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NVLAP Fee Policy


Description of Fee Structure

NVLAP operates on a cost-reimbursable basis from fees paid by participating laboratories that apply for accreditation in fields of testing or calibration. For fee calculation purposes, a field is considered to be any area of accreditation that is a separate line item on the NVLAP Fee Schedule (for example, Common Criteria Testing is a field of testing listed separately under the Information Technology and Security Testing program).

The fee structure incorporates four major fee categories:

  1. The Initial Application Fee covers costs associated with processing an applicant for the first time. It is paid only one time per laboratory and is due with the initial application for accreditation. Note: In the Calibration Laboratories accreditation program, the Initial Application Fee is also called the Stage 1 fee.

  2. The Administrative/Technical Support Fee covers costs associated with NVLAP and other NIST staff conducting the program in all areas for which accreditation is offered and for providing these services to participating laboratories. A discount is available if multiple fields of accreditation are selected by a laboratory.

    This fee is due annually regardless of the accreditation status of a laboratory. Laboratories that have been enrolled in a program for more than one year and are not yet accredited will be invoiced annually for the Administrative/Technical Support Fee, based on the date the laboratory's initial application was accepted by NVLAP.

  3. The On-Site Assessment Fee covers costs incurred for an on-site assessment visit. On-site assessments are conducted prior to initial accreditation, during the first renewal year, and every two years thereafter. For some fields of accreditation, this fee is shown as Variable on the NVLAP Fee Schedule. When Variable is shown, an applicant laboratory must contact NVLAP for the amount of the On-Site Assessment Fee, which will be determined based upon the estimated number of days required for the assessment and number of assessors.

    The optional use of a preassessment visit will be considered if it is decided that such a visit would result in a better definition of the scope of accreditation which has been requested by the laboratory. In such cases the preassessment costs will be charged to the laboratory in addition to the actual On-Site Assessment Fee.

    A laboratory will be charged for an additional assessment visit if required as the result of failure to meet NVLAP technical criteria. The fee for this additional assessment visit is the same as the On-Site Assessment Fee on the NVLAP Fee Schedule.

    A laboratory will not be charged separately for a monitoring visit, which may be initiated by NVLAP at any time during the accreditation period for cause or on a random selection basis.

  4. The Proficiency Testing Fee covers costs relating to the provision of proficiency test samples and artifacts, the collection and analysis of laboratory results, and reports to NVLAP. At this time, NVLAP is not collecting proficiency testing fees with a laboratory's application. Depending upon the program(s) selected for accreditation, the laboratory will either be invoiced the Proficiency Testing Fee at the time the test is conducted or will pay the fee directly to the provider of service, if the proficiency testing is conducted through an outside testing service.

Fee Refund Policy

This refund policy applies to laboratories that withdraw from the NVLAP program. It covers each of the four major fee categories as follows:

  1. The Initial Application Fee is nonrefundable.

  2. The amount of the Administrative/Technical Support Fee and the Test Method Fee to be refunded depends upon the length of time that has elapsed between the laboratory's renewal date and the date NVLAP was notified of the decision to withdraw.

    Time of withdrawal
    (# of months after renewal date)*         		Refund amount
    Less than 3 months 3/4
    3 months to less than 6 months 1/2
    6 months to less than 9 months 1/4
    9 months or greater No refund

    * If a laboratory is seeking initial accreditation (i.e., has never been accredited for a specific program), the time of withdrawal will be counted as the number of months after the date the initial application was received.

  3. The On-Site Assessment Fee is refundable only if no on-site related costs have been incurred. Otherwise, costs incurred will be deducted from the On-Site Assessment Fee.

  4. The portion of the Proficiency Testing Fee for any proficiency testing planned but not sent to the laboratory, or for any proficiency testing that was not initiated, will be refunded. No refund will be given for artifacts sent but returned unmeasured by the laboratory.


NVLAP Fee Schedule

To print and/or view the current NVLAP Fee Schedule, click here.

To continue, proceed to Print NVLAP Application Forms.