diff --git a/.github/workflows/data-pr-checks.yml b/.github/workflows/data-pr-checks.yml
index 8caec17..e3ea350 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/data-pr-checks.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/data-pr-checks.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,48 @@ on:
     branches: [main, master]
 
 jobs:
+
+  # ── Detect which candidate folder changed in this PR ─────────────────────────
+  detect-candidate:
+    name: detect-candidate
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    outputs:
+      candidate_dir: ${{ steps.detect.outputs.candidate_dir }}
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+
+      - name: Detect candidate folder
+        id: detect
+        run: |
+          if [ "${{ github.event_name }}" = "pull_request" ]; then
+            BASE=${{ github.event.pull_request.base.sha }}
+          else
+            BASE=$(git rev-parse HEAD~1 2>/dev/null || git rev-parse HEAD)
+          fi
+
+          CANDIDATE_DIR=$(git diff --name-only "$BASE"...HEAD \
+            | grep '^submission/' \
+            | awk -F'/' '{print $1"/"$2}' \
+            | sort -u \
+            | head -1)
+
+          if [ -z "$CANDIDATE_DIR" ]; then
+            echo "No candidate folder detected in changed files."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          echo "Detected candidate folder: $CANDIDATE_DIR"
+          echo "candidate_dir=$CANDIDATE_DIR" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+
+  # ── 1. Lint ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   lint-python-or-sql:
     name: lint-python-or-sql
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -22,18 +61,22 @@ jobs:
           pip install ruff black sqlfluff
 
       - name: Ruff
-        run: ruff check submission/
+        run: ruff check $CANDIDATE_DIR/
 
       - name: Black
-        run: black --check submission/
+        run: black --check $CANDIDATE_DIR/
 
       - name: SQLFluff
-        run: sqlfluff lint submission/ || true
+        run: sqlfluff lint $CANDIDATE_DIR/
         continue-on-error: true
 
+  # ── 2. Tests ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   test-pipeline:
     name: test-pipeline
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -45,14 +88,20 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install pytest
-          if [ -f submission/requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r submission/requirements.txt; fi
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt" ]; then
+            pip install -r "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt"
+          fi
 
       - name: Run tests
-        run: pytest submission/ -q
+        run: pytest $CANDIDATE_DIR/ -q
 
+  # ── 3. Model validation ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   validate-models:
     name: validate-models
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -67,24 +116,27 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: dbt parse
         run: |
-          if [ -f dbt_project.yml ]; then
-            dbt deps || true
-            dbt parse
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/dbt_project.yml" ]; then
+            cd $CANDIDATE_DIR && dbt deps || true && dbt parse
           else
-            echo "No dbt_project.yml found, skipping dbt parse"
+            echo "No dbt_project.yml found in $CANDIDATE_DIR, skipping dbt parse"
           fi
 
       - name: dbt test
         run: |
-          if [ -f dbt_project.yml ]; then
-            dbt test
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/dbt_project.yml" ]; then
+            cd $CANDIDATE_DIR && dbt test
           else
-            echo "No dbt_project.yml found, skipping dbt test"
+            echo "No dbt_project.yml found in $CANDIDATE_DIR, skipping dbt test"
           fi
 
+  # ── 4. Schema contract check ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   schema-contract-check:
     name: schema-contract-check
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -95,20 +147,26 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          if [ -f submission/requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r submission/requirements.txt; fi
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt" ]; then
+            pip install -r "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt"
+          fi
 
       - name: Run schema contract checks
         run: |
-          if [ -f submission/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py ]; then
-            python submission/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py" ]; then
+            python "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py"
           else
-            echo "No schema contract script found. Add one or replace this step."
+            echo "No schema contract script found in $CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/. Add one or replace this step."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+  # ── 5. Data quality check ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   data-quality-check:
     name: data-quality-check
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -119,20 +177,26 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          if [ -f submission/requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r submission/requirements.txt; fi
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt" ]; then
+            pip install -r "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt"
+          fi
 
