Clarifications
There are 100 clarifications for this DPS
2537. I asked the below question and received the response below that with asterixis beside it. The issue I am having is q179 and q180 require attachments and will not allow me to proceed without attaching a doc. How do I overcome this?
2531. We are completing the SQ on the CCS portal and are looking to clarify what exactly is being asked from us in questions 179 and 180, please could you kindly advise? 179. Upload documentary evidence for a list of relevant principal contracts for goods and/or services provided in the last three years 180. Upload documentary evidence for a certificate for each principal contract for goods and/or services provided in the last three years
***These two questions are in the "not applicable" section of the DPSQ for RM6213 - this is covered in the DPS Needs document in the Not Applicable Questions section. Therefore there is no requirement to submit a response to these questions for the RM6213 VCIS SPS
It would appear that you have a technical issue with the Supplier Registration Service portal. Please contact the Crown Commercial Service Customer Service Centre either via the phone number on the front page of the CCS website or using the web form in the "contact us" section so we can look into it further and if necessary engage with the technical support team.
Answered
28/03/2023 14:55
2531. We are completing the SQ on the CCS portal and are looking to clarify what exactly is being asked from us in questions 179 and 180, please could you kindly advise?
179. Upload documentary evidence for a list of relevant principal contracts for goods and/or services provided in the last three years
180. Upload documentary evidence for a certificate for each principal contract for goods and/or services provided in the last three years
These two questions are in the "not applicable" section of the DPSQ for RM6213 - this is covered in the DPS Needs document in the Not Applicable Questions section. Therefore there is no requirement to submit a response to these questions for the RM6213 VCIS SPS
Answered
27/03/2023 14:10
2520. We are applying to join RM6213. Our immediate parent is in Germany. What Post Code do we use as we are unable to get to the next stage?
I understand that this question has already been answered outside the context of the clarifications section; however should the need arise, the guidance is to use a placeholder postcode - the guidance for this can be found in the help section of the Supplier Registration Service.
Answered
23/03/2023 12:35
2509. Re: The requirement for Cyber Essentials. Our service provider that handles and manages 100% of charging user data (personal details, payments, usage info) do have Cyber Essentials certification. We as a group administrative and overall management function have CE in plan. Will this be sufficient to pass this requirement.
Accreditation in this case Cyber Essentials, is required to be accredited to the primary supplier on the DPS. Alternatively ISO27001 accreditation is deemed a suitable alternative accreditation for RM6213 VCIS DPS.
Answered
23/03/2023 12:22
2288. Order Schedule 10 (Exit Management)
This question is raised in the context of a procurement where the Buyer is asking the Supplier to fully fund the infrastructure investment.
Paragraph 8.2 allows the Supplier to determine which of the Supplier's assets and contracts should be Transferring Assets and Transferring Contracts in an exit situation.
Paragraph 8.3 requires the Supplier to sell the Transferring Assets to the Buyer or a Replacement Supplier for the Net Book Value less any amounts paid for them through the Charges.
If the Supplier is fully-funding the charging infrastructure then Net Book Value is not a fair or equitable mechanism for valuing the Deliverables that the Supplier has funded because it does not reflect the investment status of the assets (it is simply an accounting mechanism).
For example, utilisation levels need to reach a de-minimus level for the revenue charged to users to cover operational costs (let alone to start repaying the capital cost). The Net Book Value of the investment is nevertheless reducing in the meantime. If, for example, the Contract was terminated before even this de-minimus utilisation level was achieved, then the Net Book Value would not cover (i) the investment that the Supplier had made, (ii) the financing costs of that investment, or (iii) the risk premium for the Supplier in agreeing to enter the contract (Scenario B).
Is this valuation mechanism intended to have effect in a contract where the Supplier is fully funding or significantly funding the Deliverables?
If it is, please can the CCS explain why a Supplier should consider offering to fully-fund the investment opportunity (noting that no lender would be prepared to lend money on this basis)?
What would prevent the Buyer from deciding to terminate its existing Supplier contract (Scenario B) simply to secure the Transferring Assets for a significant discount (and commercial advantage) at the Supplier's expense?
Would the CCS reconsider the relevant contract clauses (in a fully funded procurement) in light of the above?
Termination rights and fees can be utilised to list the appropriate service charge that is payable by a customer IN ADDITION to the net book value for the assets which may be considered in scope of transfer. Net book value only refers to the assets but other items listed below should be covered in service charges which support the assets and are a part of the overall service.
