GOV.UK Clarifications
There are 267 clarifications for this DPS
71. We have a Cyber Essentials certificate. Is a Cyber Essentials Plus certificate also required?
In accordance with clause 7.55 - 7.57 of the DPS Agreement, suppliers are required to have in place cyber essentials basic certification by the award of their first contract under the DPS Agreement. Please refer to the link below for further information re obtgaining cyber essentials certification:
https://www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk/getting-certified/
Customers will request copies of suppliers certificates prior to award of a contract under the DPS and in accordance with the obligations as set out in the DPS Agreement. If a supplier fails to provide the required certification, this may be deemed as a breach of contract and may result in a contract not being awarded.
Cyber Essentials plus is not required at this stage, however as part of a call for competition, customers may request for suppliers to have cyber essentials plus, which will be specified in the customers project Statement of Works.
Answered
06/02/2018 12:47
70. Would it be possible to clarify how the contract examples will be used and who will have access to them now and ongoing? Many thanks
The two contract submitted by the supplier wont be formally evaluated, however they will support suppliers 'Letter of Confirmation of Works' and the suppliers previous experience, demonstrating technical capability and capacity in delivering a research project. Customers may also request for suppliers to provide further evidence at call for competition stage in relation to the contract examples provided within RM6018 Selection Questionnaire.
Answered
06/02/2018 12:34
69. Are any of the contract terms or terms in the marketplace agreement negotiable or amendable? Or are these the final versions that must be accepted to join?
The contract terms in the marketplace and non negotiable and will remain as drafted. The RM6018 DPS Agreement and Contract Terms must be accepted in order to join the RM6018 - Research Marketplace DPS.
Answered
06/02/2018 12:37
68. Given that the research services are sub-divided into so many different categories it is hard to know exactly what each category might cover at this stage and how buyers might use them. Is the selection of categories we make at this stage fixed for the duration of the DPS or can we add or subtract categories over time as we get a better idea of how they are being used?
CCS can confirm that suppliers are able to amend their services filter selection accordingly during the lifetime of the DPS. Appointed suppliers should liaise with the DPS Manager as and when they require to complete such action.
Answered
06/02/2018 12:26
67. Q.130 - Are you able to provide parent company accounts if requested at a later stage? If we don't have a parent company shall we select no as there is N/A available?
Please select 'no' where response is not applicable at Q.130.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:44
65. Approximately how many suppliers do you anticipate having on the framework?
CCS can not confirm the proposed number of suppliers who will join the DPS.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:41
64. When a buyer applies service element filters to search for appropriate organisations to send their ITT to, are they obliged to send the ITT to all organisations listed within that filter, or are they able to select a subset of these organisations?
All suppliers who form part of a exported list generated by customers filtering options within the DPS, must form part of the customers contact/ invitation list to suppliers.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:40
63. Should the contract examples given at questions 133, 134 and 135 of the Selection Questionnaire be the same/different to those given at questions 1a and 1b of the Research Marketplace DPS Registration questionnaire? If the contract examples given at q133 and q134 are different to those given at q1a and q1b, then which ones should our responses to q1c, q1d and q1e relate to?
CCS can confirm that a response input at Q133 and Q134 of the 'Standard Selection Questionnaire' will automatically populate Q1a and Q1b of the 'Research Marketplace DPS Registration Questionnaire'. If Suppliers fail to complete Questions 133 and 134 of the 'Standard Selection Questionnaire' they will be required to complete questions 1a and 1b of the 'Research Marketplace DPS Registration Questionnaire' in accordance with the response guidance detailed.
Furthermore, suppliers are also required to complete questions 1c, 1d and 1e in the 'Research Marketplace DPS Registration Questionnaire' in accordance with the response guidance detailed and to supplement their response at questions Q133 and Q134 of the 'Standard Selection Questionnaire' and/ or Q1a and Q1b of the 'Research Marketplace DPS Registration Questionnaire .
