Clarifications
There are 46 clarifications for this DPS
27. Do the Modern Slavery requirements for this commerical offering apply to all organisations who are completing a DPS submission?
Modern Slavery requirements only apply to commercial organisations that carry out business or are part of a business in the UK, supply goods or services and have an annual turnover of £36 million or more ("relevant commercial organisations") and are therefore required under Section 54 of the Act to prepare a slavery and human trafficking statement, as defined by section 54 of the Act.
Please ensure any questions in relation to above and/ or further questions /support required for your DPS submission are directed to CCS via this clarification page or via info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Answered
19/12/2019 13:21
26. Can CCS please clarify the following questions pertaining to access requirements in respect to "DPS Schedule 1 - Specification" section "3.3.3 Access to Telecommunication Infrastructure".
a. The Supplier shall provide the necessary telecommunication infrastructure to facilitate the connectivity requirements of the Buyer between the pairs of Buyer Sites to include:
i. A clear and unobstructed ducted route between the two Buyer Sites as per the Supplier Solution;
CQ - Where the Managed Infrastructure is a fibre service provided to the Buyer, this will be provisioned through Supplier owned duct infrastructure. In this scenario we see this stipulation as inapplicable. Can CCS please confirm this is the case?
ii. Duct access, either through chambers, footway boxes or such other access method as documented in the Supplier Solution;
CQ - Where the Managed Infrastructure is a fibre service provided to the Buyer, access to the telecommunication infrastructure would be at the termination/demarcation end-points only. As the Supplier is responsible for the provision and subsequent maintenance of the Managed Fibre Infrastructure, there should be no reason for the Buyer or their representative to access the duct and associated chambers. Can CCS please confirm this is the case?
iii. Such access to be provided every 200m or such other distance as documented in the Supplier Solution;
CQ - Where the Managed Infrastructure is a fibre service provided to the buyer, access to the telecommunication infrastructure would be at the termination/demarcation end-points only. As the Supplier is responsible for the provision and subsequent maintenance of the Managed Fibre Infrastructure there should be no reason for the Buyer to stipulate the chamber access distance. Can CCS please confirm this is the case?
iv. Access to one or more fibre pairs along the route between each pair of sites as required by the Order Contract;
CQ - Where the Managed Infrastructure is a fibre service to the buyer, access to the fibre pairs would be at the termination/demarcation end-points only. As the Supplier is responsible for the provision and subsequent maintenance of the Managed Fibre Infrastructure there should be no reason for the Buyer or their representative to access fibre pairs along the route. Can CCS please confirm this is the case?
The exact nature of the services provided, including the access armaments, will be agreed between the buyer and the supplier during the ordering process. The requirements will be captured in the Order Contract and the nature of the solution will be described in the Supplier Solution as proposed by the Supplier in response to the order. The supplier will be expected to clarify exactly what is proposed (and can be provided) in terms of access to the infrastructure in this response document. This might include access to a 'fibre product' in some cases and might include access to physical infrastructure in other cases. Once the infrastructure is in place, access will be governed by the terms of the Right or Use agreed between the Buyer and the Supplier.
Answered
14/01/2020 09:53
25. The link in the DPS question below does not appear to work:
3. Please self-certify that your organisation and/or any of
your Group of Economic Operators and/or proposed Key
Sub-Contractors will comply with the "Supplier Code of
Conduct" as detailed in the guidance in the following link?
Supplier Code of Conduct February 2019
Please utilse the URL below by cpoying and pasting into your search bar:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplier-code-of-conduct
Answered
19/12/2019 13:33
24. Does GCHQ Certified Cyber Security Board training,override for Cyber essential basis certificate,would satisfy this requirement ?
CCS can confirm the specified Cyber training is not acceptable in place of valid Cyber Essentials certification.
Answered
05/11/2019 10:50
23. We are an SME with limited contracts completed as a business,can we use our experience of delivering previous contracts whilst employed by another organisation as a case study?
CCS can confirm that contract examples are not required to support this DPS, please refer to the READ First DPS Needs document (point 40.) which details are NOT APPLICABLE questions for the RM6095 DPS.
