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[1,"2015-02-17T11:01:00","SoR - Section 2 Where the supplier is proposing product implementation, there will be instances where configuration is required but not development. In such instances would SPPA prefer the supplier to answer YES and describe what configuration is required in the row which is designated for development description? Please confirm","Yes, please answer Yes and describe the configuration required in the development box. Please identify this as configuration rather than development.","2015-02-18T13:42:00"]
[2,"2015-02-17T11:02:00","SoR - Section 1 Can SPPA share the current technical & integration architecture to help the supplier understand and assess any re-usability of the components e.g. scanning solution or document storage etc.","Annex 1 describes the current hardware and software specification. Suppliers are asked to describe their minimum hardware and software specifications. The SPPA will make a decision post effective date on the re-usability of SPPA's current hardware and software.","2015-02-18T13:52:00"]
[3,"2015-02-17T11:02:00","SoR - Section 1 Our understanding based on te SoR is that it will be the suppliers responsibility to provide the software solution and the sizing of the infrastructure required for the Administration platform. SPPA will procure, build and manage the required hosted infrastructure and compliance required around hosting. This includes hardware, software licences and any tools required to run the administration platform, Please confirm","The supplier will be responsible for providing the software solution and the sizing of the infrastructure required for the full integrated solution. SPPA will build and manage the required hosted infrastructure. All tenderers have been asked in the pricing schedule sheet 3 software licenses to indicate the generic software licenes required for the system, however, SPPA retain the right to purchase these licenses from other sources. A decision on the reusability or procurement of existing or new hardware and generic software will be made post effective date.","2015-02-18T14:03:00"]
[4,"2015-02-17T11:03:00","SoR - Section 2.6 Do SPPA wish suppliers to suggest suitable reporting tools such as business objects or would SPPA like to leverage any solution currently in use?","Yes, please suggest suitable reporting tools.","2015-02-18T14:03:00"]
[5,"2015-02-17T11:04:00","SoR - Section 2.10 Please can you clarify, if this section requires a written response as well as a separate demonstration of the scenarios at a later date post submission of SoR response from the suppliers?","No written response is required.","2015-02-18T14:05:00"]
[6,"2015-02-27T13:21:00","Statement of Requirements, Mandatory Requirement No 1.1.1 on the Scottish Government’s ICT infrastructure: a. Can we use the existing infrastructure as described in Annex 1, for the purposes of our proposed solution? b. Are the two systems (current SPPA Pensions system and our proposed system) supposed to work in parallel? Or will the new one replace the old one?","(a) The system must work on the existing infrastructure as described in annex 1. (b) The 2 systems will need to work in paralell during implementation and testing. The proposed system will replace the existing system.","2015-03-02T09:42:00"]
[7,"2015-02-27T13:24:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Mandatory Requirement No 1.1.3: Be compatible with the stated hardware and software Are bidders supposed to use the existing server software, middleware and hardware as described in Annex 1? If not, what is the purpose of being compatible with the stated hw, sw of the current pensions and payroll systems? Could you please elaborate on the scope of the required compatibility?","Please see mandatory question 1.1.2. in regards server software. Please explain what you mean by middleware. The solution must be compatible with the existing server hardware and software as described in annex 1. SPPA will decide where existing hardware can be reused or new hardware purchased as required.","2015-03-02T10:08:00"]
[8,"2015-02-27T13:30:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, page 12, Output Requirement No 16. Annex 3, Annex C does not seem to contain an actual copy of the \"Third Party Connection Form\", but only an icon of the relevant document instead (see page 25 of Annex 3 - System Documentation.pdf). Could you please provide us with a copy of the \"Third Party Connection Form\"?","SPPA will upload this as a separate document.","2015-03-02T10:13:00"]
[9,"2015-02-27T13:35:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, page 12, Output Requirement No 17 states: \"Please describe the controls/protocols that are available for use to protect data exchanged with systems/applications not contained within the supplier’s proposal.\" Could you please further elaborate this requirement? Could you please define and/or give an example of what do you mean by systems/applications not contained within the supplier's proposal?","One examine of this is passing data from your proposed system to a third party for bulk mailing i.e. payslip files","2015-03-02T10:16:00"]
