Clarifications
There are 232 clarifications for this DPS
248. In answer to clarification question 181 you have said "Q166 - Q172 & Q182 - Q185 are only required if you do meet the D&B Threshold of 50". Can you please confirm if this is still correct and if so does this refer to the D&B failure score?
Yes - that's correct, and it refers to the D&B failure score.
Answered
10/09/2025 18:05
247. We have been asked to submit the following Selection Questionnaire evidence-
- Upload documentary evidence of audited accounts for the last two years
- Upload documentary evidence for a statement of the cash flow forecast for the current year
- Upload a bank letter outlining the current cash and credit position
- Upload documentary evidence for a statement of the turnover
- Upload documentary evidence for profit & loss account
- Upload documentary evidence for current liabilities and assets
- Upload documentary evidence for cash flow for the most recent year of
trading for the organisation.
If we are providing audited accounts it would seem unusual to require the other information requested. Please can you confirm that if we only submit our audited accounts, and not the other items listed above, it will not cause any issues/delays and will still allow us to progress to 'qualified' stage ?
As detailed in the "Read First" document in the Bid pack, you are only required to upload/provide these documents when requested.
Answered
12/09/2025 08:41
246. Our company is a 'Private company limited by guarantee without share capital'. We do have a Person of Significant Control. However, their conditions for being a PSC is 'Right to appoint and remove directors with control over the trustees of a trust' as we do not have share capital. Therefore, I am not sure what to select in the Selection Questionnaire where it asks:
"Over 25% up to (and including) 50%
More than 50% and less than 75%
75% or more"
The ownership percentage question does not apply to a company limited by guarantee with no share capital. As there is no option for this in the questionnaire, please still answer "Yes" to having a person of significant control and select any of % capital options. Please briefly explain that the company is limited by guarantee in one of the proceeding free text boxes.
Answered
04/09/2025 14:33
245. When completing the Learning and Training Services DPS prospectus section questions, do we need to complete all questions 80 to 93?
For standard award, it provides buyers with information about your organisation and offering. For rapid award, buyers will use this information along with your prices to assess your organisation alongside other suppliers.
Answered
05/09/2025 15:35
244. We have selected Bespoke Training Services, do we complete the Attachment 1 - RM6219 Products and Services Matrix v3.0 or Attachment 1f - RM6219 Standard Off The Shelf (SOTS) Pricing Matrix v1.0? If we have to complete Attachment 1 - RM6219 Products and Services Matrix v3.0, do we have to complete one for each service we provide? If so, could you please provide instructions on how to complete this sheet?
Attachment 1 - RM6219 Products and Services Matrix is for information only - it contains the structure of product and service filters that a customer would use. Attachment 1f - RM6219 Standard Off The Shelf (SOTS) Pricing Matrix is the pricing matrix to complete for off-the-shelf courses. Bespoke training is priced by suppliers based on a customer's requirements as part of a call-off competition. When prompted to do so in the application, you will still need to complete the questions within the Bespoke Training Prospectus (RM6219) for buyers to be able to assess your organisation as part of a Rapid Award order procedure.
Answered
05/09/2025 15:38
243. We note that our submission has been submitted with an out of date cyber essentials certificate, and the written questions did not come across properly. Please could you reject our submission so that we can make these changes and resubmit? Thank you
You can login to SRS and update your DPSQ to make changes. Please refer to the Supplier Guidance document in the bid pack for further guidance. Once the required amendments have been made, please re-submit to be re-appointed with the new updated details.
Answered
12/09/2025 08:44
242. Does the pricing matrix assume that the price is per person rather than per course?
As there are a range of delivery modes available, you should specify whether the price is per person / per session etc, as this depends on your pricing model.
Answered
25/07/2025 16:26
241. Hello, we deliver training globally. For the purposes of the pricing matrix are we to assume delivery in the UK. Are we to ignore expenses related to travel and accomodation at this stage?
Yes, please add in pricing for delivery within the UK. You should include all elements of pricing within the sheet so there are no unexpected costs to buyers. You are able to add multiple lines for the same course if there are variations you'd like to offer e.g. virtual, workplace based in Merseyside, or text boxes where you could explain any optional/additional costs.
Answered
25/07/2025 16:25
240. If our subcontractors are sole traders/associates do they require their own EDI policy or can they use and comply to our company EDI policy?
If your subcontractors adopt your EDI policy as their own, then this would be fine.
Answered
25/07/2025 16:28
239. If we don't require any subcontractors to qualify for this framework, but would like to use some for a specific contract later on, can we add 0 (zero) subcontractors at this stage and add subcontractors later, once appointed and applying for specific contracts?
If you do not require any subcontractors at the beginning of your DPS application, then if you require to add any subcontractors throughout your time appointed on the DPS you can do this at a later date. To do so you will need to complete 'Attachment 4 - RM6219 Additional Sub-Contractors' found inside the Bid Pack and send in the completed form into the Category team to review.