Answered
23/03/2023 12:21
2287. Core Terms 10.3.2 (Termination without reason)
In a procurement where the Buyer is asking the Supplier to fully fund the infrastructure investment, the proposed contract retains the Buyer's right to voluntary termination without reason or liability.
If a Supplier proceeds on this basis and fully or significantly funds the charging infrastructure then its only recourse to recover this investment is from fees charged to users of that infrastructure - however, a Supplier is unlikely to make any profit from this investment for several years.
Our reading of the contract is that the Buyer can decide to terminate the contract after the charging infrastructure is installed but before the Supplier has generated any profit and have no obligation to compensate the Supplier (Scenario A).
Please can the CCS confirm this is the correct interpretation of the contract (noting that no lender would be prepared to lend money on this basis)?
Please can the CCS also explain what accumulated rights the Supplier may have if the Buyer voluntarily terminates the contract (Cl. 10.5.3)?
Cl 10.5.6 envisages that the Buyer may procure a Replacement Supplier. Is it possible that the Buyer could decide to voluntarily terminate its existing Supplier contract (Scenario A) and allow the Replacement Supplier to make use of (free of charge), the Deliverables that the Supplier has funded and required to leave behind (grid connection, feeder pillar and connections to the chargepoint location), even though the Supplier has not recovered the funding cost of these Deliverables by that point?
Again, please can the CCS confirm that this is the correct interpretation of the contract and that it is the CCS's intentions for the contract to be constructed this way?
There is no reason why additional termination special terms cannot be input into the order form which supplement the core terms and allow a supplier to agree with the customer what an appropriate termination procedure is. It is quite normal for contracts to have termination fees listed which clearly document what a customer has to pay depending on when they terminate a contract and how long the contract has been active. Suppliers should work with the customer to negotiate appropriate terms and obtain legal sign off.
Answered
23/03/2023 12:21
2108. We are a brand new UK company formed at the end of 2021. Our parent company is German. We are applying to be registered under Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure. However we are just one person in the UK at this point. As a result our bid to register has a 'gap'. This gap concerns insurance policies, and other social policies such as slavery and equality. There seems no point to have all these in place until we have business in the UK and engage employees. Our German parent has these policies relevant to Germany of course. Might we kindly ask you to register us anyway with the proviso that as soon as it becomes necessary (ie when we employ someone), we will put al these in place? Many thanks for your consideration of this request. If you cannot agree to it, please let us know, what we should do in order to get registered/
Guidance has been issued in email
Answered
27/05/2022 12:31
1464. We have a number of buyers wishing to engage with us to deliver small , focused consultancy based work packets. These are low value and are not suited to competitive tender. Please can CCS advise if this framework has a "minimum spend" level and the ability for the buyer to issue a direct award for services or infrastructure below this minimum value.
This agreement does not have a minimum spend and there is no provision for Direct Award.
Answered
21/01/2022 13:24
1438. Hi,
We have submitted our responses back in November 2020. Could you please confirm if you have reviewed, and if we've been awarded a place on the Framework?
Many thanks.
CCS Has since made contact and your organisation is now appointed.
Answered
21/01/2022 13:23
2022. Is there a way to export the VCIS framework questionnaire with the answers I have included? I have been able to download the questions but I need to also export my answers.
There is no formalised method of downloading the answers from the DPS, however if you select Ctrl + P from within your application you can save the webpage as a PDF via the print preview page.
You will need to select 'View' underneath the questionnaire from the 'Profiles' tab on your Supplier Registration dashboard.
Under the 'Showing answers from' header you can then select which stage of the questionnaire you wish to download, e.g. Registered 1 or Registered 2.
Once you have selected the section you can Select Ctrl + P followed by 'Save as PDF' to export the webpage. This includes the questions and answers.
Answered
23/12/2021 15:03
1434. question 129. on the SQ, what is the thresold?
Please refer to Paragraph 53. of the DPS Needs document:
'The report provided by the credit reference agency (Dun and Bradstreet) will be used to determine the level of financial risk you represent. If the score provided by the credit reference agency is 45 or more, then your Request to participate will continue to proceed in the DPS Selection process.'
