Award Decision Rules
GSQA-PRG-004 · 2.0 · 2026-10-19
1. Required decision-record contents
Decision records include the application and scope, version used, verifiers and findings, decision-maker, conflict recusals, outcome and reasons, date and reconsideration route. An award must identify the parameters exceeding target-market regulatory requirements, their regulatory basis and official sources, and the corresponding standard clauses, reports and pages. Meeting the regulatory baseline without reliable evidence of performance beyond it does not qualify for an award.
2. Classification of procedural outcomes
Technical non-fulfilment, insufficient evidence, withdrawal, overdue additional documents and no substantive response for six months are recorded separately. Procedural closure does not establish technical product failure and is not a brand blacklist.
3. Publication after a decision
Publication requires completed publication-rights checks, the actual publishable documents and licence conditions. A public-facing page, applicant declaration or successful-download message cannot replace the decision record.
4. Conditions checked before a decision
Confirm authority, model, market, complete evidence, core margin, document authentication, publication and conflict management. An applicant’s own checkbox or the verification findings alone do not constitute a formal award.
5. Different personnel verify and decide
The decision-maker does not participate in the case’s technical verification. They examine the itemised findings, resolution of omissions and relevant documents, and record their own reasons. Reconsideration personnel are independent of both earlier stages.
6. Distinguishing outcomes
An award states its scope and period. A non-award states whether technical requirements were not met or evidence was insufficient. Closure for overdue documents, voluntary withdrawal and six months without a substantive response are distinct procedural outcomes and must not be represented as technical failure.
7. Reconsideration following formal notice
The notice is retained in the application centre and states the decision number, scope, applicable rules, reasons and reconsideration procedure. Reconsideration may be requested free of charge within 30 calendar days of receipt. The request itself does not change the existing status.
8. Records, administration and correction
For matters covered by this document, records must retain the application or case number, specific product and market, version used, documents and page references, responsible personnel, material dates, reasons and formal notices. Personal information and trade secrets are handled according to access permissions. Questions about a record may be raised through correction, complaint or reconsideration channels available to an entitled applicant. Submission alone does not alter an existing decision or licence. The outcome is determined by the formal notice and current record.
9. Effective date, application and version control
Version 2.0 of this document is published and takes effect on 19 October 2026. It applies to relevant matters formally submitted after that date. Existing applications retain their original snapshot and rules. Material changes are notified separately and handled under transitional arrangements; new conditions are not retrospectively inserted into historical decisions. Website and downloadable texts must agree. Superseded versions identify their replacement, and name or wording corrections are recorded separately from substantive amendments.