Clarifications
There are 226 clarifications for this DPS
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
228. Good morning,
We understand that a range of public sector organisations can access services through this DPS, is the data available regarding how many call-offs there have been from this DPS and the breakdown by type of public sector organisation?
We primarily focus on providing services to local government, so were hoping there may be data relating to how many / what percentage of buyers using the DPS are from local government?
Many thanks
Please see the following links for Contracts Finder and Find a Tender, which are searchable for awarded contracts for RM6219: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Search
A freedom of information request can also be raised and reviewed by the relevant team, by emailing: foi-team@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Answered
21/05/2025 14:53
227. I am aware that it is mandatory for suppliers to have either a valid Cyber Essentials Basic or Cyber Essentials Plus certificate to become an appointed supplier on RM6219 and RM6348. However, according to the answer to Clarification Q53 on RM6348, a supplier can go through the application process without yet having a Cyber Essentials certificate, but a supplier can only be appointed once CCS received proof that a supplier holds a valid certificate.
Could you please confirm whether a supplier can go through the application process for RM6219 as well (in full) without yet having a Cyber Essentials certificate, but a supplier can only be appointed once CCS received proof that a supplier holds a valid certificate; I ask this because it appears to me that in RM6219, the suppliers would not be able to complete the application process unless and until they confirm that they already hold a Cyber Essentials certificate.
You may be interested to know that D&B quoted about £250 annual fee for a report to find out the D&B score of our company; instead of paying £250 to D&B, I would rather assume that the score is below 50, in which case your team will assess if our company can still be appointed. For small companies (with only two employees) who do not know their Dun & Bradstreet score as they never needed to take out a bank loan, the cost of about £400 for a Cyber Essentials certificate is considerable, but acceptable if they can at least go through the application process that concerns our economic and financial standing, first.
It is mandatory for suppliers to have either a valid Cyber Essentials Basic or Cyber Essentials Plus certificate to become an appointed supplier on the DPS for RM62198. A supplier can go through the application process without yet having a Cyber Essentials certificate, but a supplier can only be appointed once CCS has received proof that a supplier holds a valid certificate.
All supplier organisations who wish to submit a DPS submission must hold and provide their valid DUNS number. You can get a free DUNS number from the Dun & Bradstreet website.
Answered
09/04/2025 15:43
226. I am a 1- person business and understood that this would exempt the business from requiring Employer Liability Insurance of £5m. Please can you confirm whether this is correct.
The business does have the required Personal Indemnity and Public Liability cover.
All suppliers are required to meet the minimum requirement of the below insurances in order to become appointed on RM6219;
o Employer's liability insurance of £5,000,000
o Public liability insurance of £1,000,000
o Professional indemnity insurance of £1,000,000
Additionally, a supplier may decide to employ someone at any time, therefore every supplier needs to have Employer's liability insurance in place.
Answered
01/04/2025 16:23
225. Good afternoon,
Please could you clarify the below:
1. Will we be able to upload the completed Attachment 1f RM6219 DPS - Standard Off The Shelf (SOTS) pricing matrix v1.0? Should this be provided now, or following appointment to the DPS?
2. With regards to Attachment 1f RM6219 DPS - Standard Off The Shelf (SOTS) pricing matrix v1.0 . Is it possible to duplicate the 'Standard OTS Training' tab to ensure that discounts for Face to Face Training, and discounts for Virtual-instructor led training can be differentiated?
Kind regards
Business Development Team
1. Once you have submitted your initial application and once it's approved, your application status will change to 'Qualified'. This is when you are able to upload your completed pricing matrix, ready for customers to see it when you become appointed onto RM6219. Once you are an appointed supplier to the Learning and Training Services DPS you can update your answers, pricing, and contact details, as it is important to keep your service offerings up to date.
2. You would include all training on the same tab, using a separate row for different types of training. For example, you could put a certain face to face course on one row, and the same course delivered virtually on the next row with the relevant details changed.
Answered
26/03/2025 14:53
224. In the evidence section, we're being asked to submit our last 2 years of audited accounts, but we don't have audited accounts. Can we submit the unaudited accounts we have for the last 2 years instead?
We can accept your unaudited accounts for the past 2 years.
Answered
26/03/2025 14:54
223. RM6219 - Question 21 asks if you intend to use subcontractors. We don't use subcontractors and tend to use freelance trainers who we have worked with for many years. Would it be safe to say this question does not apply to me.
RM6219 - DPS Joint Schedule 1 - Definitions v1.0 states the definition of "Subcontractor" is "any person other than the Supplier, who is a party to a Sub-Contract and the servants or agents of that person". Therefore, freelancers would be classed as subcontractors if they are any person other than the supplier delivering the contract. You could include the key subcontractors you are likely to use in application, and update at a later date if your supply chain changes.
Answered
27/02/2025 14:28