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Generate Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) procurement documentation for UK Digital Marketplace
You are helping an enterprise architect prepare Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) procurement documentation for the UK Digital Marketplace.
User Input
$ARGUMENTS
Context
Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS) is the UK Digital Marketplace framework for:
Custom software development
Hiring developers, architects, designers, and technical specialists
Delivering specific digital project outcomes
This command generates DOS-compliant procurement documentation from your existing arc-kit project requirements.
Instructions
Note: Before generating, scan projects/ for existing project directories. For each project, list all ARC-*.md artifacts, check external/ for reference documents, and check 000-global/ for cross-project policies. If no external docs exist but they would improve output, ask the user.
0. Read the Template
Read the template (with user override support):
First, check if .arckit/templates/dos-requirements-template.md exists in the project root
If found: Read the user's customized template (user override takes precedence)
If not found: Read .arckit/templates/dos-requirements-template.md (default)
Then read.arckit/templates/_partials/RENDERING.md and resolve the <!-- DOC-CONTROL-HEADER --> marker in the template before writing. Do not hand-write the Document Control table: the partial RENDERING.md selects is the only source of the 14 standard fields and of the classification ladder.
Tip: Users can customize templates with /skill:arckit-customize dos
1. Read existing artifacts from the project context
MANDATORY (warn if missing):
PRIN (Architecture Principles, in 000-global) — Extract: technology standards, governance constraints for vendor proposals
If missing: ERROR — run /skill:arckit-principles first to define governance standards
REQ (Requirements) — Extract: BR/FR/NFR/INT/DR IDs, priorities, acceptance criteria — source of truth for DOS
If missing: ERROR — run /skill:arckit-requirements first to define project needs
RECOMMENDED (read if available, note if missing):
STKE (Stakeholder Analysis) — Extract: user personas, business drivers, evaluation priorities
If missing: WARN — consider running /skill:arckit-stakeholders to understand stakeholder priorities
Read any external documents listed in the project context (external/ files) — extract team capability evidence, previous submission scores, buyer requirements, evaluation feedback
Read any enterprise standards in projects/000-global/external/ — extract organization-wide procurement templates, DOS framework guidance, approved supplier capabilities
If no external DOS docs exist but they would improve the submission, ask: "Do you have any contractor CVs, previous DOS submissions, or buyer requirement documents? I can read PDFs directly. Place them in projects/{project-dir}/external/ and re-run, or skip."
Citation traceability: When referencing content from external documents, follow the citation instructions in .arckit/references/citation-instructions.md. Place inline citation markers (e.g., [PP-C1]) next to findings informed by source documents and populate the "External References" section in the template.
Gathering rules (apply to all user questions in this command):
Ask the most important question first; fill in secondary details from context or reasonable defaults.
Maximum 2 rounds of questions total. After that, infer the best answer from available context.
If still ambiguous after 2 rounds, make a reasonable choice and note: "I went with [X] — easy to adjust if you prefer [Y]."
2. Identify the target project
Use the ArcKit Project Context (above) to find the project matching the user's input (by name or number)
If no match, create a new project:
Use Glob to list projects/*/ directories and find the highest NNN-* number (or start at 001 if none exist)
Calculate the next number (zero-padded to 3 digits, e.g., 002)
Slugify the project name (lowercase, replace non-alphanumeric with hyphens, trim)
Use the Write tool to create projects/{NNN}-{slug}/README.md with the project name, ID, and date — the Write tool will create all parent directories automatically
Also create projects/{NNN}-{slug}/external/README.md with a note to place external reference documents here
Set PROJECT_ID = the 3-digit number, PROJECT_PATH = the new directory path
Parse user input for additional context (budget, timeline, specific skills)
CRITICAL - Auto-Populate Document Control Fields:
Before completing the document, populate ALL document control fields in the header:
ARC-[PROJECT_ID]-DOS-v[VERSION] → Construct using format above
[COMMAND] → "arckit.dos"
User-provided fields (extract from project metadata or user input):
[PROJECT_NAME] → Full project name from project metadata or user input
[OWNER_NAME_AND_ROLE] → Document owner (prompt user if not in metadata)
Classification → comes from the resolved Document Control header, not from a placeholder. _partials/RENDERING.md fixes the ladder from the artefact's own regime; ${default_classification} applies only where that regime falls through to user config.
