Clarifications
There are 135 clarifications for this DPS
141. What shall we select if questions 85,90,91,94,95 do not apply to us?
The options can be left blank if not relevant, however please be aware buyers will search for suppliers who can provide these services to create a shortlist to be used for their tender.
Answered
18/10/2024 12:10
140. I am registering our non-profit company on the RM6124 Communications Marketplace DPS, and wanted to clarify the cyber security requirements. We have extremely strong cyber security measures in place but don't yet have Cyber Essentials. We are now working towards it and would expect to obtain certification within 6-8 weeks. Are we able to respond to a RFP with certification pending?
This query is under the Research and Insights clarification section - you are required to have the Cyber Essentials (basic) certification OR ISO 270001 in place already in order to be appointed to this agreement.
Answered
02/10/2024 11:08
139. Can you please advise what the capitalised terms 'Security Policy, 'ICT Policy' and 'Security Management Plan' in Call-Off Schedule 9 (Security) specifically refer to? I have had multiple requests from bidders for copies of these documents and I am unclear what they refer to and what to send the bidders?
This is a query from a buyer and has been addresses directly.
Answered
02/10/2024 11:10
138. What is the management levy applicable to the Research & Insights DPS?
Per Section 13 of the RM6126 DPS Appointment Form in the bid pack 'The Supplier will pay, excluding VAT, 1% of all the Charges for the Deliverables invoiced to the Buyer under all Order Contracts.
Answered
05/07/2024 10:48
137. All our clients are NHS or local authority so are not registered companies at companies' house - the Letter of Confirmation of Works template you provide asks for the company number. Can you advise on what I add instead please?
CCS is happy for this document, the Letter of Confirmation to be amended in order to change section 2 to reflect the organisation correctly and to best suit the contracting authority who is supporting your application by confirming the work you undertook - please be reassured that these documents are not contractual (despite the look and feel of them)
Answered
11/04/2024 12:51
135. Q162 of the standard selection questionnaire, asks which CESG cyber certifications our organisation currently holds. Is it necessary to hold one/all of these to be accepted?
At minimum you need to hold either current Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus or ISO27001 certification before being appointed onto the DPS.
Answered
21/03/2024 12:29
134. I have been asked to provide a contract example in completing the questionnaire for RM6126 DPS. My company is only newly formed, and therefore I do not have a contract example.
I do however have examples of contracts which have been performed by myself (sole employee, director and owner of the company) whilst employed for another company. Would it be sufficient to detail the work performed and for a confirmation letter to detail and confirm the work was performed by myself?
Your contract example must clearly show who has carried out the work, so you would need to amend the Letter of Confirmation of Works so the contract example names the individual and not a company, and the client organisation confirms "We are able to verify that the works in this statement were solely carried out by ******, who is now currently the owner of ***** , and to which organisation this application to the DPS applies.
Answered
21/02/2024 14:09
133. Cyber Essentials: We have CE covering part of our organisation and operations, but it is not organisation-wide. Will this prevent us from joining the Research Insights DPS?
The Cyber Essentials certificate would need to cover the part of the organisation that they are using to apply for the DPS
Answered
19/12/2023 11:13
132. We have been asked to provide a contract example in completing the questionnaire for RM6126 DPS. We won't be the lead bidder and don't yet know what the call is - do we still need to complete this? (This relates to questions 55 and 56 - it says 'One example is not required from each member', but it also says 'If a contract example is not provided your organisation will be deemed as non compliant and will therefore be rejected from the RM6126 DPS'. Thanks
We must have one contract example from the organisation that wishes to be appointed to the DPS. Please see Attachment 1 and 1a in the bid pack.
Answered
29/11/2023 11:22
131. 1.We are asked to declare individuals who are PSCs, but there doesn't seem scope to declare entities that are PSCs. Can you confirm we don't need to do this?
Can you confirm whether it is an essential requirement to declare the precise Date of Birth (i.e. not just the Month and Year as required by Companies House) of the Persons of Significant Control we declare - as this seems unusual to us.
