CERTIFICATION FEES FOR IAP SERVICE PROVIDER APPLICANTS

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

The stages involved in obtaining certification, endorsement to use a specific type of in-vehicle unit (IVU), and assessment of a self declaration input device (SDID) and/or alternative to the SDID[1] are:

• The applicant lodges a completed application with TCA;
• The applicant completes the prescribed certification checklist – a detailed questionnaire relating to the IAP Service Provider’s system(s), IVU(s), and SDID and/or alternative to the SDID;
• TCA undertakes testing and a risk focused review – this may be undertaken in parallel on both the IAP Service Provider’s system(s), IVU(s), and its SDID and/or alternative to the SDID, and
• Certification – finalising and signing of the Certification Agreement between the applicant and TCA.

There are no fixed timeframes associated with the certification process.

As the applicant successfully completes one stage, it will progress to the next until the process is complete and certification is achieved. TCA will determine, in an exhaustive evaluation, whether the applicant has successfully completed the stages.

Flexibility may be applied in the progressing of applicants through the stages, to minimise the time taken by the process. In certain circumstances, an applicant may be able to progress through some stages simultaneously. The final decision on whether an applicant shall be certified or not, rests with TCA’s Board of Directors.

CERTIFICATION FEES

Rebate on Certification of IAP Service Provider system, including Endorsement to use a specific IVU and Assessment of a SDID or alternative to the SDID 
It is expected that the costs to TCA for the certification of one IAP Service Provider system,  the associated endorsement to use a specific type of IVU and the assessment of a SDID or alternative to the SDID will be $174,350 (including GST). This is for the current IAP parameter set of spatial, temporal and speed compliance and the self-declaration function which allows for vehicle configuration, total combination mass and a comments field. Costs, or components of costs, are payable at each stage, these are detailed in Table 1.

Until 30 June 2009, TCA Members have agreed to continue to fund a rebate for applicants to foster participation in the IAP in the initial years of its operation. The rebate will operate such that the fee payable, by an applicant, for certification of one IAP Service Provider system, associated endorsement to use one specific type of IVU, and assessment of one SDID or one alternative to the SDID will be $55,000 (including GST), provided that all stages of the process are successfully completed on the first attempt. Fees or components of fees are payable at each stage. These rebated fees are detailed in Table 1.

To be eligible to receive the rebated fees, an applicant must have lodged its completed application along with all associated materials with TCA by 30 May 2008.

To continue to be eligible to receive the rebated fees until 30 June 2009, an applicant, whether new or existing[2], must have submitted its fully completed certification checklist (completed to TCA’s satisfaction)  along with two samples of its proposed IVU and one sample of its proposed SDID (or alternative) to TCA by 31 December 2008.

Where an eligible applicant has commenced a stage of the certification process (and has received a rebate for that stage) but the stage has not been fully completed by 30 June 2009, the applicant must pay - without any rebate - the cost of work[3] performed by TCA after that date. The previous closing date was 31 December 2009.

It is important to note that these deadlines relate to rebate eligibility only. Companies can still apply to TCA to become IAP Service Providers after 30 May 2008, but they will not be eligible for the rebate on fees.

If it is necessary for an applicant to repeat any of the stages of the certification process, TCA reserves the right to charge an additional fee. The fee for each repeat of a stage will depend on the level of remedial action required but will not exceed the cost or fee (as applicable) normally charged for that stage.

An applicant can withdraw from the certification process at any time with no further fee liability beyond that which has already been accrued.

The rebate does not apply to requests for certification of additional IAP Service Provider systems or SDIDs (including alternatives), but does apply to requests for endorsement of further types of IVUs.

Table 1: Certification of an IAP Service Provider System with one IVU Endorsement and one SDID assessment - Break Down by Stages*