Home Office Biometrics (HOB) – Application Development

Tender description

Summary of the work Developing applications for the HOB programme using an Agile methodology. Application development projects are focused on delivering and supporting: the DNA solution, the Biometric Services (API) Gateway, access portal, and mobile solutions. Key technologies are: Java, JBoss Fuse, WebServices, relational databases (Oracle and Postgres), and workflow. Expected Contract Length 2 years Latest start date To start with appropriate clearances in October 2016. Budget Range The budget is expected to be greater than £8M. The team is expected to flex in size to meet requirements. Capacity will vary but is expected to be in the region of 20 developers rising to a peak of 40 developers before dropping back to 20 over the life of the contract. Why the Work is Being Done The Home Office has existing biometrics systems whose contracts come to an end in 2019. The HOB programme aims to evolve these systems to provide continuity beyond 2019 and enhance their capability through a number of phases. This procurement will support the HOB Programme evolution of its systems and services, including the introduction of new services through the provision of an application development capability. It will provide the development capability for the programme to deliver robust and resilient solutions to meet the law enforcement and immigration user requirement. Problem to Be Solved The HOB programme requires application development teams to deliver and support a number of biometric services across a series of integrated and co-dependent projects delivered using an Agile methodology. Work packages will focus on: DNA solution, the Biometric Services (API) Gateway, access portal, and mobile solutions. The outcomes will be developed using a combination of core Java, JBoss Fuse, WebServices, relational databases (Oracle and Postgres), and workflow skills and experience. Who Are the Users Users include but are not limited to law enforcement, immigration, border force and HMPO staff who need to use biometrics in a number of situations and locations including custody suites, mobile locations, borders, passport offices and visa application centres. Early Market Engagement HOB have run two supplier days, with over 90 organisations in attendance. The approach to application development and potential use of the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework was briefed to potential suppliers at the HOB supplier day in April 2016. Work Already Done This procurement currently envisages the development of five services and sub-systems, one in its Alpha phase, two in discovery and two pre-discovery and a project currently in beta phase. Existing Team • The system (BSG) in Beta has a full project and development team currently in place; the MVP has been completed. • The projects in discovery have project management, business analysis and architectural teams. • The projects in pre-discovery have project management and are drawing on the programme Business Analysis and Architectural resource. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • The supplier has experience and can provide evidence of delivering development capability support at this level; across 5 projects and more than 40 developers • Team experience of development using an Agile methodology, operating in sprints and aligning their development activities with other parallel work streams across split sites, ensuring coding standards are maintained. • Credible and referenced proof of team and individual experience in object oriented programming. • Experience of secure development practices for high integrity systems, working with mature and controlled software development processes and legacy systems. • Experience in Java, up to 30 developers • Experience in JBoss Fuse and Forum Sentry, up to 8 developers • Experience of development pipeline tooling, specifically Git source code repository, defect tracking systems (PVCS, Rational ClearQuest, JIRA and Confluence), continuous integration tools (Jenkins) and automated testing frameworks Nice to Haves • Credible and referenced proof of experience and excellent technical competence in object oriented programming with Oracle database, Web Application, Web Services and Workflow technologies • Demonstrate experience of ETL, data warehouse and reporting technologies. • Some familiarity with legacy technologies; Oracle Forms and Reports, Windows Services and C programming. • Teams should be self motivated, having an ability to work on their own initiative and without constant direction, but also be able to collaboratively with HOB staff. • Experience in designing and building cross platform mobile apps (eg. Android, Windows) • Experience in other programming and scripting languages ( eg. C++, C#, .NET Framework, Python) Work Location • West Midlands (9-15 personnel) – Home Office Site, Birmingham • London (21-30 personnel) – Home Office Site, Croydon Working Arrangments Each service and system has a HOB project management, Business Analysis and Architectural team, who will work with the development team to deliver the IT solutions. All development will be conducted through the HOB Development Environment connecting both the Croydon and Birmingham sites. An Agile methodology will be used. The Home Office will provide the test resource for any development, the supplier will provide the development cohort; scrum master, lead developer, Dev Ops and developers. Developers and teams are expected to work across the HOB development projects, meeting different delivery schedules, tempo and requirements. Security Clearance All staff must hold or be prepared to undergo SC Security Clearance to operate on this project. In addition, some staff in Croydon and all development personnel based in Birmingham must be Non Police Personnel Vetting Level 3 (NPPV3) clearable. Additional T&Cs •Rate card and Travel & Subsistence. •Conflict of Interest/Ethical Walls safeguards (applies to all sub-programme and ‘spin off’ activities whether procured via DOS or other contracting route). No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Mobilisation, implementation plan, and handover • Deliverables – including releases • Technical skills (CVs) • Team structure and make up • First SOWs in detail (DNA, BSG) • Subsequent SOWs in pipeline • Key Staff • Testing • Third level support • Exit management Cultural Fit Criteria • Management of team(s) • Collaboration • Recruitment and retention, training, and on-boarding through the course of the contract • Working practices Payment Approach Time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. We are not able to bid for this outcome due to the size of our organisation and our turnover limitations. Will there be digital specialist requirements going forward from home office now that you are part of this framework? The HOB Programme will continue to publish opportunities through different procurement vehicles, which may include the Digital Marketplace, when they arise. 2. What information do you require by the closing date for applications? The information that can be provided by the closing date for applications is determined by the Digital Marketplace tool. The information that can be submitted is the email address of your contact for this opportunity, a series of yes/no responses to questions and when you could start work. HOB is following the DOS process for shortlisting, against the essential and then nice-to-have skills and experience. If there are still more than 5 suppliers, we will request evidence to support the shortlisting process. 