This does not seem to be a question on the Research and Insights SQ and DPS
Answered
22/12/2023 11:48
130. If as a registered supplier we would like to update the services we can provide due to some being missed the first time we submitted the application, are we able to submit responses to ITT's and/or receive invites to new ITT's through the DPS whilst our application is being assessed?
You can continue to be invited and bid on ITTs whilst the changes are going through but this will be based on your old selections. New services can only be seen by customers once changes have been made and the t&cs re signed - the assessment after the amendments should take around 3 days to assess once submitted.
Answered
31/10/2023 11:20
128. What evidence needs to be submitted for 180: Upload documentary evidence for a certificate for each principal contract for goods and/or services provided in the last three years? We have submitted evidence of 3 previous contracts for 179 but do not know what is needed for 180.
Please see the document 'Read First RM6126 DPS Needs' in the bid pack - at paragraph 73 you will see the list of non-applicable questions. As stated in the bid pack, a response is not required to those questions.
Answered
19/10/2023 11:55
127. If a supplier applies and is accepted on to the R&I DPS agreement during an open / live competition, can they still bid for the opportunity?
No, suppliers cannot be added to a tender that has been released
Answered
29/09/2023 11:20
126. Re. LucidTalk Limited - Duns No.: 218240014. I have now completed 1 questionnaire and I'm now in the middle of the 2nd Questionnaire. I am completing the 'Contract Example' part and its asking me to upload a document, that seemingly you want our client to sign/verify. Is this correct?
This is correct, the document in question is Attachment 1a found in question 56 of the selection questionnaire. Please see Attachment 1 in the Bid Pack for guidance.
Answered
29/09/2023 11:20
125. Reference Q51 - Do you need to upload the carbon reduction plan to our website or can we upload it as part of the questionnaire completion
Ideally the carbon reduction plan should be a website link, however you can provide a copy of your draft plan while preparing that.
Answered
09/10/2023 10:49
124. Clarification 123 does not answer the question asked. 'Attachment 1: Response Guidance for Confirmation of Works' only covers question Q56 of the R&I questionnaire - the answer for Q56 is meant to follow the guidelines outlined in the attachment 1 document.
We would like more guidance on how to answer Q57 ('Please describe the contract and how its performance demonstrates R&I services for clients').
This area is looking for the supplier to illustrate how the contract mentioned fits the scope of RM6126 Research & Insights,
and how the outcomes of the contract shows that research or insights
services were delivered.
Answered
25/08/2023 12:14
123. Could you provide more information on how to answer Q57?
What is it meant by the performance of the contract and how it demonstrates R&I services?
Please refer to Attachment 1: Response Guidance for Confirmation of Works within the bid pack
Answered
22/08/2023 11:08
122. Section 7.10 of the SSQ: Suppliers Past Performance
Do we strictly provide a list of relevant principal contracts of work we provided to clients (ie. all the contracts of previous work), or does it include contracts in terms of our procurement (ie. contracts with suppliers)?
This is only needed if you are an 'In-Scope Organisation' - you can determine that and tick 'no' or 'N/A' if you self-certify that you are not in scope. All info can be found at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417211/PPN04-15_Supplier_Past_Performance_.pdf
Answered
12/07/2023 10:58
121. Can you please advise as to how a newly appointed supplier will be notified of mini competition tender opportunities? Will this be via direct contact (i.e. communication via the DPS portal/email)? Additionally, is it possible for suppliers to search for active opportunities, or do they need to be invited to participate (i.e. some tenders may be relevant, despite a lack of invitation to participate)? On the latter point and if appropriate, what web platforms should be used to search for DPS tender opportunities? Experiences suggests these don't always appear on Contracts Finder.
Suppliers will be invited to tender via eSourcing portal (generally the Bravo Solution portal however they can use other eSourcing portals) after the customer has performed a filtering exercise to find the suppliers that can offer their requirements.
Answered
12/07/2023 11:51
120. Question 68 on the Research and Insights questionnaire includes the statement "Due but not paid by the last date for payment under agreed contractual terms" - please can we request clarification on what this means
Please see the DPS Needs document for clarification pages 16 - 17, section 60 - 68
Answered
30/06/2023 11:22
