FDA will consider using alternative tools for an application’s facility evaluation, as appropriate and on a case-by-case basis, in advance or in lieu of an inspection or to support a PAI or a PLI. Because FDA may choose to inspect and/or to use an alternative tool at any point in the application assessment cycle, FDA expects all manufacturing, packaging, and control sites for drug substance and drug product facilities to be ready for inspection at the time of application submission. FDA does not intend to grant requests from applicants or facilities for FDA to use alternative tools. Such decisions depend on many factors and may include information bearing on internal Agency practices, and it would not be feasible to establish a request-based program.