Clarifications
There are 224 clarifications for this DPS
45. Once appointed to the DPS, are all briefs competitive or is there an expenditure threshold whereby they are not competitive?
CCS can confirm that there is no expenditure threshold. The terms and conditions of the Communications Marketplace require that all shortlisted agencies be invited to compete against a clients brief. Competition rules are subject to each individual client's policies and regulations.
Answered
25/08/2021 17:41
44. If, having been appointed to the DPS, we decide not to compete for any briefs received, will we be subject to a penalty or 'mark against us'?
Agencies will not be penalised if they decide not to compete, however CCS will encourage participation in order to meet client requirements.
Answered
25/08/2021 11:01
43. Are you able to provide a list of current entities who would use this DPS?
The Communications Marketplace place is available to Central Government and Wider Public Sector organisations. To learn more please read the buyer need document contained within the bidpack.
This link will ask to download a word document with a list of organisations.
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a0c9fe89-0239-46f6-a871-a10aae2e3c2a
Answered
25/08/2021 10:57
42. Please can you clarify at what point you may need additional evidence? Is this between submitting the SQ and gaining access to the DPSQ? If so what time period should we expect to wait to receive notification that we need to supply evidence, and how long will we have to supply the required evidence?
CCS may need to request evidence from you as part of the assessing stage (see READ FIRST RM6124 DPS Needs document for further information), this would ordinarily be within 10 days of your submission. A Client may also request evidence from you as part of their Order Procedure.
Answered
01/09/2021 16:53
41. There doesn't appear to be a rate card requirement - for either inclusion/submission or that we will be marked against, please could you confirm this and how rates/scoping costs would work on the new Marketplace?
There will be no rate card requirement, however CCS will be providing customer guidance on best practice pricing models and mechanisms for customer further competitions.
Answered
23/08/2021 16:35
40. Attachment 1 listing the services that can be selected, under Inhouse Agency Services, what do you mean? Is this when our staff are seconded to work within your organisation or is there another meaning?
Thank you for clarifying
Yes, that is the meaning. Inhouse Agency Services refers to agency services that are provided in-house within the customer organisation.
Answered
20/08/2021 10:24
39. Is it possible to submit my response and then once we receive countersigned copies of the Letters of confirmation of works to upload them or should we wait till we have countersigned letters?
You should submit your response once you have fully completed the questionnaire and have your letters of confirmation of works ready to upload.
Answered
19/08/2021 11:13
38. For the contract examples and attachment 1a and 1b letter of confirmation is it possible to change the line 'has satisfactorily completed research works' instead to 'has satisfactorily completed communications works' as this is more reflective of this marketplace bid?
Thank you making us aware of this error, the version in the Bid Pack is correct. We are making arrangements for the system version to be updated.
Answered
19/08/2021 11:12
37. Hello.
Please could you clarify the deadline for this registration process? You state on the one hand that there is a deadline of 5/9/21, however you also state that agencies can register at any time?
Thank you
You can apply for the Communications Marketplace DPS at any point up to it's closing date of 5 Sept 2025.
Answered
18/08/2021 17:54
36. Please can you confirm that there is no deadline for the submission of the supplier questionnaire?
You can apply for the Communications Marketplace DPS at any point up to it's closing date of 5 Sept 2025.
Answered
18/08/2021 17:54
35. Q162 & 163 - can you confirm if CESG certifications are required to pass? And if so, how many/which are required to be held?
Please can you review and re-submit your question as there is no Questions numbered 162 and 163 regarding CESG certifications.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:13
34. Q150-154 r.e. performance certificates. Can you confirm if all of these are N/A to the selection questionnaire?
CCS can confirm that Selection Questionnaire question 150-152 are not applicable for the Communications Marketplace.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:12
33. Is it possible to include some introductory company information before each contract example to demnstrate our breadth of services Qu.55 and Qu. 58 (contract examples)?
