Clarifications
There are 63 clarifications for this DPS
72. When completing the FVRA tool, the instructions state to add financial information for the last 3 financial periods, does this mean the last 3 financial periods provided in audited accounts or the last 3 full periods up to today's date.
Bidders need to complete the FVRA with their published accounts for the last 3 years. Their most recent period of accounts must not be older than two years, therefore ensure that all filed statements and data fall within this timeframe. If there are concerns regarding the most recently filed statements, the evaluation team will request draft financial statements for 2024 and/or management accounts to obtain more current information.
Answered
09/04/2025 16:09
71. Hi
We have successfully downloaded the bid pack however, we are unable to locate the questionnaire on our dashboard. Can you help?
Hello, please be advised to set the filters on your dashboard to 'any' and 'all'. The questionnaire should then be visible. However, if the problem persists, please contact NQC via support@nqc.com
Answered
01/04/2025 08:43
70. The FVRA tool does not fit our organisational profile as an 'other' organisation, we are not private nor a charity, therefore haven't been able to populate the document as requested due to the misalignment of financial information. Are you able to advise how else we can provide financial due diligence.
Please be advised that all organisations must include a completed FVRA tool in their application for RM6348 Adult Skills & Learning DPS, in line with the bid pack. Please refer to the bid pack for guidance and should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Answered
12/03/2025 08:57
69. Using LVPS, where do I ensure our supplier delivery location matches the location of the tender we are bidding for, to ensure that the potential buyer can see us in the correct generated lists? In LVPS we are asked to add a postcode and area, but on the buyer side, this shows a county a subdivisions of areas.
Good afternoon, if you require clarification regarding the Low Value Purchasing System (LVPS), please submit a clarification question via the LVPS page.
Answered
07/03/2025 15:11
67. As a supplier of Adult Skills Fund who may be using subcontractors what will be the expectations RE Ofsted etc where it is non regulated provision?
In order to join the DPS, providers are not required to provide Ofsted ratings or reports. Buyers will specify any Ofsted requirements of service providers and subcontractors as part of their call off process.
Answered
20/02/2025 17:16
66. We have seen a lot of information about the forthcoming Central Digital Platform that is going live on 24th February. What is the relationship (if any) between this RM6348 DPS and the CDP? We are in the process of applying to join RM6348 - if we are successful, will we also be registered on the CDP, or will we have register for the CDP separately?
The Central Digital Platform will be a separate system, so there would be a separate registration process for this. For each call-off through the RM6348 Adult Skills & Learning DPS, the buyer will inform suppliers how to bid.
Answered
17/02/2025 16:57
65. Is the Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT) commonly used by NHS organisations an acceptable equivalent to Cyber Essentials
Suppliers need to provide evidence, confirming compliance to the Cyber Essentials requirements, which must be verified by a technically competent and independent third party (which must be IASME registered Certification Body). We accept CE, CE Plus, or an IASME certified equivalent of these.
Answered
10/02/2025 15:29
63. We have been completing the DPS section of the questionnaire and it looks like it may have submitted before we were ready. Is there a way to go back in and edit our answers please?
Please be advised that if you reach the assessing stage of the Selection Questionnaire but still require to make changes to your application, you may request to be moved back to PART 1 in order to amend the application. For technical support regarding your Selection Questionnaire, please contact support@nqc.com
Answered
24/01/2025 16:58
62. Our clarification relates to section 3.17.16, where a supplier is unable to meet the 95% invoicing requirements and an action plan must be submitted.
In regards to the wording "Plan published on its website (this can be a shorter, summary plan)." Please may we confirm if this is a mandatory requirement?
As per PPN 10/23, the questions regarding payments are only mandatory where it is anticipated that the supplier would bid for any contracts with an individual value greater than £5 million per annum (excluding VAT).
Answered
23/01/2025 14:01
61. I have selected the adult skills and learning DPS, however when i go to start a new selection questionnaire on the dashboard it only gives the the standard SQ not the one specific to Adult skills and learning. How do I access this?
Please refer to the Quick Supplier Guide, as it explains the onboarding process for suppliers. You can find this document in the Adult Skills and Learning bid pack. Please ensure to access the Selection Questionnaire (SQ) from the Adult Skills and Learning DPS and do not use the generic SQ on the SRS homepage. Once the SQ is complete, you can continue through the DPS system to complete the Dynamic Purchasing System Questionnaire (DPSQ). If you continue to have problems, please contact our service provider NQC. You can call NQC on 0161 413 7982 or via email on Support@nqc.com
Answered
21/01/2025 15:22
60. question 1.14.10 - subcontracting - we are a HE provider and we don't have a set formula for delivery as we deliver lots of different training. However we sometime rely on the professional ability of our subcontractors. However, it is impossible to say the percentage at this stage. Can you advise what to do in this scenerio.
Please complete to the best of your ability with anticipated/approximated information. Questions can be updated in future if circumstances change.
Answered
21/01/2025 15:25
59. Question 1.3.1 of the selection question for adult skills fund, we are a HE provider. How do we know whether we say yes or no on this? We have looked through the bid pack and can't see any guidance.
