technical service providers to provide technical assistance to eligible partners pursuant to a partnership agreement. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 1271F(a) of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871f(a) ) is amended by striking 1271D(d)(3) and inserting 1271D(d)(2) . 7. Critical conservation areas Section 1271F of the Food Security Act of 1985 ( 16 U.S.C. 3871f ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (a) (as amended by section 6(b)), (b), and (c) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively; (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) the following: (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Critical conservation area The term critical conservation area means a geographical area that contains a critical conservation condition that can be addressed through one or more covered programs. (2) Critical conservation condition The term critical conservation condition means— (A) a condition of land that would benefit from water quality improvement, including through reducing erosion, promoting sediment control, and addressing nutrient management activities affecting large bodies of water of regional, national, or international significance