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Guide Origin: Official | ArcKit Version: [VERSION]
/arckit:gcloud-clarify analyzes G-Cloud service gaps and generates supplier clarification questions for procurement.
Inputs
| Artefact | Purpose |
|---|---|
Requirements (ARC-<id>-REQ-v1.0.md) |
What the service must deliver |
| G-Cloud search results | Services being evaluated |
| Architecture principles | Governance standards to verify |
| Security requirements | NCSC, Cyber Essentials requirements |
Command
/arckit:gcloud-clarify Generate clarification questions for <service>
Output: projects/<id>/ARC-<id>-GCLC-v1.0.md
Clarification Document Structure
| Section | Contents |
|---|---|
| Service Summary | G-Cloud service being evaluated |
| Requirements Mapping | How service maps to requirements |
| Gap Analysis | Requirements not clearly addressed |
| Clarification Questions | Specific questions for supplier |
| Evaluation Impact | How answers affect scoring |
Question Categories
| Category | Purpose | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Functional | Feature capabilities | "Does the service support X?" |
| Technical | Architecture and integration | "What APIs are available?" |
| Security | Security controls and compliance | "What certifications held?" |
| Commercial | Pricing and terms | "What's included in the price?" |
| Support | Service levels and support | "What SLAs are offered?" |
| Data | Data handling and location | "Where is data stored?" |
Gap Types
| Gap Type | Description | Question Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Missing | Requirement not mentioned | Does service support it? |
| Unclear | Vague description | Can supplier clarify? |
| Partial | Some but not all features | What's included/excluded? |
| Conflicting | Service description contradicts | Which is correct? |
One-Page Workflow
| Phase | Key Activities | ArcKit Commands |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | Define what's needed | /arckit:requirements |
| Search | Find candidate services | /arckit:gcloud-search |
| Analysis | Generate clarification questions | /arckit:gcloud-clarify |
| Clarification | Send questions to suppliers | Manual via Digital Marketplace |
| Evaluation | Score services with answers | /arckit:evaluate |
Review Checklist
- Questions reference specific requirements (e.g., NFR-SEC-001).
- Questions are specific and answerable (not vague).
- Security questions cover required certifications.
- Data residency questions asked if relevant.
- Pricing questions clarify what's included.
- SLA questions align with NFR requirements.
- Integration questions cover required APIs.
Digital Marketplace Process
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identify services via G-Cloud search |
| 2 | Generate clarification questions |
| 3 | Submit via Digital Marketplace messaging |
| 4 | Supplier responds (usually 5 working days) |
| 5 | Evaluate responses against requirements |
Key Principles
- Requirement Traceability: Every question links to a requirement.
- Specificity: Avoid vague questions that get vague answers.
- Fairness: Ask same questions to all shortlisted suppliers.
- Completeness: Cover all unclear areas before evaluation.
- Documentation: Record questions and answers for audit trail.