Question 1.3.1 forms part of the standard selection questionnaire. Questions are not always applicable to every organisation. The question asks if your company needs to be authorised by or be a member of a particular organisation in order to provide the services you will provide through the DPS. For example, how banks need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority in order to be able to provide services. Please complete to the best of your knowledge given your company's individual circumstances. Questions can be updated in future if circumstances change.
Answered
20/01/2025 13:32
58. Thank you for answering clarification 57. However, it does not really answer our question. We are not due to have an y draft accounts (our first year end will be June '25. and so the clarification does not match our circumstances.
Could you provide any guidance to match our circumstances:
Newly incorporated June '24; End of year 1 financial period= June'25.
We look forward to your response. Thanks
We acknowledge that you have not been operating for a complete year; therefore, we kindly request that you provide us with an interim statement of profit and loss for the period from June 2024 to December 2024. This statement will offer us six months of trading information. Additionally, please provide your interim balance sheet as of 31st December 2024. These documents can be provided as an excerpt from your accounting software or in an Excel format.
Please apply these figures to the Financial Viability and Risk Assessment (FVRA) to determine your trading performance across the relevant ratios for the initial six months of operations, as part of our evaluation process.
Answered
27/01/2025 15:15
57. We were newly incorporated in June 2024 and so do not have full accounts as yet. Can you signpost the guidance for us please --- so we can upload the correct documentation and we can complete the FVRA spreadsheet accurately
We ask that you use your draft accounts to complete the FVRA and also provide these accounts by attaching them to your application in order for our teams to verify the FVRA given they are not published accounts. It is advised that you take advantage of using tab '3.1 Lead Bidder Assessment' starting in cell N19. This provides an opportunity to present mitigating commentary for example stating the non profit element and impact of this and on the various ratios.
Answered
17/01/2025 10:18
56. In relation to the Adult Skills and Learning Selection Questionnaire Selection Questionnaire Reference: 1734012979. I understand that the stage listed as Registered 1 is showing as finished on the supplier registration portal and we are unable to amend. Can you confirm whether once the Registered 2 Questionnaire has been completed and moved to the assessing stage that we can amend a couple of answers to questions on the Registered 1 Questionnaire?
Please be advised that if you reach the assessing stage of the Selection Questionnaire but still require to make changes, you may request to be moved back to PART 1 in order to amend the application. For technical advice when submitting your Selection Questionnaire, please contact support@nqc.com
Answered
14/01/2025 13:40
53. Where a Public Sector Organisation is in the process of obtaining Cyber Essentials Re-certification, Can we still apply to be included on the DPS and be appointed meaning we can participate in further competitions or can we not be appointed to the DPS and participate without Cyber Essentials Re-Certification.
It is mandatory for suppliers to have either a valid Cyber Essentials Basic or Cyber Essentials Plus certificate to become an appointed supplier on the DPS for RM6348. A supplier can go through the application process without yet having a Cyber Essentials certificate, but a supplier can only be appointed once CCS received proof that a supplier holds a valid certificate.
Answered
17/12/2024 12:05
52. Our application was created in July and has had the status "assessing - responding" for a long time.
It says it was last edited by a gov employee on the 6th of November.
When would we expect to received further news?
Please be advised that 'assessing - responding' indicates that your application has been moved back to part 1, as more information is required in order for the application to be assessed. Please see the feedback that the DPS team have provided via email regarding your application and resubmit once you are ready for assessing to restart.
Answered
17/12/2024 12:13
50. Some references to the Security Management Plan indicate that there may be a template with some detail already in existence, but Part B - Annex 2 - Security Management Plan (within DPS Order Schedule 9 - Security) is blank. Is there an existing template or are we generating our own template/plan according to requirements as stated within DPS Order Schedule 9 - Security?
If a buyer decides to include Order Schedule 9 (Security) in their call-off contract, the supplier being awarded the contract would need to develop and maintain a Security Management Plan to comply with the buyer's Security Policy. There isn't a template for this, but the Order Schedule 9 (Security) outlines what should be included in terms of content.
Answered
29/11/2024 15:08
49. There are a number of reference to the Security Policy throughout the documentation supplied. Is the Security Policy the DPS Order Schedule 9 - Security or is this referring to another document that we will need a copy of?
The Security Policy is the Buyer's security policy, referred to in the Order Form, in force as at the Order Start Date (a copy of which has been supplied to the Supplier), as updated from time to time and notified to the Supplier.
Answered
29/11/2024 15:10
48. We are completing the FVRA and cell J23 on tab 3.1 is showing as R and red, however, the corresponding value in cell G23 is within the green ratio (less than 4, lower the better), so we think this RAG rating in cell J23 should be G and green. Is there an error with the formula that needs to be corrected?
Please could you check that the corresponding cell on the lead bidder tab 1.1a cell G172 matches the RAG on tab 3.1 cell J23. This is what the RAG corresponds to. If you still believe there is an error, state this within the corresponding bidder comments cell.
Answered
09/12/2024 07:23
