CHaPS Refresh - Transforming Assets Programme

Tender description

Summary of the work Provide flexible capacity and capability to support the programme: 1. Principal Solution Architect with specialisms in Data, Infrastructure, Application, Security, and Technical domains. 2. Lead Developer 3. Developer 4. Quality Assurance Tester 5. Web Operations. Supplier will work in a DWP team to deliver a microservices framework for future modernisation. Expected Contract Length An initial 6 month discovery phase followed by up to a further 18 months at DWP's sole discretion Latest start date 04/07/2016 Why the Work is Being Done The objective of the Children Health and Pensions Services (CHaPS) Refresh Programme is to transform existing assets to deliver modernised services that are digital by default. There is a high degree of commonality at all application levels (presentation, business, and data) for each of the CHaPS assets. This commonality also exists with many other DWP systems. DWP propose to build a strategic microservices based architecture framework to consolidate the CHaPS assets under a single digital framework. The delivery of this framework will allow cases to be migrated from existing VME and Siebel based systems and those systems will be retired. Problem to Be Solved Existing CHaPS assets need modernisation so that DWP can expedite digital transformation and retire legacy VME and Siebel systems. Who Are the Users As a DWP IT project manager I need to manage a flexible, blended, supplier/DWP team to create a microservices framework so that we can transform existing assets to deliver services that are digital by default, enable citizen self service, and retire existing VME and Siebel systems. Existing Team DWP will provide the following roles to work alongside your team to support the programme: 1. Technical Lead 2. Technical Delivery Manager 3. Technical Architects 4. Technical Analyst 5. Junior Quality Assurance Analyst 6. Junior Developers. Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Have experience (3 years+) of working in and managing development teams using a range of Agile methodologies including Scrum, Kanban, XP, and others • Have experience (3 years+) of software deployment hosted within a cloud-based production environment on both back-end and client-facing applications • Have experience (3 years+) undertaking code reviews, ensuring the delivery of high quality software • Have demonstrable past success developing microservice architectures and using this to realise business benefits • Have in-depth solution architecture knowledge (as evidenced by industry qualifications like TOGAF) across the Data, Application, Security and Infrastructure domains. • Have Java knowledge and experience - including JSP, JDI, Servlet, J2EE, APIs, Script, JDBC, JSON, JNDI and others (3 years experience minimum) • Have SQL and Oracle-PL SQL knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have HTML5 knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have Apache Maven, Struts, and Tomcat knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have Git knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have Jenkins knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have Atlassian-JIRA knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Have Eclipse IDE knowledge and experience (3 years experience minimum) • Security/PEN testing to, as a minimum, OWASP Top 10. Should have understanding of each of these to test using tools such as Zap, Burp Suite, manual testing • Demonstrate past experience using Business Driven Development (BDD) to bring the business closer to the features being tested, specifically using a Cucumber JVM framework. • Demonstrate past experience performance testing web applications with Jmeter. E.g. testing current business requirements by running Load, Stress, and Soak tests against the application and identifying weak points • Have testing experience of the following: Explanatory/Manual and Automation using Selenium • Have ability to write high quality code and effectively analyse/resolve code related issues Nice to Haves • Have additional security qualifications e.g. CISSP • Have 5 years or more experience in a central UK government environment (ideally DWP) • Have past experience working with DWP's IT environment • Have a good knowledge of internet security and application vulnerabilities • Provide a team with formal technical development qualifications (e.g. MCAD, MCSD, MCTS) • Awareness/exposure to software development and testing of digital and web solutions in a DevOps environment • 3 years or more experience in WebOps/DevOps environment • Exposure to structured problem management and troubleshooting • ITIL v3 (Foundation level) • Python, C++, Javascript experience including scripting or basic programming skills Work Location Tyneview Park, Whitley Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE12 9FA Working Arrangments On-site 7.5 hours a day 5 days a week - co-located with the DWP team. Security Clearance BPSS security clearance required for all staff before they will be permitted to start work. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Team structure and flexibility • The proposed approach and methodology • Technical expertise and skills of supplier and team members • Understanding of DWP's business and technology strategy Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a blended team with our organisation and other suppliers, able to take direction within a DWP team • Transparent and collaborative when making decisions • Able to work in a 'digital-by-default', Agile environment • Encourage people to learn from their mistakes Payment Approach Time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 40% Cultural fit 10% Price 50% Questions from Suppliers 1. Are you looking for one consultant for each of the five roles described, or multiple? If multiple, can you confirm the numbers expected for each role? Suppliers may propose a team profile that they believe would best meet the Authority's requirements, and this may include more than one individual per type of role. The department is looking for a supplier that can flex the resource mix to meet changing capability and capacity requirements throughout the programme's life. 2. Dear Team, Could you please provide a response to each of the clarifications below. 1. Please provide further details on the scope of the project. including details about the systems involved and what is being migrated as part of the project. 2. Is retirement of legacy VME and Sieblel systems in scope? 3. Please split the skills and experience - both essential and nice to have, by each of the five roles. Currently it is common for all the roles whether it be a Lead Developer, Developer, or any of the other five roles. Best Regards, [name redacted] 1. Further information will be provided to suppliers who are shortlisted.2. Retirement of legacy VME and Siebel systems is in scope for the programme.3. A breakdown of skills and experience for each of the five roles will be provided to shortlisted suppliers. 3. Dear Team, Could you please provide a response to each of the clarifications provided below. 1. Where do we attache the proposal and case studies? Do you expect these to be submitted by 31 May 2016? 2. Do you also expect to attach the CV's of the five roles by 31 May 2016? 3. If there are more than three suppliers who are interested and meet the requirements, how will three suppliers be short listed? Best Regards, [name redacted] 1. Suppliers will be shortlisted on 31/05/16 based on their ability to meet the essential and nice to have criteria. Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit a written proposal for evaluation after 31/05/16 and provided with additional instructions.2. CVs for team members should be included in shortlisted suppliers' written proposals.3. Suppliers will be shortlisted in accordance with the DOS buyers' guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-shortlist-digital-outcomes-and-specialists-suppliers 4. The desired essential & nice to have skills talks about prior experience; does this experience pertains to individuals who will be working on the project or is it company's experience? For example a company like us is 3 years old but our team has extensive experience of 15 - 20 years. Individuals working on the project must have the minimum skills/experience specified for their role. Additional experience may be beneficial. 5. Hi, Can we ask for the rationale behind an intended 6-month Discovery phase? This seems much longer than any Discovery we have helped deliver. Thanks The programme is in an early stage and timelines are subject to change. The Discovery phase will not be longer than 6 months. 6. Hi, Can we confirm what level of response is required by 31st May? For example, is this simply confirming which of the skills and experience we fulfil? Thanks Please answer the questions in the portal by 31/05/16. Suppliers will be shortlisted based on these responses. Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to provide a more detailed proposal w.c. 30/05/16. 7. To be sure of the process, we would like to know what DWP is expecting to receive before 31st May. Is it confirmation of the skills and experience via the yes/no tick boxes and a start date or should suppliers be submitting any form of written response before the 31st May? If it is the former, what response (post 31st May) will be required from suppliers? Many thanks Please see response to question 6. 8. Please could you describe the process for the initial evaluation and the ongoing process. In Particular, will you shortlist to 3 following the initial questionnaire and then proceed to written proposal and pricing? Is the current deadline to submit the questionnaire or for the entire process? See response to question 6.