Calculated fields:
[YYYY-MM-DD] for Next Review Date → Current date + 30 days
Pending fields (leave as [PENDING] until manually updated):
[REVIEWER_NAME] → [PENDING]
[APPROVER_NAME] → [PENDING]
[DISTRIBUTION_LIST] → Default to "Project Team, Architecture Team" or [PENDING]
Populate Revision History:
| 1.0 | {DATE} | ArcKit AI | Initial creation from `/skill:arckit-dos` command | [PENDING] | [PENDING] |
Before writing the file, read .arckit/references/quality-checklist.md and verify all Common Checks plus the DOS per-type checks pass. Fix any failures before proceeding.
# UK Digital Marketplace: Digital Outcomes and Specialists**Framework**: Digital Outcomes and Specialists (DOS)
**Procurement Type**: [Digital Outcome / Digital Specialists / Outcome + Specialists]
**Generated**: [DATE]
**Project**: [PROJECT_NAME]
**Project ID**: [PROJECT_ID]
**Requirements Source**: [Link to ARC-*-REQ-*.md]
---
## 1. Executive Summary### 1.1 Procurement Overview
[1-2 paragraph summary extracted from ARC-*-REQ-*.md Business Requirements section - describe what needs to be delivered and why]
### 1.2 Strategic Alignment**Architecture Principles**:
[Reference relevant principles from ARC-000-PRIN-*.md that constrain this procurement]
**Stakeholder Priorities** (if ARC-*-STKE-*.md exists):
[List top 3 stakeholder drivers/goals this addresses with IDs: D-001, G-001, etc.]
### 1.3 Expected Outcomes
[Extract from ARC-*-REQ-*.md Business Requirements (BR-xxx) - the measurable outcomes]
---
## 2. Digital Outcome Description
[Describe what vendor must deliver - the complete deliverable or specific outcome]
**What Success Looks Like**:
[Extract success criteria from ARC-*-REQ-*.md - ensure technology-agnostic]
- [Outcome 1 with measurable metric]
- [Outcome 2 with measurable metric]
- [Outcome 3 with measurable metric]
**Compliance with Architecture Principles**:
- [Principle Name]: [How outcome must comply]
- [Principle Name]: [How outcome must comply]
---
## 3. Essential Skills and Experience
[Extract from ARC-*-REQ-*.md - what capabilities are absolutely required]
### 3.1 Technical Capabilities (MUST Have)
From Functional Requirements (FR-xxx):
- **[Capability Area 1]**: [Skill needed to deliver FR-xxx requirements]
- **[Capability Area 2]**: [Skill needed to deliver FR-xxx requirements]
- **[Capability Area 3]**: [Skill needed to deliver FR-xxx requirements]
### 3.2 Non-Functional Expertise (MUST Have)
From Non-Functional Requirements (NFR-xxx):
- **Security**: [Skills for NFR-S-xxx requirements, reference security principles]
- : [Skills for NFR-P-xxx requirements]
- : [Skills for NFR-C-xxx requirements, reference compliance principles]
- : [Skills for INT-xxx requirements]
### 3.3 Architecture Governance (MUST Have)
From ARC-000-PRIN-*.md:
: Experience with [specific technology/approach mandated by principles]
: Experience with HLD/DLD review processes
: Ability to produce architecture diagrams (Mermaid, C4)
: Experience maintaining requirements traceability throughout delivery
---
[Nice-to-have skills that would enhance delivery]
From SHOULD requirements:
[Desirable skill 1]
[Desirable skill 2]
[Desirable skill 3]
---
[Extract user personas and scenarios from ARC-.md to help vendors understand context]
:
[List personas from Functional Requirements section]
:
[Journey 1 summary]
[Journey 2 summary]
[Journey 3 summary]
---
[Extract all BR-xxx from ARC-.md with IDs and priority]
| ID | Requirement | Priority | Acceptance Criteria |
|----|-------------|----------|---------------------|
| BR-001 | [requirement] | MUST | [criteria] |
| BR-002 | [requirement] | SHOULD | [criteria] |
[Extract all FR-xxx from ARC-.md - group by capability area]
:
(MUST): [requirement] - [acceptance criteria]
(MUST): [requirement] - [acceptance criteria]
:
(MUST): [requirement] - [acceptance criteria]
[Extract all NFR-xxx from ARC-.md - organize by category]
:
[requirement with measurable targets]
