Clarifications

CCS can confirm Attachment 9 has now been amended in the bid pack, please refer to Attachments 9a-d as applicable. In addition, CCS can confirm all Apprenticeship Standards filters within the DMP have been update to align with IFA. Attachment 1a and 1b has been updated to relflect this with a subsequent messaged issued to all registered bidders on 25/04/19.

CCS can confirm bidders are able to use different postcode / radius options for the appropriate delivery modes where the option is provided within the SQ.

State of readiness refers to the position in which bidders are available to deliver the specific Apprenticeship service or EPA service as applicable. Bidders should not include other services for which they may be able to provide in the future. For those bidders wanting to update their service offering in the future, this can be complete by selecting additional services using the Update Answers process as detailed in the READ First DPS Needs document in the bid pack.

The evidence questions bidders are presented with align with the response the bidder has provided in the standard Selection Questionnaire. For example, can you provide financial accounts, if yes is selected, evidence will be requested within the evidence section of the SQ. Bidders can submit evidence where applicable following completion of their RM6102 submission, CCS would therefore recommend that bidders continue to progress with their submission and disregard the evidence requests.

As detailed at (section 8 - Economic and Financial Standing) of the DPS Needs document within the bid pack, a corporate guarantor may only be required in the event that a bidder fails to meet the financial threshold score of 35. In the event that this occurs, the bidder will be asked to provide their last 2 years financial accounts to enable CCS Commercial Finance team to undertake a financial assessment of the accounts. If CCS determines that your financial risk is unacceptable, then the we may request that you nominate a financial guarantor. If you nominate a financial guarantor, the guarantors contact details, company registration number and DUN and Bradstreet number will be requested; to enable a financial assessment will be undertaken of your nominated guarantor. Therefore bidders can leave this evidence request blank unless the information is required in accordance with the response provided to this questions.

The evidence questions bidders are presented with align with the response the bidder has provided in the standard Selection Questionnaire. For example, can you provide financial accounts, if yes is selected, evidence will be requested within the evidence section of the SQ. Bidders can submit evidence where applicable following completion of their RM6102 submission, CCS would therefore recommend that bidders continue to progress with their submission and disregard the evidence requests.

CCS can confirm the word count limit is 300 for all fields in the prospectuses, and not 300 characters (a previously published response has since been amended to reflect this). - Apart from one of the text fields, in the Generic Apprenticeship / EPA Prospectus Template - where a Supplier is requested to provide following information about their Organisation: What your organisation does in the Apprenticeship Training / EPA context How your organisation does this, where and who for How you ensure high standards in apprenticeship training are delivered Unique Selling Point - what makes the business unique and valuable to the public sector market The word count for this field is 500. Each of the text fields have a counter for the number of words available, so you can keep track of your responses.

Suppliers can submit a DPS Selection Questionnaire and prospectus for any of the Apprenticeship Standards and/ or SASE Frameworks detailed in the Selection Questionnaire. However, suppliers should only select services for which they can provide as they will be required to complete a prospectus as part of the supplier journey for every service selected.

The reference to 'Workshop' refers to a % of training that may be undertaken 'off the job', as part of a group discussion. Classroom is is a % of training 'off the job' in a room where students are being taught.

The word count for prospectus questions is 300 characters per question.

Documentary financial evidence will only be required in the event that a supplier organisation fails to meet the financial threshold score of 35. Please refer to (section 8 - Economic and Financial Standing) of the DPS Needs document within the bid pack for further information regarding financial requirements/ guidance to support the RM6102 Apprenticeships Training Dynamic Marketplace.

CCS can confirm that the DPS remains open for the lifetime of it's duration, meaning suppliers can join at anytime. The intended duration period of the RM6102 DMP Agreement is for 4 years (48 months). However the DMP will go live to customers on 30th April, therefore delay in uploading offers may result in missed opportunities.

CCS can confirm that the DPS remains open for the lifetime of it's duration, meaning suppliers can join at anytime. The intended duration period of the RM6102 DMP Agreement is for 4 years (48 months).

Once your organisation has successfully completed the standard Selection Questionnaire, your submission will move to the next stage of the supplier journey where suppliers will be presented with a Dynamic Purchasing System Questionnaire (DPSQ), detailing the procurement specific related questions and service filter options. If your organisation successfully meets all of the SQ and DPSQ selection criteria for the, your submission will automatically be directed to the 'Qualified' stage. Where you will be able to complete generic template prospectus(s) and Apprenticeship standard and/ or End Point Assessment and/ or Apprenticeship framework prospectus(as) for the services you have selected in the DPSQ.

In the event that this question is not applicable to your organisation in accordance with the guidance provided, please select 'no' to this question, as you will still be able to progress with your SQ submission if your organisation selects 'no'. Please be aware, that any suppliers who select no to this question will be contacted by CSS as part of the compliance process, to confirm the reasons for selecting no, i.e. if the question is not applicable in accordance with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 14/15 - Supporting Skills and Apprenticeships Through Public Procurement.

Pricing Matrix's should only be complete by the prime Apprenticeship Provider requesting to participate for the DPS, not their named sub-contractors. If any organisation completes a submission in their own right as the prime provider, the organisation will be required to complete a Pricing Matrix as part of their Selection Questionnaire submission.

All Apprenticeships Standards and levels detailed in the SQ fully align with those detailed in the Institute of Apprenticeships following a refresh. Attachment 1a and 1b has been amended accordingly and will be uploaded to the bid pack in due course.

CCS are currently revising Attachment 9 - (INFORMATION ONLY) Dynamic Purchasing System Questionnaire (DPSQ), which will be uploaded to the bid pack in due course and will detail prospectus questions only.

For an integrated degree apprenticehsip the applicant must be on the RoEPAO for the Standard at the time of applying to the DMP.

CCS can confirm that bidders should include the cost of the End-point Assessment in the "Cost of delivery per apprentice" fields in Attachment 5 - Pricing Matrix for Apprenticeship Training Providers.