Q: What is the Qualified Products List Test?
A: The NBSP conducts extensive scenario tests of physical access biometric devices for inclusion on a "Qualified Products List" (QPL). Unlike most previous technology testing programs which are designed to determine the Detection Error Trade-off (DET) curves useful in defining a product's performance potential, the QPL process tests production-level products in a scenario environment against fixed operating performance standards.

Q: Why should my company/product participate in the QPL testing program?
A: First, there is intrinsic engineering, production, and marketing value in having a product tested and performance confirmed by a truly independent testing organization whose process meets international standards. Second, the using/buying community has an increasing need to rely on an independent source of evaluation to assist in their procurement decision, avoiding the need for repetitive pilot or qualifying test activity by the buyer. Third, testing under the NBSP QPL program may satisfy the need for basic product qualification under such programs as the DHS Safety Act designation of QATT (Qualified Ant-Terrorist Technology), as well as other qualification requirements that rely on results from an independent test agency.

Q: Is the level of performance established under the QPL test reasonable for the average product to achieve?
The thresholds for performance were established after wide community review and opportunity for comment, and then modified to ensure fairness and objectivity in a "common denominator" approach. It is the objective of the QPL program to test and list all biometric products that can achieve "minimum" levels of performance in infrastructure security applications; NOT to minimize the number of products that can only meet the highest levels of performance.

Q: Where does the testing take place?
A: Testing is conducted at the NBSP Test, Research, and Data Center [TRDC Services, LLC] in Morgantown, West Virginia an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, environmentally-controlled, state-of-the-art, test and evaluation laboratory.

Q: What products are being tested?
A: At this time, we are only testing products designed for physical security/access control functions. QPL testing for logical access control and other biometric applications will be available in Q1 2008.

Q: What level of Quality Assurance is there at the laboratories?
The NBSP laboratory is re-validated periodically to provide an increased level of assurance that performance has not significantly degraded from those achieved and recorded during testing or at the time of initial accredidation. Additionally, test plans executed within the TRDC or at other locations by NBSP personnel or on behalf of NBSP are governed by the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.