:
[requirement with compliance references]
:
[requirement with standards/regulations]
:
[requirement with capacity targets]
:
[requirement with uptime/availability targets]
[Extract all INT-xxx from ARC-.md]
:
INT-xxx: [system and integration method]
:
INT-xxx: [system and integration method]
:
[Extract any DR-xxx data requirements relevant to integration]
---
[Extract from ARC-.md scope section OR infer from MUST requirements]
[Scope item 1]
[Scope item 2]
[Scope item 3]
[Extract from ARC-.md OR infer from explicitly excluded items]
[Exclusion 1]
[Exclusion 2]
---
[From ARC-000-PRIN--REQ-.md and NFR-C-xxx requirements]
[Compliance requirement 1]
[Compliance requirement 2]
Vendor must maintain requirements traceability throughout delivery:
Requirements → High-Level Design
Requirements → Detailed Design
Requirements → Test Cases
Requirements → Deliverables
Reference: for traceability matrix generation and validation
---
[If provided by user - otherwise mark as TBD]
: [budget range]
: [milestone-based / time & materials / fixed price]
: [duration]
---
Suppliers will be evaluated according to Digital Marketplace guidelines:
(Pass/Fail):
✅ Meets ALL MUST requirements (from section 6)
✅ Meets ALL essential skills (from section 3.1-3.3)
✅ Demonstrates architecture governance experience
✅ Demonstrates requirements traceability capabilities
:
(20%): Quality of proposed solution, alignment with architecture principles
(10%): Similar projects delivered, relevant domain experience
(10%): Depth of requirements understanding, risk identification
(15%): Coverage of essential + desirable skills
(10%): Relevant project experience, client references, success stories
(5%): Appropriate roles, seniority levels, availability commitment
(10%): Test coverage strategy, automation, non-functional testing
(5%): Security testing approach, compliance validation methods
(5%): Quality of design docs, runbooks, training materials, handover plan
(5%): Transparency, justification, flexibility, no hidden costs
(5%): Approach to project risks, contingency planning, issue management
---
✅ document with Mermaid diagrams
✅ document
✅ and schemas (if applicable)
✅ and specifications (if applicable)
✅ documentation
✅ documentation (for INT-xxx requirements)
Reference: Generate with ,
✅ (following architecture principles)
✅ and deployment scripts
✅ scripts (if applicable)
✅ (if applicable)
✅ and test cases (linked to requirements)
✅ and coverage reports
✅ (NFR-P-xxx validation)
✅ (NFR-S-xxx validation)
✅ (NFR-C-xxx validation)
✅ and guides
✅
✅
✅
✅ (Requirements → Design → Tests → Code)
✅
✅ [Warranty period and terms]
✅ [Support arrangements and SLAs]
✅ [Knowledge transfer plan]
✅ [Defect management process]
---
Vendors must provide:
Proposed solution architecture (aligned with ARC-000-PRIN--REQ-v.md
: projects/[project]/ARC-.md (if exists)
: projects/[project]/ARC-.md (if exists)
: Create vendor evaluation framework and scoring
: High-Level Design review process for vendor deliverables
: Detailed Design review process for vendor deliverables
: Requirements traceability matrix validation
---
:
✅ All procurement decisions must be documented and auditable
✅ Evaluation scoring must be recorded with justification
✅ Supplier questions and answers must be visible to all bidders
✅ Changes to requirements must be published to all suppliers
:
⚠️ New or redesigned services may require formal GDS approval
⚠️ Check if spend control process applies to your organisation
⚠️ Consult with digital/technology leadership before publishing
:
✅ Requirements are published publicly on Digital Marketplace
✅ Evaluation criteria must be published before receiving proposals
✅ Award details must be published on Contracts Finder after completion
:
✅ All suppliers have equal access to information
✅ No preferential treatment during Q&A
✅ Evaluation based solely on published criteria
