GOV.UK Clarifications
There are 129 clarifications for this DPS
52. Could you please confirm if the contract example word limit is 500 words?
CCS can confirm that there is a character count limit on Q51 of the DPSQ, the contract eample. The character limit is 4,000 characters.
Answered
07/08/2019 14:20
51. In the READ FIRST Document its mentioned that we do not need to answer Part 3: (Dept of Health Questions) - Q157 - Q161. But I cannot see Q157, after Q156 there is directly Q158. Also since the application was not allowing me to save and proceed without answering Q158 - Q161 I had to answer it and its not allowing to deselect it.
Could you please guide on this.
The website should allow you to do this. However, if you are having technical issues please contact NQC who should be able to answer any queries.
Their contact number is 0845 299 2994.
Answered
18/07/2019 09:48
50. If we provide three contract examples do we need to provide the signed 'Letter of Confirmation of Works' for all three examples or only one
Bidders are only required to provide one contract example with a Letter of Confirmation of Works.
Answered
16/07/2019 12:25
49. Do we need to provide one contract example or three contract examples
Bidders are only required to provide one contract example.
Answered
16/07/2019 12:24
48. As mentioned in the 'RM6094 Customer Needs v1' document- 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.
Bidders need to specify the services as per in the Attachment 1 - Matrix.
Request to clarify where we need to select these services as we could not see these services while completing the Selection Questionnaire.
CCS can see that you have started to complete the standard Selection Questionnaire, but this has not yet been completed, once this is completed and submitted you will then be presented with the DPSQ (the DPS specific Selection Questionnaire) were you will then be presented with the service offerings available, which you will select all the services that you can deliver. For clarity, the services are not shown as questions in the standard Selection Questionnaire, but this (the Standard SQ) must be completed before you are presented with the DPSQ questions, which will include questions on the service offering.
Answered
17/07/2019 16:06
47. Hi,
Please may we be issued a Word version of the framework agreement?
Thanks
No a word version is not available but a non watermarked pdf version will be made available on you being successfully appointed as a Supplier on the DPS. This version will be presented when your application is placed in the 'Agreeing' stage (this is the stage were you will electronically agree to the DPS Terms and Conditions), as a DPS is a wholly electronic process you will be presented with a non watermarked version of the DPS Agreement at this stage, and this should be downloaded by the Supplier and will be your DPS Agreement.
Answered
07/08/2019 14:21
46. As mentioned in the document 'READ FIRST RM6094 DPS Needs v1' of BID PACK we do not need to answer 'Part 1: (CPV Codes) - Q3' but without selecting the CPV code it does not allow us to proceed further with next questions.
The website should allow you to continue your application without answering Part 1 however if you have any problems please contact NCQ who should be able to answer any queries.
Their contact number is 0845 299 2994.
Answered
16/07/2019 09:33
45. Can you please clarify if we need to create separate Selection Questionnaire for each service offering. e.g Artificial Intelligence and Automation-Machine Learning a separate Selection Questionnaire and for Artificial Intelligence and Automation-Robotic Process Automation a separate Selection Questionnaire
CCS can confirm that you are not required to complete a separate Selection Questionnaire for each service offering.
Answered
17/07/2019 16:04
44. Could the Authority confirm that Rate Card information is not required at this stage and will only be required when responding to a Customer Call for Competition?
Do Customers have the option to go Single Source or are competitions open to all suppliers who have registered the relevant services?
In order to appoint a supplier to this (or any other) DPS the contracting authority doesn't assess forward looking 'award' criteria, this includes price. All pricing will be set during a customers call-off.
Answered
03/07/2019 09:21
42. Our bid contains some commercially sensitive information that cannot be public facing. Could you please confirm if the responses will be made public?
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As stated in the document entitled ' READ FIRST RM6094 DPS Needs' of the Bid pack, if you feel that a particular clarification question should not be published, you must tell us why when you ask the question. We will then decide whether or not to publish the question and the response or return a response to you confidentially via the DPS Marketplace.
