The importance of a thorough and careful preliminary assessment of the application cannot be
overemphasized. The more thoroughly the applicant's competence is established at this stage, the less likelihood there
will be of having serious problems in the document evaluation and the demonstration and inspection phases preceding certification or during the course of subsequent operations. Analysis of the application as detailed in Chapter 2 will
indicate either that it is acceptable on a preliminary basis or that it is unacceptable. If in the latter case the deficiencies
are such that they can be rectified, the applicant should be given a reasonable opportunity to resubmit the application.
Such an assessment is essential at an early stage to reveal any critical deficiencies in the proposals and will enable the
applicant to prepare alternative proposals addressing the identified deficiencies.