Answered
05/11/2019 08:16
22. Please can you advise if PSN and HSCN accreditation are mandatory requirements.
CCS can confirm that PSN and HSCN are not mandatory.
Answered
28/10/2019 12:15
21. EEDs;
We note that DPS Schedule 3 (DPS Pricing) enables the Supplier to charge for additional costs resulting from an Exceptional Engineering Difficulty ("EED"). Can CCS confirm that an EED would also entitle the Supplier to additional time to complete and relief from delay payments under Order Schedule 13 (Implementation Plan and Testing) as a Variation in line with Special Term 13 of the DPS Appointment Form?
Please refer to Special Term 14 which clearly indicates that under such circumstances the Supplier may propose a revision to contracted timescales albeit with an obligation to mitigate the impact of the EED.
Answered
25/10/2019 10:43
20. Pricing;
With reference to DPS Schedule 3 para 1.5 can CCS clarify that the Supplier need only provide a Subject to Survey price and unit price information at the time of bid and it is up to the Buyer to determine how the outcomes of the Survey may impact on the total Order Contract Charges?
It is correct that when the price tendered for an Order Procedure is "Subject to Survey" the Supplier must as part of their bid for the Order Procedure include a comprehensive set of unit prices for inputs such that the Buyer will be able to clearly identify how any post-survey price change proposed by the supplier has been derived.
Answered
25/10/2019 10:43
19. Our client scores below the D&B threshold for the financial assessment. As the company is less than 2 years old, I believe providing audited accounts isn't an option? If that's the case, they would like to use a guarantor to aid us with this part of the application. Will CCS accept our investor company for this?
CCS can confirm that a corporate guarantor may only be a question once the bidder has gone through selection stage to determine if they meet the assigned financial threshold. In this instance, can you please provide a copy of your non audited accounts, to enable CCS to undertake a financial assessment of your organisation.
Answered
08/11/2019 11:38
18. The Contract End Date for Type 2
Can CCS confirm that the End Date of an Order Contract for Services Type 2; Infrastructure Build Services as defined in DPS Schedule 1 (Specification) is the date when the Buyer has paid the final Supplier Invoice as set out in DPS Order Schedule 13 (Implementation Plan and Testing).
The definition of End Date in Joint Schedule 1 is:
"the earlier of:
a) the Expiry Date (as extended by any Extension Period exercised by the Authority under Clause 10.2); or
b) if a Contract is terminated before the date specified in (a) above, the date of termination of the Contract;
so setting aside the matter of early termination the End Date will be the Order Contract Expiry Date specified in the Order Form for the relevant Order Contract
Answered
25/10/2019 08:24
17. Type 2 Service Levels and Credits
Can CCS confirm that the DPS and Call off Contracts only stipulate that Service Levels and Service Credits apply to Service Type 1 and don't apply to Service Type 2 or 3?
Service Type 1 is the only Service Type for which we've suggested an example Service Level and Service Credit Regime in Order Schedule 14 but this does not preclude Buyers from specifying their own required Service Level/Service Credit regime for Service Types 2 and 3 as part of their Order Procedure.
Answered
25/10/2019 08:24
16. GBVS Pre Registered Package (Buyer Needs doc para 1.4)
Can CCS /DCMS clarify whether suppliers need to submit a Pre Registered Package (PRP) into the GBVS portal for their proposed solution(s) for the DPS Service Types they are registering for and whether approval of such a package is a pre-requisite for securing successful DPS registration?
The DPS registration is not in anyway linked to the DCMS voucher portal registration process. In many cases, suppliers may well sell services through the DPS that do not require any DCMS funding. If a Buyer indicates that some of the funding is being provided by DCMS then the additional requirements associated with this funding apply, including ensuring that the supplier is registered on the GBVS portal and that the solution is set up as a Pre-registered package (PRP) within this system.
Answered
31/10/2019 08:37
15. Eligible Fibre build costs;
The Buyer Needs doc page 7, para 1.4 and the DPS Schedule 3: DPS prices and charging structure para 1.7 states that suppliers need to comply with the GBVS terms and conditions in order to receive DCMS funding via the GBVS portal.
Can CCS / DCMS clarify what components of fibre infrastructure build can be included in suppliers pricing under the DPS and in particular confirm that all fibre build infrastructure necessary to provide service, including the Supplier's Point of Presence / Exchange equipment, can be included in the DPS pricing for service Types 1 & 2?