Answered
08/05/2019 15:43
41. We have nearly completed the submission. However, upon doing this, we have encountered a new section named as SQ Evidence Submission (questions 166 to 185) - do these need to be completed?
There is an ask for the Contract Example, which is capped at 4,000 characters - but we have already put in the Contract Example in the SQ where there was no word or character cap for the Contract Example description.
This "new" questionnaire also asks for a Letter of Confirmation of Works - is this also required?
I have had a look through the bid pack and cannot find a section which provides step by step guidance on how to put forward a submission to get onto the Spark DPS - I am thinking to possibly restart the submission to avoid any issues.
CCS can confirm with reference to the Selection Questionnaire question numbers 166 to 185 these relate to evidence requests which align to responses provided earlier in the standard Selection Questionnaire. Suppliers can submit evidence at any time where applicable and you can therefore disregard these questions.
Regarding the contract example, as stated in the DPS Needs document at paragraph 31 to 34, when completing the contract example you can either complete question 133 of the Standard Selection Questionnaire, as you have done, or you can complete question 50 of the DPSQ Questionnaire. As you have already completed Question 133 you should find that your contract example has pulled through and is populated in Question 50 of the DPSQ. We will accept the information detailed in Question 133 of your Selection Questionnaire.
Regarding the Letter of Confirmation of Works, this is a mandatory requirement and is detailed in the DPS Need document at paragraph 35 to 37, and the template for the Letter of Confirmation of Work can be found at Attachment 8 of the Bid Pack.
On the final point the DPS Needs document contains details of how to submit a compliant tender for the Spark DPS, and will make reference to other Attachments that Suppliers must read and complete.
Answered
26/04/2019 09:22
40. Good morning,
Within the DPS Needs document, section 15 (h) states that 'you must have cyber essentials certification (Question 155 of the selection questionnaire).'
We do not have cyber essentials, so would be saying 'no' to question 155, but do have cyber essentials plus (and therefore would be saying 'yes' to question 156). Please can you confirm this meets your selection criteria?
Kind regards
CCS can confirm that by responding Yes to Question 156 - Cyber Essential Plus, that this does meet our selection criteria. Cyber Essentials, as a minimum, is required to join this DPS, therefore by having Cyber Essential Plus you meet this requirement.
Answered
26/04/2019 10:19
39. Please can I clarify with you whether the customer contract example provided needs to directly relate to delivery methods as listed within the Customer Needs document, page 10.?
Furthermore, if the customer contract example given relates to , for example the delivery method 'Internet of Things', and the bidder is awarded onto the framework, are they eligible to bid on all requirements, not just internet of things?
thank you
1) Yes your contract example needs to relate to at least one of the technologies listed in the Customer Needs document, pages 10 to 24.
2) The filter system is used to match customers to suppliers who can meet their needs, you will be invited to tenders for filters combinations that match those of your organisation, you should choose the filters that accurately match your own skills and capabilities. You can update your filters at a later date as your capabilities change.
Customers can use just one or multiple filters, this includes combinations of problem area, technologies and locations.
Answered
24/04/2019 13:47
38. Please can you confirm what is required for "Attachment 1 - Customer Filter" in terms of completion requirements and upload process by the Supplier?
CCS can confirm that Attachment 1 is for information only, providing bidders with details of the services filter options within this DPS, which bidders will be presented with as part of their supplier journey.
Answered
16/04/2019 12:22
37. Could you clarify whether the accreditations listed in Section 3.2 of the Customer Needs Pack are mandatory criteria?
If so, where in the Supplier Questionnaire/DPSQ Online Response are we expected to respond?
You do not need to be certified but we expect work under any call-off to carried out in line with the standards listed.
Answered
12/04/2019 15:36
36. Could you confirm, regarding questions 155-156 on page 129 of the SQ document, whether all subcontractors are required to have Cyber Essentials certification, or if this requirement only applies to the Prime Contractor?
