The EDGE Preliminary Certificate is issued by the EDGE:

The issuance of certificates in the EDGE certification process is a defined responsibility assigned to specific roles. The EDGE Certification Protocol states: "The EDGE Preliminary Certificate, awarded at the design stage, is issued by the EDGE Certification Provider after the Auditor submits a recommendation for certification based on the design audit. The Certification Provider reviews the Auditor’s report and, if compliant, issues the certificate" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 3.3: Certification Decision). Option C, Certification Provider, aligns with this process, as entities like GBCI are responsible for issuing certificates. Option A (Auditor) is incorrect, as Auditors only recommend certification: "The Auditor’s role is to provide a recommendation, not to issue the certificate" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.2: Roles of EDGE Auditor). Option B (Expert) is also incorrect, as Experts advise on design, not certification: "EDGE Experts assist with project design and self-assessment, not certification issuance" (EDGE Expert and Auditor Protocols, Section 2.1: Roles of EDGE Expert). Option D (Operations and Management Team) is wrong, as this team supports the overall program, not individual certifications: "The EDGE Operations and Management Team oversees program development, not certificate issuance" (EDGE Certification Protocol, Section 1.3: Program Structure). Thus, the Preliminary Certificate is issued by the Certification Provider (Option C).