The Subject Matter Expert (SME) acknowledges that in the course of this validation study, they will have access to Confidential Information, including but not limited to:

• The 50 proprietary Task Statements of the DAS credential
• The specific weighting and blueprinting logic of the DAS exam
• Strategic launch plans for ProTect Athletics

The SME agrees to maintain the strict confidentiality of this information and shall not disclose, reproduce, or distribute any portion of the survey or curriculum to any third party without express written consent from a Co-Founder of ProTect Athletics.

The SME affirms that their participation is based on their professional expertise and is not influenced by external financial or personal interests.

• Independence: The SME certifies they are not a direct employee of ProTect Athletics.
• Disclosure: The SME shall disclose any affiliation with organizations that offer a direct competing certification in athletic safety engineering.

The SME acknowledges that their ratings, feedback, and contributions to the DAS validation process are provided as a professional service. All resulting data, exam blueprints, and validation reports are the sole intellectual property of ProTect Athletics.

By signing this agreement, the SME consents to having their name, professional title, and a summary of their qualifications (Rationale) included in the technical report submitted to the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).