Notified body assessment is a commercial service. Common fee models include fixed fee for a defined scope (providing cost certainty but limited scope flexibility), time-and-materials (charging for actual hours spent), and hybrid models (fixed base fee for the desktop review with time-and-materials for the technical assessment phase).

The AI Governance Lead budgets for the assessment as a distinct line item in the compliance programme, separate from internal assessment costs. Early-stage fee variability is expected as the notified body ecosystem matures. Organisations should obtain quotes from multiple bodies where possible, comparing not only cost but assessment methodology, timeline, and industry experience.

The budget should account for the full assessment lifecycle, including pre-engagement (body selection, scope agreement, contract negotiation), desktop review, gap remediation, technical assessment, and final reporting. Organisations should also budget for at least two to three assessment cycles, as multiple rounds of review and remediation are common.

Key outputs

• Assessment budgeted as a distinct compliance programme line item
• Fee model comparison across available notified bodies
• Full lifecycle costing (pre-engagement through certification)
• Budget for multiple assessment cycles