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VOSA answers your vital. ATF questions
Page 10
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As our Stop the VOSA Closures campaign gains momentum, we put your burning questions on the Testing Transformation Programme to the enforcement agency. Here's what it had to say.
AS PART OF OUR Stop the VOSA Closures campaign, we asked for your questions about the Authorised Testing Facilities programme (ATFs) so we could ask VOSA. You responded with a variety of queries, and VOSA chief executive Alastair Peoples (pictured) was happy to respond.
We have left out the names of those who posed the questions.
a Is the government looking at full privatisation of commercial vehicle testing in line with car MoTs, and will testers be employed by the ATI' operator? Privatisation was one of the options considered by the Department for Transport (DfT) to transform testing. This was rejected in favour of the VOSA in-house option (ATFs).
Testing will still be conducted by fully-qualified VOSA employees in order to maintain road safety and environmental standards.
AP
When is the ATI,' contract going to be published and how can I get hold of it?
AP VOSA is allowing a little more time for comments from interested parties to make sure the contract meets the needs of businesses across the industry.
We want to ensure we get it right. We need to provide the chance for interested parties to put forward their views and include the feedback we receive, as appropriate, as soon as possible.
A number of major industry players have already expressed their interest in becoming ATFs as soon as possible.
So, while I can't give you an exact date for the launch of the contract, I can assure you we are working tirelessly to finalise and release it as soon as possible.
Once the contract has been launched, it will he available for people to download on www. businesslink.gov.uk In addition, there will be an information pack available on the Businesslink website to guide interested parties through the application process.
Once people have submitted their applications, our business development team will provide support to applicants Will more testers need to be employed to make up for the time spent travelling back and forth to ATFs?
AP There are several factors that will influence the number of testers that VOSA will need to employ.
These include the additional time spent travelling to a nonVOSA site, as well as extended opening hours (6am-8pm).
We anticipate that extended opening hours will have the greatest impact on the number of staff required. We are assessing the likely workforce numbers we will need in the future and we are talking to trades unions to review existing terms and conditions.
Why does VOSA feel there has been such a small number of third-parties wanting to set up ATFs?
AP Interested parties are keen to see the finalised contract before taking a final decision on becoming an ATE
Despite the fact we have not yet begun to actively market ATFs, we have received more than 100 enquiries from potential ATFs.
In addition, a number of major national businesses have already indicated their willingness to become ATFs as soon as they can.
We've also noticed an increase in the number of DP applications This is an indication of the growing interest in the concept of external testing. We intend to increase marketing activities in order to generate more interest once the finalised contract has been launched.
If VOSA test stations are being closed due to undercapacity such as Steeton), why would a private firm be able to open an ATF in the same area and make a viable business out of it if VOSA can't even get the volume of tests coming through?
AP Let me be clear; the recent decision to close four testing stations was due to overcapacity in VOSA's station network, and it is not linked to the ATF strategy.
No further testing stations are currently earmarked for closure; none will be closed until sufficient alternative provision is in place.
Second, in taking testing closer to the customer, we are providing ATFs with an opportunity to align testing with maintenance.
This will mean better value for money to the end customer. ATFs will be at liberty to determine the volume of testing they wish to conduct, depending on the level of demand in their local area.
I'd like to reassure customers that VOSA stations will not close unless there is a suitable alternative test facility available.