Clarifications
There are 84 clarifications for this DPS
97. Hi, We sent 3 clarification questions that are still unanswered. Please can you provide the responses as soon as possible in order to complete the questionnaire. Many thanks.
Answers to the clarifications have now been published.
Answered
23/03/2026 16:54
96. Hi, In reference to question: Generic Prospectus Please provide the following information for your organisations Generic Occupational Health and Related Services Prospectus Template. Website link to quality assurance report Must be a valid URL such as https://OccupationalHealth.com/Health This document asks for a Quality Assurance Report, please can you clarify what you are looking for here. Can we upload our ISO certificates, or our SEQOHS accreditation? 2) Please clarify the need for the 'Please state any minimum number of practitioners to deliver Attendance Management Advice and Assessments for each Delivery Mode', as this will depend on the type of contract awarded and the number of clinicians needed? We will recruit specifically for each new contract awarded under this contract, if it cannot be delivered by our current staffing teams. Thanks.
Suppliers should provide a link to a page on their website that displays their accreditations, security standards or any other applicable certifications that allows them to deliver the services compliantly.
Suppliers may enter any number as the minimum expected number of practitioners to deliver a contract (this may be 1). Suppliers are also asked to state the maximum number of practitioners, again this can be any value that you anticipate needing to deliver an example contract.
Answered
23/03/2026 16:50
95. Hi, In the OH DPS Question '4.3.22. Please detail what your organisation's capacity is to deliver Therapeutic Psychological Services at scale (up to maximum number of employees)' Please can you clarify if you are looking for a number here or a written response? Also are you asking for current numbers? If awarded under the DPS then we will recruit specifically for the contract awarded. Thanks.
In this section we expect suppliers to provide information on their delivery method, this may include explanation of current staff and delivery models or planned recruitment or initiatives that will be in place to deliver the contract.
Answered
23/03/2026 16:51
94. Hi, Where can we download the 8 pricing schedules/pricing matrix? We are completing the questionnaire offline first before adding the answers online. But we cannot download the pricing until we get to the relevant question. Can you clarify if there is a way to obtain the pricing schedules? Thanks.
The pricing schedules are only available via the DPS and will be made available once at the "Qualified" stage for rapid award services, we are unable to share these.
Answered
23/03/2026 16:49
93. The FVRA is proving difficult to fill in completely due to being a very large organisation, and not having access to all of the relevant documents which have all of the information. Would you accept Companies House financial statements (audited) for the past 3 years as an alternative? These are much more easily accessible.
As per the minimum requirements for the RM6296 DPS, a Silver Financial Viability and Risk Assessment (FVRA) pass is required, therefore we are unable to assess without the completed FVRA. Instructions are available via the Selection Questionnaire.
Answered
25/02/2026 17:43
92. Are providers required to update their RM6296 - Silver FVRA Tool v1 every time new accounts are released?
No, this is not a requirement.
Answered
17/02/2026 11:28
91. Please would you respond to the following: Attendance Management - Can you advise of the expected duration in fields 'Face to face Off-Site' and Face to face On-Site' - hourly or day rate? Attendance Management - Does the field 'Further Medical Evidence' solely refer to the pursuit of GP and/or specialist reports? If so, can we add an additional line to include both GP and Specialist costs? Attendance Management- We are unable to locate a field in which to add a cost for both OHA delivery - can this be added? Attendance Management- We are unsure what is meant by 'Referrals from contracting' - can you please advise? Heath Surveillance - Air quality and compressed air - Can you please clarify what is the expectations relating to this service? Heath Surveillance - Drug and alcohol testing - can add additional lines to allow the inclusion of price for: random testing, new starter testing and with cause testing? Heath Surveillance - Hostile Environment Training - Can you please clarify what is the expectations relating to this service? Heath Surveillance - Road fuel testing unit - Can you please clarify what is the expectations relating to this service? Heath Surveillance - Mental Health/ Psychological Surveillance - VHG - Can you please clarify what is the expectations relating to this service? Heath Surveillance - Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) - can add additional lines to allow the inclusion of price for: tier 1,2,3,4 and 5?
General guidance on adding additional service or pricing lines:
Please add an additional service line and include a clear description. If prices differ to the requested units in the prospectus then the price and its mechanism should be included in the description, this should be easily comparable and clear. Additional service lines must fit within the scope of rapid award; stand alone service with no complex or nuanced requirements. Anything outside of this would need to be completed via standard award. The spreadsheet may be added to up to a maximum of 30 additional service lines provided the format is not altered.