       - name: Run data quality checks
         run: |
-          if [ -f submission/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py ]; then
-            python submission/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py" ]; then
+            python "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py"
           else
-            echo "No data quality script found. Add one or replace this step."
+            echo "No data quality script found in $CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/. Add one or replace this step."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+  # ── 6. Catalog check ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   catalog-check:
     name: catalog-check
+    needs: detect-candidate
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CANDIDATE_DIR: ${{ needs.detect-candidate.outputs.candidate_dir }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -143,17 +207,20 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          if [ -f submission/requirements.txt ]; then pip install -r submission/requirements.txt; fi
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt" ]; then
+            pip install -r "$CANDIDATE_DIR/requirements.txt"
+          fi
 
       - name: Validate catalog metadata
         run: |
-          if [ -f submission/scripts/validate_catalog.py ]; then
-            python submission/scripts/validate_catalog.py
+          if [ -f "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/validate_catalog.py" ]; then
+            python "$CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/validate_catalog.py"
           else
-            echo "No catalog validation script found. Add one or replace this step."
+            echo "No catalog validation script found in $CANDIDATE_DIR/scripts/. Add one or replace this step."
             exit 1
           fi
 
+  # ── 7. Security and secrets scan ──────────────────────────────────────────────
   security-and-secrets-scan:
     name: security-and-secrets-scan
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
diff --git a/submission/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/catalog/catalog.json b/submission/sample-candidate/catalog/catalog.json
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/catalog/catalog.json
rename to submission/sample-candidate/catalog/catalog.json
diff --git a/submission/conftest.py b/submission/sample-candidate/conftest.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/conftest.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/conftest.py
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/__init__.py b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/__init__.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__init__.py
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/__pycache__/cdc.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/cdc.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/__pycache__/cdc.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/cdc.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/__pycache__/lake.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/lake.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/__pycache__/lake.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/lake.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/__pycache__/warehouse.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/warehouse.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/__pycache__/warehouse.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/__pycache__/warehouse.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/cdc.py b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/cdc.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/cdc.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/cdc.py
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/lake.py b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/lake.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/lake.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/lake.py
diff --git a/submission/pipeline/warehouse.py b/submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/warehouse.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/pipeline/warehouse.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/pipeline/warehouse.py
diff --git a/submission/requirements.txt b/submission/sample-candidate/requirements.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/requirements.txt
rename to submission/sample-candidate/requirements.txt
diff --git a/submission/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py b/submission/sample-candidate/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/scripts/check_schema_contracts.py
diff --git a/submission/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py b/submission/sample-candidate/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/scripts/run_data_quality_checks.py
diff --git a/submission/scripts/validate_catalog.py b/submission/sample-candidate/scripts/validate_catalog.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/scripts/validate_catalog.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/scripts/validate_catalog.py
diff --git a/submission/source/__init__.py b/submission/sample-candidate/source/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/source/__init__.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/source/__init__.py
diff --git a/submission/source/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/source/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/source/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/source/__pycache__/__init__.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/source/__pycache__/models.cpython-314.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/source/__pycache__/models.cpython-314.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/source/__pycache__/models.cpython-314.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/source/__pycache__/models.cpython-314.pyc
diff --git a/submission/source/models.py b/submission/sample-candidate/source/models.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/source/models.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/source/models.py
diff --git a/submission/tests/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/conftest.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/tests/__pycache__/test_catalog.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_catalog.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/__pycache__/test_catalog.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_catalog.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/tests/__pycache__/test_cdc.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_cdc.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/__pycache__/test_cdc.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_cdc.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/tests/__pycache__/test_data_quality.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_data_quality.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/__pycache__/test_data_quality.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_data_quality.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/tests/__pycache__/test_schema_contracts.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_schema_contracts.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/__pycache__/test_schema_contracts.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/__pycache__/test_schema_contracts.cpython-314-pytest-9.0.2.pyc
diff --git a/submission/tests/conftest.py b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/conftest.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/conftest.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/conftest.py
diff --git a/submission/tests/test_catalog.py b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_catalog.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/test_catalog.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_catalog.py
diff --git a/submission/tests/test_cdc.py b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_cdc.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/test_cdc.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_cdc.py
diff --git a/submission/tests/test_data_quality.py b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_data_quality.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/test_data_quality.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_data_quality.py
diff --git a/submission/tests/test_schema_contracts.py b/submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_schema_contracts.py
similarity index 100%
rename from submission/tests/test_schema_contracts.py
rename to submission/sample-candidate/tests/test_schema_contracts.py