Gcloud Framework

---
name: G-Cloud Framework Questions
description: "Answers quick questions about the Digital Marketplace question structure for a G-Cloud submission: character and word limits, how many features and benefits, lot 1, 2 and 3 categories, the service and declaration questions CCS asks, pricing format and mandatory exclusion grounds. Not needed when the request is for the submission content itself; /arckit-uk-gcloud:service-design, pricing, declaration and the sdd-lot commands write that."
---

# G-Cloud Framework Questions

Conversational knowledge about Crown Commercial Service (CCS) framework questions, character limits, lot categories, and declaration requirements for G-Cloud submissions.

## Purpose

Provide instant answers to common questions about the Digital Marketplace question structure without requiring document generation. This covers the ~258 service questions and ~57 declaration questions that suppliers must answer.

## When to Use

Activate when users ask about:

- Character or word limits for specific fields
- How many features, benefits, or categories are allowed
- What lots exist and their categories
- Declaration requirements and exclusion grounds
- Pricing question structure
- Any "how many" or "what limit" question about G-Cloud fields

## Quick Reference: Common Limits

| Field | Limit |
|-------|-------|
| Service name | 100 characters |
| Service description | 50 words / 500 characters |
| Features | 10 items max, 100 chars each |
| Benefits | 10 items max, 100 chars each |
| Constraints | 100 words |
| Textbox (standard) | 200 words / 2,000 characters |
| Support levels | 200 words / 2,000 characters |

## Quick Reference: Lot Structure

| Lot | Name | Max Categories |
|-----|------|----------------|
| Lot 1 | Cloud Hosting | 10 (from 22 IaaS/PaaS categories) |
| Lot 2 | Cloud Software | 20 (from 18 primary + 240+ subcategories) |
| Lot 3 | Cloud Support | 6 (Planning, Setup & migration, QA & testing, Security, Training, Ongoing support) |

## Quick Reference: Declaration

The declaration has ~57 questions across these areas:

- **Mandatory exclusion grounds** (7 questions) — criminal convictions, tax evasion; must answer "No" to pass
- **Discretionary exclusion grounds** (11 questions) — bankruptcy, misconduct, misrepresentation
- **Modern slavery** (4 questions) — required for suppliers with turnover above threshold
- **Insurance** — employers liability minimum £5m
- **Framework agreement** (~19 questions) — T&Cs acceptance, service type, subcontracting

## Answering Questions

When answering framework questions:

1. **Check the quick reference tables above first** for common lookups (limits, lots, categories)
2. **Consult `references/framework-questions.md`** for the full question structure including question IDs, types, and which lots each question applies to
3. **Be specific about lot applicability** — many questions only apply to Lots 1 & 2 (hosting/software) and not Lot 3 (support), or vice versa
4. **Note that limits are strictly enforced** — the Digital Marketplace rejects submissions exceeding character/word limits

## Related Commands

These ArcKit commands generate documents that answer framework questions:

| Command | Framework Area |
|---------|---------------|
| `/arckit:service-design` | Service identity, features, benefits |
| `/arckit:sdd-lot1`, `sdd-lot2`, `sdd-lot3` | Technical, security, data, infrastructure questions |
| `/arckit:pricing` | Pricing questions |
| `/arckit:security` | Security and compliance questions |
| `/arckit:declaration` | All declaration questions |

## Additional Resources

### Reference Files

- **`references/framework-questions.md`** — Complete question structure with all ~258 service questions and ~57 declaration questions, organised by category. Includes question IDs, field types, character limits, and lot applicability. Consult for any question not covered by the quick reference tables above.