Section 50IAC26-18-2. Initial software certification

   (a) Assessment and tax and billing software subject to certification under section 1 of this rule must initially be tested and certified under this section. The software will be tested by the department or its designee on a stand-alone PC, or a larger system if no PC version is available, on which the software has been installed. A vendor or data processing department shall schedule a testing date with the department at least thirty (30) days before submitting its assessment software or tax and billing software for test. The test shall include, but will not be limited to, a demonstration of the following:

(1) The software's internal control mechanisms required under this article.

(2) The software's ability to:

(A) perform calculations; and

(B) import and export data;

as applicable to fulfill its function within an overall property tax management system.

  (b) At least thirty (30) days before the test, each vendor shall submit the following:

(1) For review, all technical documentation. All documentation that includes proprietary information or trade secrets must be so identified on its cover.

(2) Audited financial statements for the most recent three (3) years upon request by the department. If the company has been in business less than three (3) years, then a business plan shall be submitted in addition to any available financial statements.

  (c) At least thirty (30) days before the test, each data processing department that has developed a unique assessment or tax and billing application shall submit for review all technical documentation. All documents that include proprietary information or trade secrets must be so identified on its cover.

  (d) The department or its designee shall finish the test and notify the vendor or data processing department of the results within thirty (30) days of the submission date. If the software fails the test, the department will inform the vendor or data processing department in writing of the reason or reasons for the failure. Upon notice of failure, the vendor or data processing department may make the required correction or corrections and resubmit for certification, following the schedule in subsections (a) through (c).

  (e) Upon successful completion of testing under subsection (a), the department shall then declare the assessment or tax and billing software certified. (Department of Local Government Finance; 50 IAC 26-18-2; filed Jan 28, 2011, 3:07 p.m.: 20110223-IR-050100165FRA)