[10,"2015-02-27T13:44:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Requirement 2.1 General Administration Requirements, b. Scheme Structure, on pages 36-38: Could you please advise on where and how should bidders provide a response for this requirement? Is this a mandatory or output requirement? Or is this paragraph only for informational purposes?","This paragraph is to provide additional information in support of the mandatory requirements and questions in section 2.","2015-03-02T10:21:00"]
[11,"2015-02-27T13:50:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Requirement 2.2 Calculations, pages 46-53: Could you please advise on where and how should bidders provide responses to these requirements? Are these mandatory or output requirements? Or are these paragraphs for informational purposes only?","These paragraphs are for information only.","2015-03-02T10:21:00"]
[12,"2015-02-27T13:54:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Requirement 2.3 Annual Benefit Statements, Active Members, page 123. Could you please advise on where and how should bidders provide a response for this requirement? Is this a mandatory or output requirement? Or is this paragraph only for informational purposes?","This paragraph provides addition information in support of section 2.3 mandatory requirements and questions.","2015-03-02T10:23:00"]
[13,"2015-02-27T13:56:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Requirement 2.3 Annual Benefit Statements, b. Annual Allowance (AA), page 130. Could you please advise on where and how should bidders provide a response for this requirement? Is this a mandatory or output requirement? Or is this paragraph for informational purposes only?","This paragraph provides addition information in support of section 2.3 mandatory requirements and questions.","2015-03-02T10:24:00"]
[14,"2015-02-27T13:57:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Requirement 2.3 Annual Benefit Statements, paragraph c. Valuations, page 133. Could you please advise on where and how should bidders provide a response for this requirement? Is this a mandatory or output requirement? Or is this paragraph for informational purposes only?","This paragraph provides addition information in support of section 2.3 mandatory requirements and questions.","2015-03-02T10:25:00"]
[15,"2015-02-27T14:07:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Mandatory Requirement No 1.1.9: Could you please clarify who undertakes the cost of using the NCC Group ESCROW service? Would that be SPPA or the Supplier? Could you also please confirm that this would only be needed for the bidder's software solution and is not needed for any other 3rd party commercial software used by the supplier's solution such as middleware and/or database products (eg Microsoft, Oracle or IBM server software products)?","All costs associated with the ESCROW agreement will be met by SPPA. This is only applicable to the bidders software solution.","2015-03-02T10:30:00"]
[16,"2015-02-27T09:10:00","Please can you clarify the suppliers of the existing contracts that deliver services to SPPA, the high level scope of those contracts, contract end dates and associated contract annual values.","This is a very broad question. Our understanding would be that you are referring to the current suppliers/contracts relating to the Pension Administration, Pensions Payroll and Web Services solutions. Please confirm.","2015-03-02T13:11:00"]
[17,"2015-03-04T12:14:00","Statement of Requirements v3.0.docx, Output Requirement 3, page 7 states: \"Please provide details of the extent to which SPPA can configure their own environment.\" Could you please clarify what do you mean by \"can configure their own environment\"? Do you refer to the pensions application or to system functions such as database, application servers etc.? If you refer to the pensions application, could you please clarify what kind of environment configuration do you have in mind? Setting up a new instance of the system or having the ability to implement additional functionality on your own?","Please refer to 1.1.2 which confirms that SPPA wish to continue to self support the server and database software. Output requirement three page 7 refers to the pensions application. SPPA would like bidders to describe to what extent SPPA can configure the pensions administration software application.","2015-03-04T14:13:00"]
[18,"2015-03-04T16:01:00","If we wish to offer alternative commercial models to that implied by the structure of the costs spreadsheet, how do you want us to do that?","Sheet 4, Summary Payment Profile, of the Pricing schedule. Rows starting Other, please specify can be used for an alternative commercial model. We note that fields in column 1 are locked. We will upload an amended version of the pricing schedule with this column unlocked.","2015-03-04T16:20:00"]
[19,"2015-03-04T16:00:00","There are a number of changes which we feel would be reasonable to include within the contract terms. We are proposing to highlight these in our bid via a commentary on the Ts and Cs. Please confirm that this approach will not automatically mean that our bid is non-compliant.","Please see guidance in section 5.1.1. Please detail in this section any changes to the terms and conditions that you would consider reasonable.","2015-03-04T16:24:00"]