Answered
05/02/2018 14:38
62. Is it mandatory to have Cyber Essentials certification? (Questions 155 and 156 of the Selection Questionnaire).
In accordance with clause 7.55 - 7.57 of the DPS Agreement, suppliers are required to have in place cyber essentials basic certification by the award of their first contract under the DPS Agreement. Please refer to the link below for further information re obtgaining cyber essentials certification:
https://www.cyberessentials.ncsc.gov.uk/getting-certified/
Customers will request copies of suppliers certificates prior to award of a contract under the DPS and in accordance with the obligations as set out in the DPS Agreement. If a supplier fails to provide the required certification, this may be deemed as a breach of contract and may result in a contract not being awarded.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:38
61. Please can you confirm the question numbers from the Selection Questionnaire that make up part 1, part 2 and part 3?
The RM6018 Research Marketplace standard selection questionnaire questions are 1 - 156 and the Dynamic Purchasing Selection questionnaire questions which form part of the complete RM6018 Selection questionnaire commence after Q156 at Q1a - Q.10. The full PDF version of all selection questionnaire questions for RM6018 can be located in the bid pack - 'Research SQ_DPSQ_'
Answered
05/02/2018 14:37
60. Q.131 - Would the parent company be willing to provide a guarantee if necessary? If we don't have a parent company shall we select no as there is N/A available?
Please select 'no' where response is not applicable at Q.131.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:36
59. Please could you let me know if we have to do two or three contract examples? Q135 is for a third contract example. But Q1a and Q1b are for just two contract examples. Can you confirm how many contract examples you require?
Question 135 is not applicable to RM6018 Research Marketplace DPS, two contract examples only are required. Please disregard this question.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:29
58. How do we know what the minimum level is? The clarifications state 'When completing the RM6018 Research Marketplace questionnaire, the supplier will be asked to provide their Dun and Bradstreet number, which will automatically generate the suppliers financial credit score and determine whether or not the financial threshold of 51 is met or exceeded'. Our Dun & Bradstreet report is there but this score has not been generated. How do we obtain a score?
If your Dun & Bradstreet score falls below the 51 threshold, CCS will complete further financial checks as detailed at points 21 - 29 of the DPS Needs document which forms part of the RM6018 Research Marketplace bid pack.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:34
57. Our company is an SME and has exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006. Do we answer yes or no?
CCS can confirm where suppliers are exempt from auditing their accounts, they can still proceed in submitting a 'request to participate' in the RM6018 Research Marketplace DPS.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:34
56. Can you confirm what you require we do with the financial Assessment form in the bid pack?
The financial assessment form is for information only and will be utilised if a supplier fails to meet the financial Dun & Bradstreet threshold score of 51.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:33
54. Thank you for responding to my question about the Research Marketplace DPS section of the questionnaire. I can see the questions in the PDF document however when I log into https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk and complete the questionnaire the questions end at 156, there are no further questions. Please can you explain how to access the Research Marketplace DPS questions because they are not appearing on the portal for me (as far as I can tell I have followed the correct 'access as a supplier' link from the Research Marketplace). Thanks
The query you have detailed, appears to be a technical issue. For technical support, please contact NQC on 0845 299 2994.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:15
52. In regards to questions 150 (Can you supply a list of your relevant principal contracts for goods and/or services provided in the last three years?), do you want all of them? If so, just for our team or the whole firm?
Question 150 is not applicable to RM6018 Research Marketplace DPS.
Please disregard this question.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:02
51. In regards to question 148 (Please provide details of previous similar projects where you have demonstrated a high level of competency and effectiveness in managing of all supply chain members involved in steel supply or production so that there was a sustainable and safe supply of steel), does this question have to be answered if we are not involved in any way with steel?
Question 148 is not applicable to RM6018 Research Marketplace DPS, as detailed in the DPS Needs document at point 36 - Selection Questionnaire - Not Applicable questions. Please disregard this question.
Answered
05/02/2018 14:00
50. In regards to question 147 (Please describe the supply chain management systems, policies, standards and procedures you currently have in place to ensure robust supply chain management), what exactly are you asking for here if we don't have subcontractors?
Question 147 is not applicable to RM6018 Research Marketplace DPS, please disregard this question.
Answered
05/02/2018 13:57
49. We are a highly technical consultancy firm and do not employ apprentices, may we answer this as not-applicable? If not, we have a relevant internship programme and extensive employee development programme, will details on this suffice.
Apprenticeships and Skills Development (Q144 - Q146) of the RM6018 Selection Questionnaire, suppliers should select 'no' where this question is not applicable in accordance with PPN 14/15.
Answered
05/02/2018 13:55
