Guidance

Further information on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) (Updated 28 January 2021)

Updated 23 August 2023

Further information

Are there any charges for using the new system?

There are no charges or licences required to use the DSP.

What support do I have if I have a problem?

You will be supported by a 24-hour Helpdesk, the details of which will be provided in our next communication also available on the DSP.

Have any policies changed from the previous platform?

No, there are no policy changes to current practices, suppliers are accountable for the proper use of the platform and ensuring only duly authorised staff submit tenders (as they are now).

What is the process for registration on the DSP?

Suppliers should register using the ‘Register now’ button on the DSP Homepage. There’s an online form which is quick and easy to complete.

Do companies simply register in their entirety or do they have to describe the services and capabilities they supply?

As part of the registration process, the supplier will need to complete the Basic User Profile which asks for:

• industry sector
• number of employees
• turnover
• SME status
• NCAGE
• confirmation of whether you have previously contracted with MOD

The Extended user profile can be completed for use against PQQ responses ahead of time, but this is not mandated as part of the registration process.

Do all registered companies go onto the portal under the same material category?

Suppliers can associate categories against their profile, this will enable alerts if the MOD publish opportunities under that category.

What parts of MOD (DE&S, Dstl etc) will use the E-Sourcing Platform?

All parts of MOD, including DE&S and DSTL.

Is the DSP mandated for all pan-MOD opportunities?

It is mandated for all procurements up to Official Sensitive over the value of 10 thousand.

Some MOD procurements are run through Crown Commercial Services (CCS). Will this continue to be the case or will these procurements be run through the E-Sourcing platform in future?

We will still continue to run procurements through CCS where this forms part of the commercial strategy. If the framework allows us to use a platform of our choice it will be the DSP, otherwise we will use CCS mandated platforms.

Will all industry users have access to the same functions or will there be different types of industry user (for example commercial, sales, finance, bids and so on)?

Suppliers can set up their own users, role profiles and divisions. Associated rights and responsibilities can be set against each of these.

Are Suppliers able to tune filters on the DSP to ensure they are only receiving tenders against which they are able to supply?

Suppliers will receive alerts for opportunities raised using their selected categories. Suppliers can filter opportunity listings by type of work or keyword and so on, on the DSP, otherwise you can still filter on Contracts Finder as you do now.

Is it possible, for example, technically, for two different parts of the same supplier organisation to submit a response for the same tender opportunity?

No, a supplier response creates a single response on behalf of the organisation. Suppliers could assign multiple users to work on the response, it is up to the supplier to decide how they want to manage this.

How will user access to the E-Sourcing portal be controlled? Will each individual users have their own account and login credentials or will it be role-based (for example, the same account or login credentials be used by a number of people)?

Suppliers can create users who will have their own individual accounts. Permissions or responsibilities can be set up and managed for each user.

With information on the DSP going up to and including OFFICIAL SENSITIVE, how is the vetting of end users controlled? Is this a supplier responsibility and, if so, how is this to be managed before End Users are issued with access permissions?

It is a supplier responsibility to ensure that only duly authorised personnel access and submit information to the DSP. This is the same principle that is in operation with the DCO and current tendering processes.

Will the E-Sourcing tool use Two Factor Authentication (2FA)? How will this be implemented?

When a user is created, a one-time password is generated and issued through email for first time login. This password must be changed upon log in.

What Management Information will be available to industry via the portal?

We will provide a list of the DSP MI reports to be available to suppliers in due course.

Is requirement in the Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) 3rd Party Assurance Process DIN covered in the Supplier Portal/sign-on process in DSP?

The introduction of DSP does not affect the existing Cyber processes.

A supplier’s compliance with cyber controls is not captured on DSP as part of the sign-on process or supplier portal, as compliance is assessed on a contract-by-contract basis. The separate tool (‘Octavian’) must be used by delivery teams to determine the Cyber Risk Profile for a requirement, with suppliers demonstrating their compliance against this by completing a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) using the Octavian tool and submitting SAQs with tender responses. This process should still be followed when teams use DSP as the platform for issuing and receiving tender documentation.

My login/ username/password no longer works on the new DSP portal?

You need to re-register on the new site, no usernames/ emails/ preferences or passwords have been migrated.

Can I still find opportunities on the DCO platform?

Yes, till the DSP goes live mid-February.

Can I still respond to open competitions on the DCO platform?

Yes, If an existing opportunity is in progress before the launch of the DSP, this can continue on the existing DCO platform till completion.

How do I access the old/ DCO platform?

The DCO platform can be accessed at the [DCO contracts page (https://www.dcocontracts.mod.uk/)

How do you fill in the extended profile?

This doesn’t need to be filled in yet, it will be used to prepopulate fields when the DSP goes live to buyers.

Some of the Extended profile I cannot fill in:

Please see Q&A above then answer below:

If you do decide to pre-complete this, some sections will not be possible to complete although marked mandatory, these can be safely ignored and the extended profile completed, please ignore the “incomplete field” warning.

What do PCR SQ, DSPCR DPQQ and SAQs mean?

• SQ: Standard Selection Questionnaire
• PCR: Public Contract Regulations
• DSPCR: Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations
• SAQ: Self-Assessment Questionnaire.