Implementation Conformance Checklist v1.0: Vertical AI Governance Stack Assessment Instrument

This technical note presents the Implementation Conformance Checklist v1.0, an assessment instrument for examining implementations of the Vertical AI Governance Stack v1.0.

The checklist organizes assessment criteria around the six governance layers (L1–L6) of the reference architecture. It provides a structured approach to examining capability boundaries, governance controls, architectural invariants, verification evidence, and implementation conformance.

The instrument includes a negative verification matrix, severity classification, and explicit conformance boundaries to support systematic identification and documentation of governance gaps. It is intended to facilitate repeatable technical assessments and to distinguish documented controls from assumptions about an agentic system's behavior.

The checklist is a technical assessment instrument, not an independent certification standard. Its use does not, by itself, establish regulatory compliance or guarantee system safety.