1. We would expect these to be priced for per appointment, if you wish to charge differently this should be specified in the pricing document.
2. We would expect this to include requests to specialists and GPs. You may add in additional pricing to cover both if these prices differ, but clearly state what the price is for.
3. Yes, as above guidance applies on adding additional service or pricing lines
4. This should state "referrals from contracting authorities". Please can you confirm where this has been stated incorrectly and we can update the information.
5. No minimum requirement specified, if you deliver assessments in line with this service please include any relevant pricing
6. Yes, as above guidance applies on adding additional service or pricing lines
7. No minimum requirement specified, if you deliver assessments in line with this service please include any relevant pricing
8. No minimum requirement specified, if you deliver assessments in line with this service please include any relevant pricing
9. No minimum requirement specified, if you deliver assessments in line with this service please include any relevant pricing
10. Yes, as above guidance applies on adding additional service or pricing lines
Answered
11/09/2025 15:56
90. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, and in particular Clause 4.3, and Clauses 4, Development of the Security Management Plan and 3, Information Security Management System (ISMS), please confirm that timescales within the Schedule shall be left blank in the agreement but instead agreed on a case by case basis between the Supplier and any buyers subject to the buyers potential different timescales and the Supplier's own ability to meet them.
The schedules used are standard Public Sector Contracts documents and shouldn't be amended. The security management plan should be agreed with each individual customer in line with the guidance set in schedule 9, including the stated timescales, unless otherwise agreed with customers on a case by case basis.
Answered
09/06/2025 10:04
89. We note the CCS are happy to accept NHS DSPT as an alternative standard to ISO 27001. Please therefore confirm that clauses 3.4.2, 3.4.3 and 4.2.10 within Schedule 9, Security, can either be amended to read "ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC27002 or agreed alternative standards" and/or if not amended, be deemed to include "agreed alternative standards (eg NHS DSPT)
The schedules used are standard Public Sector Contracts documents and shouldn't be amended. However we can confirm that we are happy with what has been proposed, this will need to be agreed on a case by case basis with customers.
Answered
09/06/2025 10:04
88. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, clauses 6 Security Testing, 7 Complying with the ISMS and 7 Restricting and Monitoring Access: The scope of any Audit will be in accordance with and subject to the compliance parameters of the Supplier's ISMS . Please confirm this is acceptable.
The schedules used are standard Public Sector Contracts documents and shouldn't be amended. However we can confirm that we are happy with what has been proposed, this will need to be agreed on a case by case basis with customers.
Answered
09/06/2025 10:03
87. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, clause 2.2, where suppliers are expected to comply with the Security Policy, please confirm Supplier's compliance with Schedule 9 and its own security policy is acceptable.
The security policy referred to will be the Buyer policy. In line with schedule 9, this should be agreed to along with any security management plan put in place
Answered
09/06/2025 10:03
86. You have indicated in a number of your responses to CQs seeking special term insertions (e.g., no. 54 and 84) that the call off contract is a standard document which may be amended with buyer agreement at the point of call off and any changes will be for the buyer to decide if they are happy to agree to. This is appreciated; however our past experience in practice is that not all onboarding authorities might understand they have the latitude to agree our few required changes at Call Off Stage with confidence. To avoid any possible future confusion, delays to the Order Form process and unnecessary cross referral clarification requests back by multiple onboarders to the CCS on the point, it would be very much appreciated if you could kindly add to your existing responses the non-contentious wording we previously received from the CCS in respect of the last agreement on the same issue, along the lines of : "As per Joint Schedule 1, the definitions for Goods and Services covers everything within Attachment 1a Framework Specification and also DPS Schedule 6 Call off Order Form. The specification includes an online portal for a voucher scheme so is covered by the Goods and Services definition. We will expect suppliers to deliver as per the Specification but at Call off the Buyer will have flexibility to define their own requirements of Goods and Services as long as this is within scope." We have found the ability to make reference to this central clarifying response a helpful solution in the event that any onboarding authority may be in doubt as to their ability to agree special terms.
We are unable to amend published responses, however we can confirm that we are happy for this wording to be used and agreed with customers at call off stage on a case by case basis.
