If you’re applying to G-Cloud 15, one of the biggest steps you’ll need to complete is the Quality Award Questions. These questions determine your quality score and, for certain lots, can even decide whether your bid is compliant.

This guide breaks everything down in plain English, covering all lots, with extra detail where Lot 1A and Lot 1B work differently.

Why This Step Matters

For Lots 1A and 1B, completing the Quality Award Questions is mandatory.
If anything is missing or incomplete, the system will automatically mark your application as non-compliant.

The good news?
Once you understand the layout, the process is much more straightforward than it looks.

Lots 1A and 1B: How the Quality Section Works

Lots 1A and 1B share the same set of Quality Award Questions.
So even if you’re bidding for both, you’ll only need to complete this section once.

When you first reach the quality stage, you’ll see a green “start” button. After you begin, this changes to a small “edit” link, simply showing your answers are in progress.

What You’ll See on the Quality Overview Page

There are six sections in total, but only two of them actually contribute to your score:

1. Quality Cloud Services
2. Maximising Buyer Value

Both sections are equally weighted, and if you’re bidding for both lots, your score applies to both at the same time.

Conditions of Participation (Lot-Specific)

This section starts by asking you to state whether you are a reseller, or in sole control of the cloud infrastructure behind your IaaS or PaaS services?

Here’s what that means:

If you’re a reseller

You’re selling services built on someone else’s cloud platform, for example, AWS, Azure, Google Cloud or another provider. You don’t operate the underlying infrastructure.

If you’re in sole control

The infrastructure is yours. You manage it, maintain it, and run the environment your service is built on.

And to keep things simple, this question is only about the core requirement of the lot you’re bidding for. It isn’t asking you to declare how you deliver every product or service you sell, just the foundation beneath your IaaS/PaaS offer.

If you declare as a reseller

You’ll be asked to:

• identify each cloud provider you rely on, and
• upload proof you’re accredited to resell their services, for example, a link to their public partner list.

You can add several providers if needed.

Important:
Once your application is submitted, you cannot edit this reseller information again until the framework reopens.

Mandatory ISO Certificates

The ISO requirements differ depending on whether you’re a reseller:

If you’re a reseller

You’ll see a question asking whether you rely on your provider’s ISO accreditations.

• Choose Yes, and the system skips the remaining ISO questions.
• Choose No, and you’ll need to upload your own certification evidence.

If you’re not a reseller

You’ll see the full list of mandatory ISOs that must be uploaded for Lot 1A.

Lot 1B applicants

There is an additional upload box for the Lot 1B-specific ISO requirement. Forgetting this attachment will leave your submission incomplete.

Carbon Reduction Planning

You’ll be asked to complete the carbon reduction section too. The amount of detail depends on the answers you select, but the platform guides you through each step.

When you finish a section, click Save and return to move back to the summary page, where you can view and edit your responses.

Your Scored Sections

These are the questions that actually generate your quality score.

1. Quality Cloud Services

This section gives you two text boxes.
Use both to structure your response clearly, the evaluators expect each part to be covered.

2. Maximising Buyer Value

This section includes three text boxes.
Again, use all three to keep your answer organised and complete.

Mandatory Non-Scored Questions

These questions won’t affect your score, but they are required.
They’re mainly simple yes/no confirmations, including:

• following National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) security guidance
• having the right policies and controls in place
• whether you’re also bidding for Lot 2 or 3
• how you handle contract exits
• how you manage customer engagement for service changes

Keep your answers short but relevant.

Cyber Essentials (Very Important)

You must upload Cyber Essentials Plus.
Uploading the wrong version (for example the basic Cyber Essentials certificate) will cause the system to mark your bid as unsuccessful.

Optional Standards & Certifications

This section isn’t scored and isn’t mandatory, but it is useful.

Anything you list here will automatically appear on your service page in the Digital Marketplace, so it’s a good opportunity to showcase your strengths.

Final Step for Lots 1A and 1B

After reviewing your answers, click Complete Quality Award Questions.
Your lot will show as completed, and once all lots are done, your main dashboard will show the entire quality section as complete.

Lots 2A, 2B and 3: How the Quality Section Works

When your lot is ready for submission, the system will guide you straight to the quality questions.

Each of these lots contains four questions.
You must answer all four.

Each one is worth 2.5%, making up a total of 10% for the quality element.

How the scoring works

Every question starts with a yes/no answer.

• If you choose yes, more answer options will appear, and each of those has a predefined score.
• If you choose no, you automatically score zero for that question.

If you answer no to all four questions, your total score will be zero, and the system will not let you continue with your submission.