[20,"2015-03-04T15:56:00","Regarding the response to question 7, how will the SPPA review team score or assess the cost of hardware if it decides that it needs to buy more, instead of reusing exisitng infrastructure? Currently this is just a yes/no question (1.1.3) and does not attract a score, nor does it appear to be in the costs assessment? Thank you","With reference to 1.1.3, the system must be compatible with the stated hardware and software as described in annex 1. If development is required to allow the system to be compatible, bidders are requested to provide details of that development. Question 7 is for information only and refers to the solutions scalability. This will not be scored and there is no requirement to provide hardware costs in the pricing schedule.","2015-03-04T16:33:00"]
[21,"2015-03-04T19:11:00","This is in relation to the answer you just posted in the portal to Q20. (portal Q20, not the RFP's Q20) With apologies, when I refered to Question 7, I also meant Question 7 in the portal Q&A, not the RFP question 7. In your answer to 7 (2nd March 10.08) you stated: \"SPPA will decide where existing hardware can be reused or new hardware purchased as required\" It's that answer that I am following up on - how will the need for new hardware be scored or costed into a bidder's tender.","If further hardware is required, bidders are requested to provide details of that requirement This will not be scored and there is no requirement to provide hardware costs in the pricing schedule.","2015-03-05T08:50:00"]
[22,"2015-03-06T11:45:00","What is the scope of your current 8 IT support resources? Who provides these services?","Please can you clarify what is meant by \"scope of current 8 IT support resources\".","2015-03-06T13:17:00"]
[23,"2015-03-06T09:27:00","In the instructions to tenderers, page 5, it is stated that: \"Any attachments you include as part of your response must contain the appropriate question reference number as indicated, both at the beginning of the text and in the attached document file name [e.g.170]. Failure to do so may mean the attachment may not be taken into consideration as part of your response.\" In case that we have an attachment that is referenced by more than one output requirement response, which of the following is the correct way to handle it so as to be compliant with the instructions above? a. Attach it multiple times, with a different filename each time, eg 170.docx, 171.docx in the zipped folder. b. Name the attachment as 170_171.docx and attach it only once in the zipped folder or c. Use a different naming convention and make references to this attachment by the name given and not by the output requirement response number. We believe that the options b and c above will benefit SPPA by allowing bidders submitting significantly smaller in size zipped folders compared to option a. Could you also please clarify what should the naming convention be for any attachments needed for Mandatory requirements?","If an attachment refers to more than one question, please attach the document once. Please use the naming convention \"multiple questions sample 1\", \"multiple questions sample 2\" etc and add the name of the document in the footer. Please make reference to the appropriate document in the question responses. The naming convention for attachments for mandatory questions should be, for example, 1.1.1 or where one document refers to more than mandatory requirement use the naming convention as above.","2015-03-09T10:12:00"]
[24,"2015-03-06T11:45:00","The tender states that all mandatory requirements should be responded to or we may be disqualified. What are the consequences of responding ‘No’ to a mandatory requirement?","As per instructions to tenderers section 10, tenderers must respond to all mandatory requirements. Where development is required to meet a mandatory requirement, tenderers are required to provide details of the development in the relevant section. If your solution cannot fully meet a mandatory requirement and you are unable to provide details of how your solution can be developed, your tender may be considered non compliant.","2015-03-09T10:25:00"]
[25,"2015-03-06T11:46:00","Is the pensioner payroll carried out on Northgate?","Yes.","2015-03-09T10:27:00"]
[26,"2015-03-06T11:46:00","Based on your published fees, can you provide the breakdown between core product and change management?","No we will not be providing this information.","2015-03-09T10:27:00"]
[27,"2015-03-05T15:28:00","Paragraph 2.10.c. Presentation Scenarios Could you please provide us with the file structure of the RTI file that is submitted to HMRC?","The file structure of the RTI file is a standard file provided to software suppliers by HMRC https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/366428/rti-data-item-guide-15-16.pdf","2015-03-09T10:30:00"]