Answered
17/12/2020 11:46
1356. Is the parent company able to provide guarantee if necessary? / Would we be able to get guarantee elsewhere
5. Does ScottishPower need to provide this? - if we select no will this have an impact on our application?
And do we need to provide any other form of guarantor?
An answer of No to this question will not have an impact on the application, it will only be a requirment if your organisation's D&B score falls below the required threshold and if you cannot provide 2 years of financial accounts
Answered
01/10/2020 17:22
1355. Upload documentary evidence for past performance information for any sub-contractors (or consortium members) who the supplier will rely upon to perform the contract
What type of performance do you mean here? Timescales, quality, health and safety?
151. On request, can you provide certificates of performance for your principal contracts from the relevant customers?
What do you mean by this? From relevant customers? Does this mean from scottishpower customers? Or does this mean subcontractors customers?
Question. 151 is not required as part of the application to the DPS, if it is not relevant then an answer of N/A will suffice
Answered
01/10/2020 17:21
1354. What does CCS mean by Group of economic operators? We subcontract work therefore does that mean we are a group of economic operators?
Please refer to the DPS Needs document, Who Can Request to Participate heading.
You can submit a request to participate as a single legal entity. Alternatively, you can work together with other legal entities to form a Group of Economic Operators or use Subcontractors. If you do, we ask the Group of Economic Operators to choose a lead member who will submit the bid on behalf of the Group of Economic Operators and you will have to identify what each of the parties is contributing to the bid. You can do this in Your Request to Participate.
You are advised to select only the relevant criteria to your organisation. Buyers using the RM6213 Marketplace will assess your credentials for specific contract opportunities during call for competitions.
Answered
01/10/2020 17:19
1319. SQ Question 148. With regards to the steel supply chain. For this VCIS scope, the EV chargepoint manufacturers will involve steel in their production. Does this need element need to be be included in this question response.
Paragraph 73 within the DPS Needs document sets out all of the questions that are not applicable for this DPS agreement.
Therefore, if any of the questions detailed in paragraph 73 appear in your SQ, you can leave these blank.
Answered
21/09/2020 11:52
1255. Good morning
TQ for your consideration.
What is the estimated value of the Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Framework? Within the Customer Needs document it details the estimated value by year, totalling £13.5m over four years. However in the Contract Notice it has the estimated total value at £450m over four years. Please can the expected value be confirmed.
Regards
Bid Team
The value provided in Section II.1.5) of the OJEU Contract Notice is an estimate of the total value that may be delivered throughout the DPS duration. The £13.5 is a conservative conservative figure of spend across the 4 years. The higher value published in the OJEU notice allows for a greater level of spend before the need arises to re-advertise the agreement.
Answered
15/07/2020 10:21
1225. I would appreciate if CCS could provide a detailed breakdown of the products/services filter categories listed in the DPS Category Export page of the Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions DPS Framework.
There is no detailed breakdown available. Buyers can determine what products/services they required based on their specific requirements. Annex 1 in buyer guidance details products and Services under the filters
Answered
15/06/2020 11:16
1221. I have been registering our organisation for the Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions (VCIS) on the CCS site, but I have appeared to have submitted the form before it was checked instead of saving it. We have some changes to the PCS and the questions around Cyber Security as we have now had confirmation of joining the scheme, but I am unable to update our information. Please can you let me know how we can make changes to the Standard Selection Questionnaire for our organisation.
Please refer to emails sent by Commercial Manager on 9th June.
Answered
11/06/2020 10:39
1214. As we are now an appointed supplier are we allowed to state this on our website/social media? Can you confirm if there is a marketing directive associated with this DPS that we need to adhere to?
Please refer to Welcome email issued from RM6213 mailbox on 05/06/2020.
Answered
05/06/2020 13:39
1212. Good Morning,
We have been accepted onto the Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions, as an Appointed Supplier. In the email it states that 'Contracting authorities will now be able to download your details for inclusion in their procurements. To minimise any delays, you are encouraged to upload any related evidence/documentation that you have confirmed you can supply, so that it is readily available to contracting authorities wishing to make an award.'
I'm working through getting these uploaded onto the portal but once this is done can you confirm the next steps? What I'm keen to understand is where the procurements will be led from as I'm unsure that this landing portal where we've completed this content would be used as the tendering portal? Is there an additional portal for procurement and if so can you confirm the link?
Many thanks.
Please refer to Welcome email issued from RM6213 mailbox on 05/06/2020.
Answered
05/06/2020 13:38