Currently, there is only one vendor (Wiener) manufacturing a complete VIPA system (i.e. backplane, power supplies, fans, remote control and monitoring), and the price is somewhat expensive. CAEN has indicated a willingness to provide some of its new front-end electronics using the VIPA standard (e.g. a new high-resolution pipeline TDC). The extent to which applications for Hall D need the VIPA form-factor should be studied and weighed with respect to the increased cost. It is possible that some or all of the commercial and custom front-end designs can be implemented within the current VME standard (VME64x).