CCS can confirm that Questions 155-156 on the Selection Questionnaire relates to the Supplier having Cyber Essentials accreditation, however all Suppliers must also answer question 15 on the DPS section of the Selection Questionnaire which asks if all proposed sub-contractors also have Cyber Essentials certification on or before the execution of the first contract. This is a Pass or Fail question and therefore all proposed sub-contractors must meet the Cyber Essentials accreditation requirement for your application to be successful.
Answered
12/04/2019 15:36
35. A lot of our assignments prevent us from disclosing the customer organisation to third parties. We may therefore have to complete the Customer organisation section of the Attachment 8 anonymously. Please confirm this is acceptable.
CCS can confirm that Attachment 8 is the Order Form that will be used between you as the Supplier and the Customer organisation who appoints you through further competition. Therefore this document is a confidential agreement between the Supplier and the Customer organisation following the award of a contract.
Answered
16/04/2019 09:49
32. Please can you confirm if there is only one contract example required and if it needs to encompass radical innovation or disruptive innovation?
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
08/04/2019 11:38
31. Please advise what the deadline is for submitting questionaires
"CCS confirm that suppliers can request to participate for the RM6094 SPARK DPS at any point during the lifetime of the DPS, there is no deadline for submissions as detailed in the DPS Needs document of the RM6094 bid pack. The opportunity remains open at all times unless the DPS expires or is terminated in accordance with the DPS Agreement.
With effect from 15/04/2019, customers will have access to the DPS to use to conduct call for competitions based on their individual project requirements."
Answered
08/04/2019 11:47
30. We are having difficulty completing the online SQ for RM6094 DSP Spark Framework:
127 Are you able to provide a copy of your audited accounts for the last two years, if requested?
- As a small company our accounts are exempt from audit so we have to answer No.
We think you intended that if the answer is No, we should drop down to question 128, as the documents it asks for down seem necessary if you have audited accounts. But you havent indicated this on the questionnaire.
128. Please indicate which of the following you can provide (3 options)
- We could provide all 3 options, but as the evidence section of the SQ immediately asks for documents to be uploaded if we tick a box, we would prefer not to have to furnish all the documents required if we did so. Are these meant to be exclusive options and in descending order? i.e 'if no, then drop down to the next'?
130. Are you able to provide parent company accounts if requested at a later stage?
- Saying yes to this leads to an immediate requirement to "Upload documentary evidence for parent company accounts" - not "at a later stage" - very misleading. Can we leave this unsubmitted until requested at a later stage?
131. Would the parent company be willing to provide a guarantee if necessary?
- Again, saying Yes to this leads to an immediate requirement to "Upload documentary evidence for parent company guarantee". But this hasn't been necessary in the 15 years we have been working with CCS frameworks! Can we also leave this unsubmitted until requested at a later stage?
132. Would you be able to obtain a guarantee elsewhere (e.g. from a bank)?
- Surely this is redundant if we answered Yes to 131
In the light of your response, we may need to modify some of our submitted responses. But there does not appear to be a route for us to do so. Selecting the 'Start Selection Questionnaire' link and clicking "Yes, I want to re-use an existing Selection Questionnaire" does not bring up the responses we gave in our original submission.
Q127 - CCS confirms we require a full set of accounts to do our assessment therefore although as a small company your ccounts are exempt from audit they will need to be audited as part of your submission.
Q128 - If you can provide the first option A statement of the turnover, Profit and Loss Account/Income Statement, Balance Sheet/Statement of Financial Positon and Statement of Cash Flow for the most recent
year of trading for your organisation - this would be the preferred option but if not then option two and then option 3.
Q130 - Yes if required evidence can be requested at a later stage.
Q131 - Yes if required evidence can be requested at a later stage.
Q132 - If you are able to submit a guarantee through your parent company then you could not require to obtain a guarantee, however if the information you provide fails then a guarantee maybe required.
Answered
08/04/2019 14:20