✅ No changes to requirements after publishing (unless necessary and communicated to all)
4. Quality Validation
Before finalizing, validate output:
✅ All requirements from ARC--REQ-.md are included with IDs
✅ Architecture principles are referenced and enforced
✅ Stakeholder priorities are reflected (if available)
✅ Success criteria are measurable and technology-agnostic
Stakeholder Alignment: Reflect stakeholder priorities in evaluation criteria
Technology-Agnostic: Remove all implementation details from procurement docs
Traceability: Maintain requirement IDs (BR-xxx, FR-xxx, NFR-xxx, INT-xxx, DR-xxx) throughout
Audit-Ready: Structure supports Digital Marketplace audit requirements
Gov.uk Aligned: Use official terminology and link to authoritative guidance
DOS-Focused: This is ONLY for custom development - no G-Cloud content
Error Handling
No principles: ERROR "Run /skill:arckit-principles first - governance standards required"
No requirements: ERROR "Run /skill:arckit-requirements first - nothing to procure"
No project: Suggest the user run /skill:arckit-init or provide a project name to create one
Wrong framework: If user mentions G-Cloud or cloud services, suggest /skill:arckit-gcloud-search instead
Important Notes
Markdown escaping: When writing less-than or greater-than comparisons, always include a space after < or > (e.g., < 3 seconds, > 99.9% uptime) to prevent markdown renderers from interpreting them as HTML tags or emoji
**Performance**
**Compliance**
**Integration**
-
**[Principle Category]**
-
**Design Reviews**
-
**Documentation**
-
**Traceability**
## 4. Desirable Skills and Experience
-
-
-
## 5. User Needs and Scenarios
*-REQ-*
**User Personas**
**Key User Journeys**
1.
2.
3.
## 6. Requirements Summary
### 6.1 Business Requirements
*-REQ-*
### 6.2 Functional Requirements
*-REQ-*
**[Capability Area 1]**
-
**FR-001**
-
**FR-002**
**[Capability Area 2]**
-
**FR-003**
### 6.3 Non-Functional Requirements
*-REQ-*
**Performance (NFR-P-xxx)**
-
**Security (NFR-S-xxx)**
-
**Compliance (NFR-C-xxx)**
-
**Scalability (NFR-SC-xxx)**
-
**Reliability (NFR-R-xxx)**
-
### 6.4 Integration Requirements
*-REQ-*
**Upstream Systems**
-
**Downstream Systems**
-
**Data Requirements (DR-xxx)**
-
## 7. Scope and Boundaries
### 7.1 In Scope
*-REQ-*
-
-
-
### 7.2 Out of Scope
*-REQ-*
-
-
## 8. Constraints and Dependencies
### 8.1 Architecture Constraints
*.md - what vendors MUST comply with]
- **[Constraint Type]**: [Specific constraint from principles]
- **[Constraint Type]**: [Specific constraint from principles]
### 8.2 Technical Dependencies
[From ARC-*
*.md dependencies section or INT-xxx]
- [Dependency 1]
- [Dependency 2]
### 8.3 Timelines
[If specified in user input or requirements]
- **Project Duration**: [timeline]
- **Key Milestones**: [milestones]
- **Critical Deadlines**: [deadlines if any]
---
## 9. Project Governance
### 9.1 Architecture Review Gates
**Mandatory Reviews**:
- ✅ **High-Level Design (HLD) Review** - before detailed design
- ✅ **Detailed Design (DLD) Review** - before implementation
- ✅ **Code Review** - ongoing during implementation
- ✅ **Security Review** - before go-live
- ✅ **Compliance Review** - before go-live
Reference: Run `/skill:arckit-hld-review` and `/skill:arckit-dld-review` for formal review processes
### 9.2 Compliance Requirements
[From ARC-000-PRIN-*
-
-
### 9.3 Requirements Traceability
-
-
-
-
`/skill:arckit-traceability`
## 10. Budget Considerations
**Estimated Budget**
**Payment Structure**
**Contract Length**
## 11. Evaluation Criteria
### 11.1 Technical Capability (40%)
**Essential Criteria**
-
-
-
-
**Scoring Criteria**
-
**Technical Approach**
-
**Evidence of Delivery**
-
**Understanding of Requirements**
### 11.2 Team Experience and Composition (30%)
-
**Team Skills Match**
-
**Track Record**
-
**Team Structure**
### 11.3 Quality Assurance (20%)
-
**Testing Approach**
-
**Compliance & Security**
-
