Who is responsible for reimbursing Bumper Man for the costs incurred during the supplier approval process?

If we require that an item be purchased from an approved supplier and you wish to purchase it from a supplier we have not approved, you must submit to us a written request for approval, and must include pertinent information about the supplier as required in the Manual. You may not purchase or lease the item from the supplier until and unless we have approved the supplier in writing. We have the right to require you to submit information, specifications, and samples to us to enable us to determine whether the item complies with our standards and specifications and that the supplier meets our criteria. We also have the right to inspect the supplier's facilities and to have samples from the supplier delivered to us or to any independent laboratory we designate for testing. We may condition our approval of a supplier on requirements relating to product quality, prices, consistency, reliability, financial compatibility, labor relations, client relations, frequency of delivery, concentration of purchases, standards of service (including prompt attention to complaints) or other criteria. We may re-inspect the facilities and products of any approved supplier, and we may revoke our approval upon the suppliers' failure to continue to meet any of our then-current criteria. You must reimburse us for the costs that we incur in the supplier approval process. We are not required to approve any particular supplier. We will notify you of our approval or disapproval within 30 days. Our specifications for products and services and criteria for supplier approval are generally issues through written communications and are available to franchisees and approved suppliers.

Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 18–20)