Answered
25/07/2025 16:28
238. Where would I find my DPS Agreement Manager? Is this someone external to our organisation, or do we assign a staff member to be our DPS Agreement Manager?
The "Supplier DPS Agreement Manager" would manage the contract between CCS and yourselves and take overall responsibility for the goods and services delivered through order contracts secured through this DPS, so you would select the most appropriate person from your organisation for this. Their main purpose is to be CCS's main point of contact for all matters relating to this DPS.
Answered
17/07/2025 17:51
237. When applying to join the Framework do you need to submit information for all of the prospectuses that you are interested in being included in at the same time or can you do that over a longer period. We would like to prioritise the ones we expect to interact with in the short term.
Suppliers are able to update and amend their service offerings at any time whilst appointed onto the agreement, therefore if you would like to complete the prospectuses for the training you would like to prioritise this can help with the timings of your application. You can add or update your training at a later date.
Answered
17/07/2025 17:53
236. In Q1 and Q2 how should I name for the SQ and have you any guidance on SQ description please?
Q1 is for you to input a name that will help you and others to identify the SQ. It should reflect your relevant product/service offering and/or the opportunity your are applying for.
For Q2 please enter a brief description of the learning services you will be offering through the DPS.
Answered
09/06/2025 17:25
235. Please can CCS confirm that the Order Form will set out the Buyer's obligations and responsibilities as agreed between the parties?
The Order Form covers the Buyer's and Supplier's headline obligations and responsibilities and forms part of the call-off contract between the parties. Please refer to "DPS Schedule 6 - Order Form Template and Order Schedules" to review what is covered, which can be found in the Bid Pack. The Order Form will also list all of the Schedules that the buyer is including in the call-off contract.
Answered
28/05/2025 17:31
234. The guidance says you will undertake an assessment of the supplier's economic and financial standing using the DUNS number. But will we need to pay to get our score before submitting (£245+VAT)? I am unclear how we can answer the question 'do you meet the minimum level of economic and financial standing and/or minimum financial threshold specified within the evaluation criteria for this procurement?' without knowing the score beforehand.
If you don't know your D&B score, but you believe your business is financially stable, you can answer yes to this question. Note that you should still get a free D&B number so our system can cross reference your information to the D&B database. If your score is lower than requested, our commercial finance team will review your accounts to check the financial risk is low enough for the company to be appointed as a supplier.
Answered
28/05/2025 17:30
233. I am providing coaching and mediation services, rather than training people in learning how to be a coach or mediator. Please advise how I can complete the off the shelf prospectus on that basis because the questions are designed for training delivery rather than 1-1 coaching or 1-1 mediation.
The filters are a way of helping buyers narrow down the types of training services they require. If your services best fit under a certain heading then that is the heading that should be used, under which you can describe your services.
Answered
11/06/2025 12:03
232. We refer to DPS Joint Schedule 8 (Guarantee) and paragraph 2.1, please can CCS confirm on what basis and criteria CCS will determine whether the award of the DPS Contract to a Supplier will be conditional upon the availability of a Guarantee for each Order Contract?
DPS Joint Schedule 8 - Guarantee is required where CCS's financial evaluation has indicated the need for a Deed of Guarantee. If a supplier's D&B score is above the minimum threshold (50), this would not normally be required. If their score is below 50, we ask to review financial accounts, and if our evaluation highlights a financial risk that could be mitigated by a Deed of Guarantee, this would be requested. This can be during the onboarding process and/or during a supplier's appointment on the agreement. CCS monitor suppliers for any potential risks therefore, a Deed of Guarantee may be required. Buyers may also require a Deed of Guarantee prior to awarding a call-off contract if their own financial evaluation results in the supplier requiring this.
Answered
11/06/2025 12:02
231. Please can CCS confirm whether as a result of a submitted CQ, amendments to the framework terms would be considered by CCS?
It is unlikely CCS would make changes to the terms. The majority of the terms are standard CCS terms that apply to every agreement, and the agreement and the terms are well established. We will happily provide answers to clarification questions.
Answered
21/05/2025 14:58
230. Please can CCS confirm whether it's still possible to raise clarification questions ("CQs") on the terms and conditions to this framework (where such CQs have not been previously raised), and if permitted what is the turnaround time a prospective supplier should expect to receive a response?
Suppliers are able to make use of the Clarification Questions for any type of questions they might have to help them understand this commercial agreement.
The turnaround is usually a few working days depending on the complexity of the question.
Answered
21/05/2025 14:56
229. As an Awarding Organisation, we do not directly deliver training, however all of our qualifications are off the shelf i.e. standardised syllabuses, curriculum and regulated assessment briefs, which can be taken 'off the shelf' and delivered by any training provider e.g. universities, colleges, private training providers, employers or public bodies. Therefore, we wanted to confirm that this would meet the criteria for off the shelf provision.
This commercial agreement is focused on the delivery of training, as opposed to the assessment of people who have undergone training. Where formal qualifications are provided, the assessment element would normally be included as part of a buyer's call-off contract for training.
Answered
19/05/2025 16:43