[28,"2015-03-06T16:57:00","This is in relation to the answer posted to Question 16 on the portal. To clarify, we are referring to the current suppliers/contracts relating to the Pension Administration, Pensions Payroll and Web Services solutions. Could SPPA please provide response to the below: 1.Suppliers who applied for inclusion on each of the contract and were successful and not successful at the PQQ & ITT stages 2. Contract values of each contract and any sub lots, year to date 3. Start date and duration of the contract 4. Is there an extension clause in the contract(s) and, if so, the duration of the extension? 5. Has a decision been made yet on whether the contract(s) are being either extended or renewed? 6. Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?","1. We will not be providing this information until contract award phase. 2. The contract has not yet been awarded. 3. Planned contract duration 01/09/2015 until 31/10/2025. 4. There is an option to extend the contract for a further four years beyond 2015. The extension option to be exercised, if required, by the use of two separate extensions each for a period of two years. 5. The contract has not been awarded. 6. Marion Chapman, Director of Corporate Services.","2015-03-09T10:44:00"]
[29,"2015-03-05T15:52:00","Requirement 2.4.31: Have a method or process to identify any inconsistent scheme entitlement Could you please specify the set of rules that apply for scheme entitlement? Kindly provide example cases.","Please refer to the scheme rules in section 2.2 Calculations, page 47.","2015-03-09T10:58:00"]
[30,"2015-03-05T15:53:00","Regarding the contribution collection process, could you please clarify if SPPA follows/monitors the contributions payment process? Or is this within HMRC jurisdiction?","SPPA monitors and accounts for its own contribution collection.","2015-03-09T11:00:00"]
[31,"2015-03-06T11:44:00","Do SPPA use any enterprise system management software (e.g. IBM Tivoli or HP Operations Manager)?","SPPA uses oracle enterprise manager to manage the databases they are currently responsible for.","2015-03-09T11:12:00"]
[32,"2015-03-06T11:45:00","Would SPPA consider using Citrix Server to distribute client software to the user team?","Please see section 1, question 5.","2015-03-09T11:17:00"]
[33,"2015-03-06T11:45:00","We would like to understand more on SPPA requirements for data encryption. Do you require encrypted emails/other data transmission/encryption? And how is this done currently?","Any data going outside the public sector network would have to be encrypted e.g. data from SPPA to successful supplier, data to employers, data to third party printers. Please see question 14. Tenderers are required to detail how their system would encrypt data.","2015-03-09T11:24:00"]
[34,"2015-03-06T11:45:00","2.7.18 requires the ability to print specific pages. This is typically a function of the printer driver rather than the system, are you happy for us to respond ‘Yes’ on this basis?","A yes response requires the system to have the functionality to print or e-mail, all of the following: individual documents groups of documents specific page(s)of a document","2015-03-09T11:32:00"]
[35,"2015-03-05T15:58:00","Regarding the contribution collection process: * Is there a contributions payment deadline? If so, is there a penalty imposition for late payment of contributions? * Does the actual payment date affect the process of updating the member records? Are member records updated upon submission of contribution declaration by the employer or on the actual payment date? * Does SPPA Manage debts of Employers?","* Is there a contributions payment deadline? Yes there is a deadline for payments for NHS and STSS. If so, is there a penalty imposition for late payment of contributions? Yes for STSS. * Does the actual payment date affect the process of updating the member records? Are member records updated upon submission of contribution declaration by the employer or on the actual payment date? No contribution collection does not affect the process of updating member records. * Does SPPA Manage debts of Employers? Yes","2015-03-09T11:34:00"]
[36,"2015-03-05T14:35:00","Good afternoon, Please see the following clarification questions: What version of Oracle is SPPA using on your servers? With reference to the requirement for ‘All data items to be migrated successfully to new system’ are there redundant data items that we need to be aware of? Do SPPA want all data (historic data greater than 7 years) loaded to the new system? Can you confirm the breakdown of the SPPA Project Team members by roles? What are the current image types that are held on the SPPA EDM system? What is the general current weekly/monthly growth in the number of images? Do SPPA have specification for all calculations? Will SPPA be able to provide worked examples? Are SPPA able to supply Trust deeds and rules? Please supply details of all the benefit basis? Section 1, 1.1: What is the preferred relational Database Vendor for SPPA systems, Microsoft or Oracle? Section 1, question no. 9: Please clarify the meaning of a ‘self-managed system’? Section 1, question no. 9/10: Are both the questions 9 and 10 intended to provide an understanding of how the supplier would provide a hosted application service (SaaS) to SPPA? Or is some other arrangement sought? Section 2, question 2.1.8: Please clarify what you mean by ‘necessary notifications’. What notifications will be required by SPPA? Section 2, question 2.1.11: Please advise what the SPPA targets as referenced are? Section 2, question 2.7.33: Please clarify the required formats that documents are required to be output into? Whilst we understand no referencing to previous answers is allowed, can you please clarify if one attachment provides a response to multiple questions, if this attachment will need to show the applicable questions to which it is referenced or shall we supply this attachment multiple times? Do you prefer attachments to be uploaded as individual files for each question or separated into sections in line with the layout of the SoR document? Kind regards.","What version of Oracle is SPPA using on your servers? SPPA currently uses Oracle version 11gR2 for pension and payroll servers. With reference to the requirement for ‘All data items to be migrated successfully to new system’ are there redundant data items that we need to be aware of? We are not aware of any redundant data items. Do SPPA want all data (historic data greater than 7 years) loaded to the new system? Yes Can you confirm the breakdown of the SPPA Project Team members by roles? Senior Responsible Officer, Project/Procurement manager, Project Team Leader, Operations – procurement lead, IT representative, 3 x Operations representatives What are the current image types that are held on the SPPA EDM system? The current known image types are Microsoft file types e.g. .doc, .xls., .msg; txt, tiff, PDF. What is the general current weekly/monthly growth in the number of images? Approx 50 gb per year. Do SPPA have specification for all calculations? All calculation specifications are held in the scheme governing regulations as per table in section 2, page 47. Will SPPA be able to provide worked examples? This information could be provided by SPPA, however, it may be resource intensive. Tenderers should identify in their development/implementation plan the resources they would require from SPPA. See question 205. Are SPPA able to supply Trust deeds and rules? Links to the scheme rules are available in section 2, page 47. Please supply details of all the benefit basis? Please see details of benefits basis within scheme structure table on page 36/37, section 2. Section 1, 1.1: What is the preferred relational Database Vendor for SPPA systems, Microsoft or Oracle? Please see 1.1.2 for SPPA’s requirements. Section 1, question no. 9: Please clarify the meaning of a ‘self-managed system’? SPPA manage server and database software. The supplier would be responsible for the pension administration software and database applications directly associated with their solution. Section 1, question no. 9/10: Are both the questions 9 and 10 intended to provide an understanding of how the supplier would provide a hosted application service (SaaS) to SPPA? YES Or is some other arrangement sought? No Section 2, question 2.1.8: Please clarify what you mean by ‘necessary notifications’. What notifications will be required by SPPA? This includes details in section 2.2.142 page 109 and any auto generated notifications to members e.g. receipt of application form Section 2, question 2.1.11: Please advise what the SPPA targets as referenced are? Examples of SPPA’s targets are detailed in reporting section 2.6.10, page 178/179. Section 2, question 2.7.33: Please clarify the required formats that documents are required to be output into? It must output in word and outlook as a minimum. Please see question 165. Whilst we understand no referencing to previous answers is allowed, can you please clarify if one attachment provides a response to multiple questions, if this attachment will need to show the applicable questions to which it is referenced or shall we supply this attachment multiple times? Do you prefer attachments to be uploaded as individual files for each question or separated into sections in line with the layout of the SoR document? Please see guidance provided in response to question 23 in the questions and answers section of the public contracts Scotland portal.","2015-03-09T12:15:00"]
[37,"2015-03-05T15:28:00","Paragraph 2.2.c..vii. Choice Optants Could you please explain how this business process works? Namely, at what point is the request for this choice being submitted? - At the time of retirement? (ie the Member declares their desire for that choice together with their Pension Request) - Or can it be done at any time? - Can a pensioner make that choice after the issuance of the pension (triggering the necessary pension conversions and reconciliations of payments)?","Choice optants are a group of members who chose to move from one scheme scetion to another. Please see page 72 for details.","2015-03-09T12:18:00"]