Answered
09/06/2025 10:03
85. We understand that Schedule 6 is optional depending on Buyer requirements. To avoid dealing with this for each and every Order Form with future individual Buyers however it would be appreciated if the CCS is able to confirm at this CQ stage that Schedule 6 ICT Services is not applicable to the bidder's provision of its eyecare e-voucher solution. Alternatively, if this is not possible, would you therefore please confirm our understanding from your response that any buyer can agree with the supplier the insertion of "Not Applicable" against this point specifically as a Special Term at relevant Order Form stage instead
We can confirm that suppliers may agree with buyers to deem schedule 6 - ICT Services as not applicable. Any optional schedule may be excluded from contracts as agreed with buyers and does not require the addition of a special term to specify this, they should just be excluded.
Answered
29/05/2025 15:57
84. Many thanks for confirming that suppliers are able to add or amend wording to Schedule 1 as agreed with the Buyer at call off stage. However, to achieve necessary final clarity both at this CQ stage with the CCS and also at Call Off stage with any future Buyer as to the scope of goods and services being provided, we would very much appreciate your final brief confirmation that this response does mean (which we believe it does) that the CCS acknowledges: 1.that eyecare goods and services would be provided by and in the Bidder's stores on redemption of e-vouchers provided by the Bidder, which constitute the definition of goods and services for the purposes of this agreement; and that 2.any future Buyer is able to agree the supplier's insertion of the above clarification wording specifically as a Special Term at relevant Order Form stage, (which in fact would exactly replicate the current practice this supplier already always follows with onboarding Authorities as current incumbent at Call Off stage).
1. CCS are happy with what is proposed and that this would need to be agreed with customers on an individual call off basis.
2. Buyer's will need to agree with suppliers on an individual basis any requests for changes or special terms
Answered
29/05/2025 15:56
83. With regard to Joint Schedule 3, please could you clarify the need for public and employer liability to be maintained 6 years after the end date?
This will cover the limitation period of claims. If an individual made a claim after the event the supplier would still need to have the relevant insurance to be covered.
Answered
29/05/2025 15:56
82. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, Section 7 Audits: Our supplier software has data from a range of Buyers, both CCS and non CCS. It is not appropriate for Buyers to have access to this data via security audits. Please confirm that this requirement is not applicable in this scenario?
Audits should be conducted on the supplier information security management system and security testing. We would not expect this schedule to be used in such a way by a buyer to audit or have access to supplier confidential data, the audits referred to are for the purpose of confirming compliance with security measures outlined and agreed to in Schedule 9.
Answered
29/05/2025 15:56
81. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, clause 3.2.4, please could a copy of the ICT policy referred to be provided?
ICT policy is something that a buyer would provide to a successful supplier. Or Order Schedule 6 ICT Services which is an optional schedule for those contracts that include suppliers providing ICT services as part of the contract.
Answered
09/06/2025 09:21
80. With regard to Schedule 9, Security, please confirm that all and any different buyers under the DPS are obliged to adhere to the same template audit requirements, standards and processes etc? This will ensure the Supplier is not faced with differing audit requirements and processes by each and every buyer, which would not be feasible for the Supplier.
Where a buyer has deemed that Part B: Long Form Security Requirements will apply, audit mechanisms will be agreed between buyer and supplier as part of the ISMS, and buyers may carry out necessary audits to confirm this complies with those points listed in 3.4.3.
Answered
20/05/2025 12:40
79. Schedule 9, Security, requires the date, timing, content and conduct of Security tests to be agreed with the Buyer in advance of such tests. It is not reasonable to require suppliers to seek Buyer approval before carrying out such tests. Please confirm that such approval is not required or applicable
In line with schedule 9, this is applicable where a buyer has deemed that Part B: Long Form Security Requirements will apply. This should be agreed to minimise the impact on the delivery of deliverables during the testing period.
Answered
20/05/2025 12:39
78. Schedule 9, Security, refers to "any specific security threats of immediate relevance to the Deliverables and/or the Government Data". Please provide a definition or example of these threats?
This may include security threats to employee or buyer data including data breaches, or security threats to any platform or portal used to deliver any service under this agreement. There is not a definition of security threat or exhaustive list of examples, as an optional schedule buyers will determine if this is necessary for each contract they may have under this agreement. Suppliers must demonstrate how they will ensure customer data and deliverables are kept safe throughout the duration of the contract.
Answered
29/05/2025 15:55