DPS Schedule 3: DPS prices and charging structure para 1.7 states: 'Where the Buyer receives funding from ... DCMS ... the Supplier must register with the DCMS payment portal.'
It is not expected or intended that signing up to the terms for payment (through the DCMS payment portal) should link the GBVS eligible costs to the DPS pricing requirements.
The Supplier will be required to meet the terms and conditions within the Gigabit Capable Connectivity (GCC) DPS (RM6095) and these, not the GBVS terms, will govern all aspects of service delivery under RM6095.
The terms within the Gigabit Capable Connectivity (GCC) DPS describe the approach to pricing including visibility of the pricing methodology, the requirements for consistency to pricing and the level of transparency required from the Supplier to describe underlying components that have been included in the price.
Answered
07/11/2019 10:03
14. Q 151. 'On request, can you provide certificates of performance for your principal contracts from the relevant customers?'
With reference to provision of 'certificates of performance' please advise if a formal letter from a customer would be acceptable?
CCS can confirm Q.151 is not applicable as detailed in the READ First DPS Needs document with forms part of the bid pack.
Answered
08/11/2019 11:46
13. Please could you confirm that a Buyer is able to alter any of the terms within the Schedules highlighted in yellow in the DPS Schedule 6 Order Form Template and Order Schedules. If a Schedule is not highlighted in yellow, for example, 'Schedule 10 (Rectification Plan)' please could you confirm that this Schedule cannot be altered in any way by the Buyer?
Yellow highlighting of Schedules indicates that they are optional - a Buyer may choose whether or not to incorporate them into their Order Contract. Schedules that are not highlighted are mandatory and must be included in an order Contract. In both cases Buyers are able to amend the content of a Schedule via a Special Term documented in the Order Form and communicated as part of the Order Procedure Process provided that any such Special Term can be reconciled with applicable public procurement law parameters.
Answered
14/10/2019 11:59
12. Q137. "If you cannot provide at least one example customer contract, in no more than 500 words please provide an explanation for this e.g. your organisation is a new start-up or you have provided services in the past but not under a contract." Please can CCS confirm that we are not required to respond to Q137 as it relates to Q133 - 135 which we are instructed not to respond to.
CCS can confirm that Q.137 is not applicable.
Answered
09/10/2019 16:39
11. Do Suppliers need to apply for all 3 lots (Broadband Connectivity Services, Infrastructure Build Services, Managed Infrastructure Services), or can they apply to be considered for one or two. Further, do we need to apply to all Lots simultaneously or can we apply for 1 or 2 now and others at a later time.
CCS can confirm that suppliers can apply for one or more of the 3 service requirements. Additionally, suppliers can update their service offering at any time during the life time of the DPS, to either add or remove services.
Answered
09/10/2019 16:41
10. Embedded in Annex 1 of DPS Schedule 1 is the Gigabit Capable Connectivity Products and Services Matrix. We are unable to open this file. Can CCS confirm this is the same as 'Attachment 1 - GCC Services Matrix v1.0', or provide this document separately.
CCS can confirm that the GCC Products and Services Matrix embedded in DPS Schedule 1, is the same as Attachment 1 - GCC Services Matrix v1.0 contained in the bid pack.
Answered
09/10/2019 16:42
9. In questions 46, 47 & 48 of the GCC DPS questionnaire, suppliers are asked to "please confirm details of the geographical location you are able to provision 'Broadband Connectivity Services'".
Using the drop down menu options, can CCS advise if national providers should select United Kingdom coverage, and only suppliers with more specific geographical coverage need state a postcode and the relevant distance they can provide service within.
CCS can confirm that national providers should input their organisation post code and select United Kingdom. Suppliers with specific geographical coverage should state their postcode and the relevant distance (radius).
Answered
09/10/2019 16:46
8. Is Attachment 6 - Selection Questionnaire PDF available in an Excel format?
CCS can confirm that Attachment 6 is for information only and not available in Excel. Attachment 6 is the list of questions that bidders will be expected to answer as part of their online RM6095 DPS submission.
Answered
04/10/2019 12:28
