Overview

• You may only submit a Private Label Application if the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) system is already DLC qualified. The principle behind Private Label applications is that private labeled systems are identical in components, performance and capabilities to the originally qualified versions.
• The private label can only submit application for the same scope as that of the OEM. For example, if the OEM system is qualified for Interior scope, the private label can only qualify for Interior.
• Please note that private labeled systems are dependent on qualification and maintained listing of the OEM system, and if for any reason the OEM system is de-listed, all associated dependent private labeled systems will also be de-listed. The private label can be re-listed by providing a new application and qualifying as an OEM. In this case, the discounted private label fee will not apply.
• De-listing of an OEM system may occur for a variety of reasons such as if a manufacturer voluntarily requests that their system be de-listed, or if the system is delisted due to non-compliance with program requirements, logo use violation, or other misrepresentation.

Fees

Please refer to the Revision Schedule and Listing Fees for details.

Technical Requirements Update

• When the DLC announces the Technical Requirements revision schedule, private labelers are held to the same deadline for meeting the requirements as the OEM systems.
• The private label system’s version listing is dependent on the OEM. To update to the Technical Requirements version in effect, the OEM system must first update before the private labeler can submit an application for the version update. Private labelers are encouraged to coordinate with their OEM suppliers to prevent delays. The application process is described in the section below.

Eligibility and QPL Listings

The intent of the Private Label application policy is to allow listing of systems that are exactly the same as the OEM ones already listed on the QPL. Because of this relatability, Private Label systems do not need to go through a comprehensive review, and application fees are reduced due to the simplified application review process. However, because this process is intended for systems that are identical, the DLC lists private labeled versions of systems with exactly the same capability information as their OEM versions. The reasoning behind this is that identical systems should have identical performance and capabilities, even if brand, manufacturer, date qualified, and similar descriptive fields are necessarily different.

Third Party Relationships

If a private labeler wishes to extend the private label to a third organization, there are two options:

• The private label request letter can be signed by the original manufacturer and the final private labeler. For example, if company B private labels a product from company A, and then company C wishes to private label that product from company B, the private label request letter would be signed by company A and company C.
• Alternatively, the original manufacturer can provide a blanket letter that grants the first private labeler permission to private label any product they manufacture to a third organization. Requests for private labeling from the initial private labeler and the third organization would then need a letter signed only by those two parties, along with the letter from the original manufacturer. In this scenario, company A provides a blanket letter for company B to private label their products; then applications for products from company C would need to include both that letter and the signed letter between company B and company C.

NLC Private Label Application Instructions

• Determine that the system(s) you intend to private label have already been qualified on the QPL by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
• Create or log-in to your MyDLC account
  If you have not done so already, create a MyDLC account with the DLC. Once logged in, select the manufacturer you will be submitting on behalf of. Enter the Application Portal by clicking on the blue Application Portal button. Note that this button is only accessible for manufacturers and users authorized to submit applications.
• Start a New Private Label application and select the OEM system from the dropdown.
• The allowed changes for a private label are in ‘Individual Luminaire Addressability’ and ‘LLLC’ sections wherein the Private Label company may list the compatible luminaires, kits and lamps from their own partnership with luminaire manufacturers not covered by OEM. Please note that the product’s spec sheet is required and the sheet must contain the private label system name as a compatible/ordering option.
• Complete the ‘Manufacturer and System’ section in the application with the private label brand information.
• The private label system can use the OEM’s reference documents for submission or the documents from the OEM re-labeled with a new private label logo (but same document names and page numbers). In either case, reference documents must be included in the application package.
• The package must include the warranty document of the private label. The DLC requires a minimum warranty of at least 5 years for all components of the system addressed by the requirements, with the exception of software, on-premises computer server, and cloud service. An optional warranty extension to 5 years is acceptable for meeting this requirement.
• Complete the Terms of Use and Private Label Agreement and submit the application.
  • Application reviews will not begin until the application is submitted. Once you have clicked “Submit,” you will be presented with the Terms of Use agreement that includes the Logo Guidelines Compliance Statement, Surveillance Testing Compliance Statement, and Safety Certification Compliance Statement. Full text of the agreement is available here.
  • If you indicate that you are authorized to sign the Private Label Agreement, you will then be directed to DocuSign to electronically sign the Private Label Agreement. If you indicate a different email address to sign for the Private Label Agreement, they will receive a notification email from DocuSign.
  • Once you have signed the Private Label Agreement, your application status will be changed to “Application Awaiting Signature.” The OEM application contact will also receive the Private Label Agreement notification through DocuSign.
  • Once the agreement has been signed by the both the Private Label and OEM organization, your application will enter comprehensive review.
  • For those applicants who do not have the appropriate level of authority to agree to the Terms of Use, it is recommended that the signing authority create a DLC account under your company’s organization and digitally sign off once the application is complete.

Qualifying at Pre-Production

• A private label can submit an application 2 weeks before the system is launched.
• This requires the private label applicant to submit a letter of intent (template available below) during the application submission process, saying that the system will be launched within 2 weeks.
• When the system is commercially available, the applicant shall notify the DLC at info@designlights.org.  Refer here for definition of Commercial Availability.
• After the 2 weeks launch period has ended, if the system is not yet commercially available, it will be temporarily delisted from the NLC QPL until it has been launched.
• For information about fees for this option, please see Revision Schedule and Listing Fees.

Note that only private label systems are eligible to qualify at pre-production stage.

Review Process

• For Private Label applications, there is no initial review. Once the application is submitted, it moves to comprehensive review. After the comprehensive review is complete, an invoice will be issued and upon payment the system will be published on the QPL. Note all communication on the application must occur in the application portal and email submissions will no longer be accepted.