Such introductory information should only be provided for DPS Questions 55 and 58 if it enables you to describe the contract and how its performance demonstrates one or more of the services within the Communications Marketplace Agreement.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:12
32. Is it possible to submit an attachment for Qu.55 and Qu. 58 (contract examples)? Or is it text only within the box provided?
CCS can confirm that Agencies should only provide a text response in the box provided for DPS Questions 55 and 58.
Attachment 1a should be completed and uploaded for DPS Question 56 and Attachment 1b for DPS Question 59.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:11
31. Can you ask for UK Government employees to act as your client reference for this procurement?
Is the provided case study for back end vetting only, or will prospective buyers be able to see them when the DPS is live?
Is there a limit to the number of organisations from within a Group/HC that are able to join the marketplace?
For the case study write ups, is there a word count? And are we able to include visuals at all?
To confirm, it is two total case studies across the full set of filters and sub filters?
Is it possible to edit your profile and set of filters once accepted onto the DPS?
When the DPS is live and buyers views a supplier profile, what exactly will they see?
Yes, contract examples from government departments can be provided.
This information is not automatically available to buyers, buyers can request access to this information if required.
If by the number of organisations you are referring to the number of Agencies registering to provide services under this DPS.
There are no page or word limits in place for each contract example description (DPSQ questions 55 and 58).
Visuals are not acceptable, please provide a written description only.
You only need to submit two contract examples irrespective of the number of services you are looking to provide.
Agencies may edit their profile and filter option selection at any time. Please refer to the 'READ FIRST RM6124 - DPS Needs' document for further information.
Once the DPS is live Buyers can view a supplier profile, the information provided to them here is: organisation name and contact details and the date of their appointment.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:11
29. It has been confirmed that we need Cyber Essentials in place - thank you. We have also understand that without Cyber Essentials in place we will automatically fail the registration process until it is confirmed.
Having started the application process for Cyber Essentials it looks unlikely that we will have certification in place by the 5th September
Can you confirm if we should continue with the submission of the SQ and DPS questionnaire for that date; or as you've previously stated - 'agencies can join the Marketplace at any time' - so should we wait until certification comes through and then apply later? Some clarity on what needs to happen before the 5th September, and what can wait until afterwards, would be appreciated so we can prioritise accordingly.
CCS can confirm that an Agency submitting an application without Cyber Essentials will automatically fail the registration process. It would therefore make sense for Agencies to submit their application once they have the required certification.
CCS will accept ISO27001 accreditation should an Agency not have Cyber Essentials certification.
Answered
27/08/2021 10:37
28. In the SQ Part 3, Q144 and Q145 how likely is it that any single contract awarded under the DPS will have a full life value of £10 million and above?
Additionally, while why we don't currently provide an 'apprenticeship' scheme (we have considered this and may do so within the life of the DPS), we do provide skills development to students through a partnership scheme with a UK university. This is through salaried student placements for up to a year.
Please can you advise how we should respond to this section?
CCS is unable to provide any information regarding future opportunities and their relative value, some contracts may have a value of £10m or more.
As you have indicated in your question that you do support skills development you should reflect this in your answers to SQ questions 144-146.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:09
27. In the SQ Part 1 Q21, regarding the use of sub-contractors, while we do use subcontractors for some specialist services, no contract that we'd deliver under the DPS would rely on any one specific contractor (we have a robust supply chain with alternative suppliers for any such specialism). Therefore, would we be right in selecting 'No' for our response to this question?
If you are proposing to use sub-contractors for the delivery of the services under this DPS then you should select 'yes'.
Answered
18/08/2021 15:08
26. On the DPSQ Q67 on invoice payment time please can you confirm the time period in which we should provide percentages for?
CCS can confirm this is for a period of 12 months.
Answered
13/08/2021 12:06
25. Qu.53 - presumably if we've said we don't propose to use sub-contractors, then this question does not need to be answered?
CCS can confirm that you may leave Q53 blank if you are not proposing to use sub-contractors.
Answered
16/08/2021 16:49
