Clarifications

150. Hi, we have just been appointed to the SPARK DPS and received an email that the assurance team will be in contact in a few weeks regarding compliance documentation. I have looked thoroughly through the bid pack and Spark DPS webpage, but cannot find the information what the assurance team will need regarding compliance documentation required for this agreement. We are eager to compile this now, ahead of them contacting us in a few weeks. Could you please point me in the right direction of where to find this information or who to contact?

149. We have completed our standard Selection Questionnaire. However, when I go to "view and apply for DPS agreements" and go to Spark and click "Access as a supplier," it takes me to a page to complete the Selection Questionnaire 2016. Can you confirm that these are two different things and that I will now need to complete the Selection Questionnaire 2016?

148. Hello. You stated that the framework agreement was due to close on 15/04/2023. Has it closed or can new suppliers still apply to join?

145. Hello, we are a new technology and AI consultancy operating in the defence and security space. Following discussions with Defence Digital and the demand for our services, it was suggested we apply to join Spark DPS in order for our services to be bought. However as we are an SME start-up only 6 weeks old we do not yet have a necessary completed contract example to allow us fulfil the application criteria. Please could you advise on what action start-ups should take in order to complete the application. (For example we could give details of an imminent contract but would be unable to get the requisite full approvals as per attachment 8). Grateful for your guidance.

144. Hi, We have submitted a SPARK DPS Questionnaire for the purposes of working with a Government Agency. They have requested that we make sure our catalogue offering is tagged with the two delivery methods: - Access control/biometrics/facial recognition - Cameras/visual detection/recording (not bodyworn) I cannot find any reference to our catalogue offering or the term 'delivery method' please could you clarify where I need to check on our questionnaire to ensure both these delivery methods are selected. Thanks

142. Hello We are currently in the process of completing our Spark SQ. With regards to the Contract Example : i) You state the example given must be within 18 months of our submission. Does this mean that the contract has to be completed within 18 months before our submission, or has to have started within 18 months before our submission? ii) The case study template states for "The Solution" - use this section to brief the approach taken to delivering a solution and how using the framework to source the solution helped". Which framework are you referring to? Many thanks

141. SPARKS DPS RM6094 There are references to questions in the instruction documents that do not corroborate with the online questionnaire. Would I be able to speak to someone about this?

140. We're a software as a service company and our customers subscribe to our service online. Can we use an invoice from existing customers as 'confirmation of works' instead of the template provided?

139. Dear Spark DPS,We are newcomers to the UK market, having established a strong presence in 800 hospitals across France. As we venture into the UK market, our commitment to ensuring compliance is of utmost importance, which is why we are enthusiastic about Spark DPS. One of the key criteria that has caught our attention is "ATTACHMENT 8 - LETTER OF CONFIRMATION OF WORKS" along with a case study template.We find ourselves in a challenging situation. Currently, we do not have a UK customer under contract. In this regard, we are seeking your guidance on whether our extensive experience and contract references from our operations in France can be considered in meeting this particular criterion. Additionally, we have previously engaged with a private provider, although the project did not go live. Would it be acceptable to use this as an example?We would greatly appreciate your advice on how best to navigate this situation.Thank you for your assistance.

138. How do you upload a Cyber security certificate within the dashboard?

137. As part of the application for RM6094, we are required to complete "Attachment 8 - Letter of Confirmation of Works (Contract Example) v1" which requires "Wet Signatures" for both the customer and bidder to physically sign on paper with a pen. Since we are based in the UK and the customer is based in the USA, obtaining physical wet signatures is logistically difficult. Therefore, can we leave the "Wet Signature" fields blank and provide "Print Signature" digitally. Please confirm.

136. Dear Sir / Madam, As part of the application on RM6094 we are requirement complete "Attachment 8 - Letter of Confirmation of Works (Contract Example) v1" where it requires "Wet Signatures" for both the customer and bidder to physically sign on the paper with a pen. We are based in the UK and the customer to sign is based in the USA. Therefore, can we leave "Wet Signature" fields blanks and provide the "Print Signature". Kindest Regards

135. Hi there, is there any scope for the Supplier to raise any deviations to the Terms & Conditions as part of our response? If so, at what point of the process between submitting the SQ+DPSQ and signing a call-off agreement with a buyer would we able to raise these? Thank you.

134. Is it necessary to upload financial/economic documentation for Q's 166-172 if we can provide our latest financial report via the official companies house link and pdf document?

133. Hi, In Attachment 7, for the contract example, it states that "Example provided must relate to contracts performed during the past 18 months, *from obtaining DPS appointed status* to be valid as evidence for this procurement" and "Customer contact provided must not have been employed or appointed by your organisation, or from within your associated group of companies, within the past 18 months prior *from obtaining DPS appointed status* on RM6094 to be valid" Both of which suggest that we will first be appointed on to the DPS, and then provide a contract example. However, the ITT states that it is necessary to provide a contract example to be appointed on to the DPS. Can you confirm the meaning of these clauses? And, can you confirm when a contract example needs to have been performed? Within the last 18 months from now (applying), within 18 months of the DPS opening (April 2019), or provided after appointment?

132. Many of the clarification responses state that the SQ Evidence Submission section is non-mandatory, however I cannot proceed without uploading all the requested documents. Please can you clarify whether all the documents must be uploaded. Also, please could you clarify what the "submitting" status means?

131. Q14 states: Does any individual have significant control (greater than 25% share capital) over the organisation i.e. a Person of Significant Control (PSC)? If the PSC is a company, not an individual person, how should we answer question 14, as Q15 does not allow us to enter company details as a PSC.

130. Good Morning - we raised the following question on 24th Mch but do not appear to have received a response? We are in the process of applying under the SPARK DPS and wanted to clarify what you deem to be 'equivalent' for the following requirements: BS EN ISO 9001 "Quality Management System" standard or equivalent. BS EN ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard or equivalent. ISO 27001 Information Security Management standard or equivalent.

129. Can you clarify what the deadline date is for applying to join SPARK, we understood the contract was until April 2025 and therefore could apply anytime up to that point?

127. Our organisation doesn't have cyber essentials or cyber essentials plus and we don't have any plans to apply as we already have SOC2 controls in place. We have a document that maps the Cyber Essential controls to our organisations SOC2 controls that we're happy to share. It states our application for Spark will be rejected if we don't state we're going to be onboarding CE or CEP, how should we respond if we already have strong security measures in place?