GOV.UK Clarifications
There are 129 clarifications for this DPS
97. In reviewing my submission for DPS Registration 2, I can see that I have inadvertently provided the wrong information at questions 51 and 52 and there appears to be no way of editing these. Can you advise how I can update the 4000 character text area with the correct information (Q51) and upload the correct Letter of Confirmation of Works (Q52)?
CCS can confirm that cnce an application has been assessed, bidders are able to amend their application via the SRS Dashboard and submit for re-evaluation.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:09
96. Hello, we launched our solution for remote monitoring in September 2019, our first public sector contract is about to be signed in the next week and has taken this long to go through the entire process as well as delays due to COVID. Can I upload the contract and provide an amended contract once a wet signature has been applied next week?
CCS can confirm that, in consideration of the COVID 19 pandemic, digital or print signatures are acceptable in lieu of wet signatures. When acquired, bidders are able to amend their application via the SRS Dashboard and submit for re-evaluation.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:10
94. I have just submitted a selection questionnaire and I am now in the process of completing SPARK DPS. When I go to my dashboard the selection questionnaire says that it is still submitting and there is also a submit button at the bottom of the screen. When I click on the submit button it is taking me to questions which asks me to upload profit and loss accounts, audited accounts etc. Is this a requirement at this stage? Also, I incorrectly answered Q127 and need to change it, is there a way this question can be amended?
CCS can confirm the Evidence Submission Section is non mandatory, however bidders are encouraged to upload to the relevant sub sections where possible. Financial information will only be required in the event the financial threshold, as set out in the DPS Needs document contained within the associated bid pack, has not been met at the time of submission. Once an application has been assessed, bidders are able to amend their application via the SRS Dashboard and submit for re-evaluation.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:13
93. Does the contract example (reference in attachment 7) have to be a legally agreed contract or can it describe work in progress/development?
CCS can confirm that, contract examples provided as part of the DPS submission should represent completed works or services provided.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:16
92. We are a lead provider with one main sub-contractor for this DPSQ. Please can we request use of a contract example from our main/only sub-contractor (as they are a technology specialist). Under normal tender processes the use of an example from a subcontractor is normally permitted in support of supplier qualification (SQ).
We do need to see a contract from the lead organisation. In this case a previous contract from a project where you have worked with the same contractor would be the best solution.
Answered
28/09/2021 12:26
91. Please could you confirm whether 29/05/20 is the final deadline for submissions to the DPS, and what must be submitted by then?
CCS can confirm that the deadline for applications to the Spark DPS in order to participate in the NHSx competition is Monday 1st of June 2020 at 23:59:59. All that is required for submission in this instance is your application on the Supplier Registration System. You can however apply to Spark as a supplier throughout its term as detailed in the OJEU Contract Notice until 15th April 2022 at 17:00
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
29/05/2020 12:18
90. DPS Question 52 asks suppliers to fill in "Attachment 1 - Letter of Works Confirmation". Please can the commissioner confirm that it should read "Attachment 8 - Letter of Works Confirmation".
We can confirm that this should indeed read as "Attachment 8" as there is no "Attachment 1" for the DPS in question.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:28
89. Our bidding structure for this DPS includes working with a partner/sub-contractor. Following which, our strongest contract example (relevant for this DPS) sits with our sub-contractor, with us as the lead bidder bringing additional capabilities, scale and governance. To stand the best chance of securing a place on the DPS please can we use a contract example from the sub-contractor. This will ensure we can demonstrate full technological capabilities.
We do need to see a contract from the lead organisation. In this case a previous contract from a project where you have worked with the same contractor would be the best solution.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:14
88. Please can the commissioners answer the following question:
Point 38 of the READ ME FIRST notes say a response is not required for questions 157-161, however, the system insists an answer must be provided. Should suppliers select NO and will the commissioner ignore the enforced responses?
Any sections that have been indicated as "Not Applicable" in the Read Me First document can be left as "No" in this instance.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:37
87. Hi There
We will submit an application to get onto the Spark DPS framework by this Friday 29th May. We were only made aware of the opportunity last Friday. Given the current environment we will not be able to get a wet signature on our Letter of Confirmation of Works. Please can you confirm if we can provide a wet signature on the Letter of Confirmation of Works at a later date?
Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic CCS are accepting Letters of Confirmation of Work without the "wet" signature of the customer. CCS will issue an email to the customer requesting validation of the letter. Wet signatures are however a requirement and this should be sourced at your earliest convenience.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
27/05/2020 11:55
86. Can you please provide a checklist of documents which need returning for this SPARK Framework.
As documents required may change during assessment, please refer to the Read Me First document within the associated Bid Pack. This will include any documentation needed to be returned as well as future documentation which may be needed for further assesment.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:41
85. For the avoidance of doubt, please could commissioners confirm that the 1% Management Levy only applies if a provider is successful at securing a contract/income via the DPS. Thank you.
I can confirm your understanding is correct.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:51
83. Hi , Completed the CCS questionnaire and guess I have answered a question incorrectly and when going to complete the SPARK questionnaire I am unable to go back and edit the Answers in the general CCS submitted questionaire . Could someone help . We are a new company and doing this for the first time .
NQC have notified CCS they will be in touch directly in regards to your issue.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:45
82. DPS Question 52 asks suppliers to fill in "Attachment 1 - Letter of Works Confirmation". Please can the commissioner confirm that it should read "Attachment 8 - Letter of Works Confirmation". Thank you.
We can confirm that this should indeed read as "Attachment 8" as there is no "Attachment 1" for the DPS in question.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:25
81. We have almost completed the Selection Questionnaire, but I have a couple of questions about the Cyber Essentials certification.
1) We outsource our IT services to a subcontractor. I assume therefore, it is the subcontractor that needs to have the certification. We ourselves do not manage any of the servers etc.
2) The subcontractor will be applying for certification. Can we, therefore, submit the Selection Questionnaire? I realise we will not be able to bid for any tenders until the subcontractor has the certification.
In reference to point 1, CCS can confirm this is correct. In reference to point 2, CCS can confirm that this is possible.
Answered
09/09/2021 15:20
80. We have almost completed the Selection Questionnaire, but I have a couple of questions about the Cyber Essentials certification.
1) We outsource our IT services to a subcontractor. I assume therefore, it is the subcontractor that needs to have the certification. We ourselves do not manage any of the servers etc.
2) The subcontractor will be applying for certification. Can we, therefore, submit the Selection Questionnaire? I realise we will not be able to bid for any tenders until the subcontractor has the certification.
1) Yes that is correct
2) You can
Answered
28/09/2021 12:28
78. Hello. In the 'Guidance for Contract Example' document, bullet point 2 under 'Compliance Criteria' states 'Example provided must relate to contracts preformed during the past 18 months, from obtaining DPS appointed status to be valid as evidence for this procurement'. Does this mean that we already need to be registered on the DPS framework and have delivered our Contract example since obtaining DPS appointed status? We are registered on G-Cloud and DOS but not DPS as yet. Thank you.
In this instance we require a contract example of works carried out 18 months prior to the submission of your application and not your appointment to any particular DPS.
Kind regards,
CCS
Answered
28/05/2020 10:27
75. We are Independent Testings Services company, We would like to understand if we can apply only for "Testing" only services for the Spark DPS?
As per section 1.2 of the Spark Customer Needs document, contained within the Spark Bid Pack, bidders are required to indicate which categories and services they are able to bid for. It is therefore essential that Bidders select the exact elements relevant to their service offering in order to be invited to the relevant Competitions.
Answered
12/12/2019 08:47
74. In attachment 7 response guidance for contract example, the guidance states that a wet signature is required and that only 1 contract example is required.
Is there a template document for completing the contract example on and where are we to upload this content on the Supplier Registration Portal? Also, is 1 a maximum or can more than one example be provided?
Attachment 8 - Letter of Confirmation of Works - Contract Example is the document that needs to be completed this then should be uploaded in the DPS questionnaire -question 52. You would only be able to upload one Contract Example for your application.
Answered
25/11/2019 11:47
73. With regards to the request for a contract example, if an organisation has no such contract at this stage, but has contracted proof of concept trials in public / private sector, would this be sufficient to meet the requirements?
As per Attachment READ FIRST RM6094 DPS Needs V1.PDF Quality Assessment - Technical & Professional capability (Q133) of the Standard Selection Questionnaire and Question 48 to 50 of the Dynamic Purchasing Questionnaire (DPSQ): 31. You are required to provide one (1) contract example in accordance with the response guidance provided in Attachment 7 - Response Guidance for Contract Example which form part of RM6094 Spark DPS bid pack.
Answered
27/11/2019 11:31