[38,"2015-03-05T15:33:00","Requirement 2.4.12: Have the functionality to allow SPPA to load bulk data files directly to the system, via a one-stage process. Our solution has the option for bulk upload of pension contributions data from employer (either via e-services or via main application in the branch), by uploading one or more pension contribution data files on monthly basis. The first upload is the regular contributions declaration form, while any subsequent is treated as a supplementary transaction. Does requirement 2.4.12 refer to the functionality described above? Does the system need to have functionality for uploading at one step (in one transaction) multiple files received from multiple employers, which are placed on the file system?","SPPA require the functionality to receive a file from employers and load data once without manipulation of data prior to loading.","2015-03-09T12:28:00"]
[39,"2015-03-05T15:41:00","Requirement 2.4.13: Correctly determine the member’s status and send the required notifications Could you please clarify if this functionality refers to the following events? * Member registration * Automatic enrolment and the events that trigger that process (‘automatic enrolment’ applies for all employees from the first day of employment, or employers staging date, or every three years for opted-out members as long as they remain with the same employer) * Member record automatic deactivation after a pre-determined period of nil contribution (requirement 2.4.20) - Could you please specify the content of these notifications? - Could you please verify that these notifications are sent to members via email when one of the above mentioned events takes place?","This functionality relates to all starter information loaded to the pension administration system including the events listed. Notifications include information to employers, members and some third parties. This information can either be electronic or paper based depending on output and includes data such as scheme details, benefit types, contribution rates and other data deemed relevant.","2015-03-09T12:56:00"]
[40,"2015-03-05T15:47:00","Paragraph 2.4. Section c.: Data Upload of Financial, Remuneration and Service Information - Could you please verify that Financial, Remuneration and Service Information data is submitted regularly (ie on a monthly basis)? - Could you please confirm that the purpose of these data uploads is the update of member records? - Could you please specify which fields do the following data sections comprise from? • Financial • Remuneration • Service Information","We can confirm that data is loaded/received from employers regularly usually on a monthly basis. The purpose of the data is to update member records. Could you please specify which fields do the following data sections comprise from? • Financial • Remuneration • Service Information - please clarify what is meant by this question.","2015-03-09T13:00:00"]
[41,"2015-03-05T15:50:00","Requirement 2.4.24: Allow bulk status changes to multiple member records Regarding the process of bulk status changes, could you please specify: • its criteria, • the event that triggers the process and • its actors (SPPA authorized users via main application or Employer via Digital services)","SPPA regularly use functionality to change member status, for example, we may wish to change a specific member status type to a historic type e.g. members who have died within a date range. For authorised SPPA users.","2015-03-09T13:04:00"]
[42,"2015-03-05T15:51:00","Requirement 2.4.25: Allow bulk changes of member’s personal details Regarding the process of bulk changes of member’s personal details, could you please specify • the kind of personal details (contact/address information, marital status), • the event that triggers the process. (for example, is there a file that contains those changes created by the Employer?) and • its actors (SPPA authorized users via main application or Employer via Digital services)","SPPA require personal details, as described in the question above, to be updated in bulk, either from changes submitted by their employers or details received via digital services.","2015-03-09T13:09:00"]
[43,"2015-03-09T13:01:00","To what extent do SPPA expect their Northgate payroll software fees to be reduced as a result of moving the Pensioner Payroll onto another product. Thanks","This procurement exercise is for an integrated pensions administration, pensions payroll and digital services solution. There will not be a separate payroll software contract.","2015-03-09T13:11:00"]
[44,"2015-03-05T16:01:00","Output Requirement 194 mentions the following: \"Please define your approach for moving from the existing workflow management part of the current system to the workflow system within their solution specifically addressing the following points: • the approach taken in dealing with existing live workflow casework • referencing of historic casework on the new system as business processes may be substantially different from the current state • will SPPA be recommended to maintain the existing workflow system for a defined period? If so please specify.\" Could you please provide information regarding the existing workflow system (ie platform, technology, programming language, database system, main functional points etc.)","The existing workflow system is an integral part of the SPPA's current pension administration system.","2015-03-09T13:17:00"]
