Appendix 3 - Change of accreditation requirements by

Introduction

1 From time to time the Crown will alter, amend, change or vary the Accreditation requirements, to reflect changes in standards, or to incorporate lessons learnt into the requirements.

Notice of change of Accreditation Criteria

2 The Crown will give notice to Accredited Suppliers and Participating Agencies in advance of a proposed amendment or variation to the Accreditation Process in accordance with the notice provisions detailed in the Accreditation Process document.

3 The notice will give details of the proposed Accreditation process, relating to the change of requirements.

Withdrawal of Accreditation

4 Accredited Suppliers will ensure that Accredited Software supplied by them will comply with the new requirements at the time they come into force. If the Supplier has not demonstrated that the Accredited Software complies with the new requirements, then the Accreditation will be withdrawn at 11:59:59 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the new requirements coming into force.

Accreditation Process Plan

5 The Supplier will work in partnership with the Crown and other Suppliers to develop an Accreditation Process plan for re-Accreditation against new criteria. The plan will include timeframes, costs, cost allocation, responsibilities and processes for:

• Initial interoperability demonstration by vendor

• Formal interoperability testing - lab testing

• Formal interoperability testing - operational reference systems

Initial interoperability demonstration by vendor

6 The supplier will initially demonstrate that the software product being tested can be configured to conform to the "S.E.E. Mail Business and Technical Requirements" and can interoperate with a second copy of the same software when configured to meet the new requirements.

7 The new requirements will be provided to the Supplier along with a revised set of "S.E.E. Mail Tests". The Applicant will provide to the Crown all relevant documentation, including test results, and may be required to provide the Crown with hands-on access to the test environment.

Interim Accreditation

8 Successful completion of initial testing will result in the applicant being invited to commence testing against the S.E.E. Mail Test Reference System. Successful completion of the testing will result in the software product being granted an Interim Accreditation.

9 The applicant will provide the Crown with all relevant documentation, including test results and a permanent record of the Accreditation Process on CDROM, and may be required to provide the Crown with hands-on access to the software undergoing testing.

10 Failure to demonstrate interoperability will result in the termination of the Accreditation Process by the Crown.

11 Interim accreditation gives the supplier the right to market the product to Eligible Agencies under the direction of the Crown's representative. If the first implementation is not completed to the satisfaction of the Crown's representative the Interim Accreditation will be withdrawn and the supplier will not be permitted to undertake any further marketing or publicity.

Full Accreditation

12 The applicant will demonstrate that the software product being tested can interoperate with all other Participating Agencies when configured to meet the "S.E.E. Mail Business and Technical Requirements". The applicant will also demonstrate that in doing so the software fulfils the requirements laid out in the "S.E.E. Mail Tests".

13 Successful completion of the testing will result in the software product being granted Full Accreditation.

Accreditation Process Flowchart - New Requirements