**Documentation**
### 11.4 Value for Money (10%)
-
**Cost Breakdown**
-
**Risk Mitigation**
## 12. Deliverables
### 12.1 Architecture & Design
-
**High-Level Design (HLD)**
-
**Detailed Design (DLD)**
-
**Data model**
-
**API contracts**
-
**Security design**
-
**Integration design**
`/skill:arckit-diagram`
`/skill:arckit-data-model`
### 12.2 Implementation
-
**Source code**
-
**Configuration**
-
**Database migration**
-
**Infrastructure as Code**
### 12.3 Testing & Quality
-
**Test plans**
-
**Test results**
-
**Performance test results**
-
**Security test results**
-
**Compliance evidence**
### 12.4 Documentation
-
**User documentation**
-
**Administrator documentation**
-
**Deployment runbooks**
-
**Training materials**
-
**Requirements traceability matrix**
-
**Handover documentation**
### 12.5 Support & Warranty
-
-
-
-
## 13. Proposal Submission Requirements
1.
**Technical Proposal**
-
*.md)
- Approach to each requirement category (BR, FR, NFR, INT, DR)
- Risk assessment and mitigation strategy
- Quality assurance approach
- Compliance and security approach
2. **Team Proposal**
- Team composition and roles
- CVs demonstrating essential skills
- Availability and commitment (% allocation)
- Client references (minimum 2 from similar projects)
- Escalation path and governance structure
3. **Project Plan**
- Detailed timeline with milestones
- Resource allocation plan
- Architecture review gates schedule (HLD, DLD, etc.)
- Delivery roadmap with dependencies
- Risk management plan
4. **Commercial Proposal**
- Detailed cost breakdown by role/phase
- Payment terms and milestones
- Assumptions and exclusions
- Contract terms
- Change request process
---
## 14. Next Steps
### 14.1 For Procurement Team
2. **Review & Refine**: Validate this document with stakeholders
3. **Budget Approval**: Obtain budget sign-off before publishing
4. **Publish on Digital Marketplace**:
- Go to: https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/
- Select "Digital Outcomes and Specialists"
- Post requirements (publicly visible)
- Set closing date for proposals
5. **Answer Supplier Questions**: Via Digital Marketplace platform (visible to all)
6. **Evaluate Proposals**: Using criteria in Section 11
7. **Conduct Assessments**: Interview/technical assessment for shortlisted suppliers
8. **Award Contract**: To highest-scoring supplier
9. **Publish Award Details**: On Contracts Finder (legal requirement)
### 14.2 For Architecture Team
2. **Prepare Review Frameworks**:
- Run `/skill:arckit-hld-review` to set up HLD review process
- Run `/skill:arckit-dld-review` to set up DLD review process
- Prepare evaluation scorecards based on Section 11 criteria
3. **Establish Governance**:
- Set up architecture review board
- Define review gates and approval process
- Schedule regular checkpoints with vendor
4. **Traceability Setup**:
- Run `/skill:arckit-traceability` to establish tracking framework
- Define traceability requirements for vendor
---
## 15. Resources and References
### 15.1 Digital Marketplace Guidance
- **Sourcing Playbook**: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-sourcing-and-consultancy-playbooks (market assessment, should-cost modelling, outcome-based specs, social value)
- **DDaT Playbook**: https://www.gov.uk/service-manual (open standards, interoperability, modular contracting)
- **Codes of Practice guide**: See `docs/guides/codes-of-practice.md` for the full Rainbow of Books mapping
- **Digital Marketplace**: https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/
- **DOS Buyers Guide**: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-outcomes-and-specialists-buyers-guide
- **General Buying Guide**: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/buying-and-selling-on-the-digital-marketplace
- **Contracts Finder**: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
### 15.2 Project Documents
- **Requirements**: projects/[project]/ARC-*