[45,"2015-03-06T10:15:00","Good morning, Please find further questions below: How many of the 12,000 employers supply data via a bulk electronic interface and how many rely on manual/ad hoc submissions via Excel/other? The document refers to the need to chase employers for missing data. Does this affect all employers? Approximately what proportion of the membership has to be queried to ensure the data is complete? How does authorisation and QA work in the current operating model? Are all cases checked or just samples? Section 2, question 127: Please explain how your system handles payments returned through winbacs –do you mean that returned payments are received via winbacs? Section 2, question 129: SPPA currently have numerous legacy payrolls which may be amalgamated in the future. Please describe how your system will support this. Is this in respect to employee payroll or pensioner payroll? Kind regards.","How many of the 12,000 employers supply data via a bulk electronic interface and how many rely on manual/ad hoc submissions via Excel/other? Please see section 2.4, the number of employers is 1200. No employers provide information via a bulk electronic interface. The document refers to the need to chase employers for missing data. Does this affect all employers? Yes all employers have missing data Approximately what proportion of the membership has to be queried to ensure the data is complete? All membership pertaining to an individual scheme is queried. How does authorisation and QA work in the current operating model? Are all cases checked or just samples? Section F quality assurance page 162, tenderers are required to provide details of how their solution provides quality assurance. Section 2, question 127: Please explain how your system handles payments returned through winbacs –do you mean that returned payments are received via winbacs? SPPA are notified of unapplied credits via a downloadable file from BACS payment services Section 2, question 129: SPPA currently have numerous legacy payrolls which may be amalgamated in the future. Please describe how your system will support this. Is this in respect to employee payroll or pensioner payroll? This relates to pensioner payroll.","2015-03-09T13:32:00"]
[46,"2015-03-05T08:21:00","Please can you clarify the suppliers of the existing contracts that deliver services relating to the Pension Administration, Pensions Payroll and Web Services solutions to SPPA, the high level scope of those contracts, contract end dates and associated contract annual values.","Pension Administration System - Heywood Ltd - 31/3/2017 Pension Payroll System - Norhgatearinso - 30/11/2017 Member & Employer Web Services - Pulsion Technology Ltd - 31/03/2017 Details of all SPPA expenditure over £25,000 can be found on the SPPA's website - Agency Finance - Agency Expenditure and then follow the link to 'Payments with a value in excess of £25,000'","2015-03-09T14:14:00"]
[47,"2015-03-09T14:35:00","Given the breadth of areas covered by the statement of requirements and in order to give bidders enough time to take into account all the latest SPPA answers to their questions as well as to have a chance to clarify some of their questions that were not sufficiently clear for SPPA to reply, we kindly ask SPPA to grant bidders a 10 day extension of the submission deadline along with a 10 day extension of the deadline for submitting additional questions for clarification. Thanking you in advance for your understanding.","SPPA have considered the request above and due to the high volume of questions over recent days and also due to a change in SPPA's internal resources it has been decided to change the closing date for the submission of questions to Monday 16th March at 12 noon and the closing date for submission of tenders to Tuesday 31st March at 12 noon.","2015-03-09T16:20:00"]
[48,"2015-03-11T13:45:00","Regarding the pricing schedule, tab 4. Summary Payment Profile, could you please clarify what kind of services are envisaged for the categories: a. Consultancy - Development b. Consultancy - Implementation c. Consultancy - Other and d. Technical Development? What kind of services costs should go under \"Consultancy - Development\" and what services should go under \"Technical Development\"? Could you also clarify what kind of services costs should go under column \"Consultancy\" in tab 2. Development and Implementation Price and what kind of services costs should go under column \"Technical Development\"? Thank you.","The Summary Payment Profile (Sheet 4) costs refer to the following: Consultancy - Development : consultancy costs associated with the development required to deliver the solution Consultancy - Implementation: consultancy costs associated with the implementation of the solution Consultancy - Other: consultancy cost relating to delivery of the contract other than those associated with development and implementation Technical Development : costs relating to the development of the technical solution, but not consultancy costs Service costs associated with licence fees, support and maintenance etc. should also be detailed in the appropriate section within the Summary Payment Profile. Costs detailed in Sheet 2 should also be incorporated into Sheet 4. Please see the Guidance Notes associated with the Price Schedule (Sheet 1)","2015-03-12T07:56:00"]