ZMP controller reported denver center handed them off two aircraft that were on conflicting courses.

Attributes
ACN	1628507
Time
Date	201903
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZMP.ARTCC
State Reference	MN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Descent
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 26.0
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Conflict Airborne Conflict Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown

Narrative:

Denver center descended aircraft X to 35;000 feet from 37;000 feet which put him in direct conflict with aircraft Y. The two aircraft were on collision courses and would lose separation 2 miles inside our airspace. Denver center transferred communications of both aircraft to minneapolis center. We had a problem with two pilots acting unprofessional and congesting our frequency with their personal conversation! We issued control instructions for aircraft Y to turn 10 degrees right and then another 10 degrees right to achieve positive separation. Each time the clearance and the read back were blocked by two pilots having their personal conversation! Eventually; and with great patience and persistence; we were able to keep these two aircraft separated. This is unbelievable that this continues to happen on a daily basis that ZDV is not held accountable for putting two aircraft on collision courses without ensuring any form of separation. This is going to result in a catastrophic collision one day! Hold controllers; supervisors and managers accountable for individuals not doing their job which could lead to lives being lost.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMP Controller reported Denver Center handed them off two aircraft that were on conflicting courses.

Narrative: Denver Center descended Aircraft X to 35;000 feet from 37;000 feet which put him in direct conflict with Aircraft Y. The two aircraft were on collision courses and would lose separation 2 miles inside our airspace. Denver Center transferred communications of both aircraft to Minneapolis Center. We had a problem with two pilots acting unprofessional and congesting our frequency with their personal conversation! We issued control instructions for Aircraft Y to turn 10 degrees right and then another 10 degrees right to achieve positive separation. Each time the clearance and the read back were blocked by two pilots having their personal conversation! Eventually; and with great patience and persistence; we were able to keep these two aircraft separated. This is unbelievable that this continues to happen on a daily basis that ZDV is not held accountable for putting two aircraft on collision courses without ensuring any form of separation. This is going to result in a catastrophic collision one day! Hold controllers; supervisors and managers accountable for individuals not doing their job which could lead to lives being lost.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.