3. When will you be providing the tender documents and what are the associated timescales? If a further step is required in the shortlisting process bidders will have one week to provide evidence. Evaluation of this evidence will take in the region of one week. Following this we will issue the documentation to short listed bidders for the next stage; and anticipate in the region of 28 calendar days for responses. 4. Please would you clarify the steps of the procurement process? Are you simply looking for the yes/no responses and latest start date by 13 July to allow shortlisting, or do you require additional material from prospective suppliers by that date? Please see the response to question 2. 5. How has the estimate for resourcing roles and the associated headcounts been arrived at and can the backing arguments for these estimation calculations be shared? Further information will be available for shortlisted suppliers to enable the submission of a proposal at that stage of the process. It will not be provided prior to shortlisting. 6. "The supplier has experience and can provide evidence of delivering development capability support at this level; across 5 projects and more than 40 developers" - please can you clarify this point? Are you only looking for suppliers who have delivered projects that use more than 40 developers? [Question edited for publication] The HOB programme is looking for a single supplier who can deliver application development output across these projects within the wider HOB programme. Similar output, knowledge base and concurrent activities are required across these projects. As an aggregated estimate and at its peak, this is expected to involve up to 40 personnel delivering through a number of development teams, within five projects and across two sites; Birmingham and London. 7. Could the Authority provide details of next stages and timelines for the procurement process? Please see the response to question 2. 8. Could the Authority please confirm whether JFBS (Joint Forensics and Biometrics Service) will be part of the Biometrics Delivery Partner requirement, or a separate DOS call off? [Edited for publication] This appears to be a question referencing the DOS opportunity "Home Office Biometrics (HOB) Programme Delivery Partner, multi-location IT transformation".The answer is posted against that opportunity. 9. Does the Authority anticipate if the 20-30 HOB staff that are expected to co-locate would all require co-location from Contract Start, or if there would be a 'ramp-up' in the team size? This appears to be a question referencing the DOS opportunity "Home Office Biometrics (HOB) Programme Delivery Partner, multi-location IT transformation".The answer is posted against that opportunity. 10. This project was referred to in the scope of other projects. Is this being let as a stand alone project? Is there an incumbent supplier that will be bidding in this DOS process? This is a comon capability for Application Development across a number of projects within a larger complex multi-source programme. We do not know whether any existing suppliers to the programme intend to bid on this opportunity. This is a new, expanded, requirement over that which we have previously procured and includes different skills and experience.NB: This is a question posted against the opportunity "Home Office Biometrics (HOB) – Programme Delivery Partner, multi-location IT transformation" but is phrased in the context of this opportunity. 11. Do you expect to separate out the projects or services into separate lots further into the process? Do you envisage one supplier for the whole opportunity? Do you envisage a single supplier per 'service' within this opportunity? How do you envisage the 20 (to 40) developers to be spread around suppliers? Please see the response to Question 6. 12. The Home Office Biometrics Application Development paper states the key technologies are Java, JBoss Fuse, web services, relational databases (Oracle and PostgreSQL) and workflow. Are any of the specific technologies mandated? If so can you indicate why they have been selected? Some of the technologies are mandated. However there are areas and work streams that still need to make technology decisions. Mandated technologies are Java and JBoss Fuse which are integral to our strategic communications infrastructure. Similarly Oracle and PostgreSQL are required due to the nature of the programme – moving from legacy systems to loosely coupled services. Part of this involves working with legacy technologies to allow us to migrate to the strategic state. For other work streams we are expecting the new developments to be using technologies from the Java ecosystem. 13. Is the only role to be procured through this development opportunity the development cohort? Is the development cohort the boundary of the team to be supplied to the project or could it include wider roles? This procurement is for an application development output. It is expected to be delivered by formed and integral development teams. The HOB programme and its projects will provide the supporting structure, management, technical architecture, Business analysis, end-to-end test, security, and other specialist skills. 14. Is transformation to support the development team and vice versa? Please expand or rephrase this question. It is not clear what you are asking. 15. Do these 8 developers need BOTH JBoss Fuse and Forum Sentry, otherwise what is the split between these two skill sets across the 8 developers? We are asking for a team of developers with experience in both JBoss Fuse and Forum Sentry. The individuals do not need both Forum Sentry and Fuse. 16. Would you entertain bids from a consortium of two or more companies working together? We will only award the contract to single supplier who is on the DOS framework. Please note 9.18 of the Framework Agreement for rules on Subcontracting. 17. We are an SME and are too small to bid for this on our own. Will you publish a list of the successful shortlisted suppliers after this stage so we can talk them about supplementing their capability? No. We do not plan to publish a list of the shortlisted suppliers at the end of this stage. Each  supplier will only  be notified about their own status individually. 18. Specific skills and numbers of resources are outlined for the core project. e.g. 30 Java developers. Cross platform mobile applications are also required and this is a very different skill set. Are there any expectations on numbers of developers or skills required for the mobile application element of the project? Does HOB want referenced experience and relevant customers for the mobile application section because this is very different from back office java development? We estimate the number of mobile application focused developers at 4 , under this nice-to-have skills requirement. 19. Can you clarify the split of responsibility between the HOB team and the Application Development supplier particularly with respect to testing? An application development output would be delivered by formed and integral development teams. Developers will work collaboratively in the AppDev team. They will be engaged in the elaboration of user stories and testing. The will be responsible for application architecture, code development & packaging, unit testing and integration testing. They will be engaged and support other test phases that will be led by HOB, these phases will include System Testing, System Integration Testing, Performance Testing, User Acceptance Testing and Operational Acceptance testing.The HOB programme and its projects will provide the supporting structure, management, solution architecture and business analysis.