## 3 The F-Channel Platform
### Coordination Module
#### 3.2.3. Prequalification Process  
As already discussed, the prequalification process, in simplified terms, ensures that the potential flexibility service provider (FSP) can supply the system with the needed resources, based on the appropriate auction. This process is performed for the first time when the provider initially appears in the energy market for the certain product and can be repeated either in regular timeframes or after the specific request of the SOs. The basic flowchart of this process can be found in Figure 9, in which the blue rectangles mark the situations in which the entity (SO or the potential FSP) sends the data to the other entity, and the red rectangles mark the moment in which the data are received by the entity (once again, SO or the potential FSP). Since the dashed line down the middle of this diagram separates the parts of the process that are the responsibility of one entity from the parts that are the responsibility of the other entity, it makes sense that the green arrows crossing this line represent the information exchanges that take place between the two entities within the prequalification procedure.  
From this diagram, it is visible that the prequalification process needs to be initiated by the potential FSP, which is expected to submit a formal application for the prequalification process to the relevant SO by providing the necessary data regarding both the provider itself and the resources at their disposal accompanying the application. The completeness of the application is then evaluated by the operator, and the potential provider is informed of the outcome after its evaluation. If the application is missing some data, the potential FSP must provide them before proceeding with the prequalification. The next steps of the procedure include the back-and-forth exchange of information between the SO and the potential FSP, with the FSP, first, suggesting the plan and protocol of the tests that need to be conducted, to which the SO should respond with the nomination of the single point-of-contact in their company. That point-of-contact, from that moment, becomes the primary channel of communication between the potential FSP and the SO, thus ensuring that the prequalification procedure is conducted in a successful manner. Therefore, potential FSPs can propose the date of the start of the testing procedure, with the SO either confirming the proposal or requesting some other date, if the initial proposal is not a viable option. Following the tests needed for the prequalification process, the potential FSP drafts a report on the outcomes of the tests and sends it to the SO, which evaluates it and confirms its truthfulness with the nominated point-of-contact. If the testing was successful, the SO sends the confirmation of the completed prequalification to the FSP and adds it to the unified FSP register. However, if the testing was not successful, then the aspiring FSP needs to implement the appropriate corrections on its side so the tests can be run again. This usually means, if the corrections are not so simple and require some time to be properly performed, that the new date of the tests needs to be harmonized between both sides, after which the testing procedure is restarted. This can be repeated until all the requests of the SO are fulfilled adequately.  
Figure 9: Prequalification process flowchart.  
What needs to be mentioned here is that, although Figure 9 lays out the basic architecture of the conducted steps within the proposed prepqualification process, some of the finer details of these steps may vary depending on the entities that participate in the procedure and the product for which the prequalification process has been initiated in the first place.