OR-0003 - Research and Innovation Funding Service (RIFS) requires a professional service design team

Tender description

Summary of the work RIFS require experienced digital service design expertise to provide both strategic and operational input to deliver an excellent end-to-end user experience. The requirement includes the need to provide skills transfer to an internal service designer. We envisage that two service designers are required initially but this may increase. Expected Contract Length Approx 12 months (maybe shorter), sufficient to launch the service into Public Beta (Spring 2017) Latest start date As soon as possible Budget Range Expectation is that day rates are likely to be in the range of £700 - £800 Why the Work is Being Done Grants funding is a significant activity of government with over 1,000 different grant schemes, including RIFS, administered across government. RIFS represents a wider ambition across government to consider how grants funding can be consolidated across fewer platforms than currently. RIFS presents an opportunity to look at how research and innovation grants funding can be transformed in its design and execution as a user centred end-to-end service. This service aims to address pain points currently experienced by users, transforming the entire user experience. Grants funding for users should be easy and accessible, reflecting the excellent reputation of UK research. Problem to Be Solved The Research and Innovation Funding Service brings together two previously separate strands of work that support grants funding for research (UK Research Councils) and innovation (Innovate UK) respectively. The aim is to create digital services that support the entire grant funding process from idea generation to impact reporting. The service is currently in beta phase production, and we anticipate a public beta in Spring 2017. Who Are the Users As a funder I need to be able to advertise an opportunity to research organisations and businesses so they can apply for funding to undertake research in priority areas. As a research organisation or business, I need to be able submit applications for research or innovation funding (respectively) so that I can respond to requests to undertake research in priority areas that have the potential to benefit the UK economy. Assessors or peer reviewer's need to be able to review grant applications and collaborate with other reviewers, so that application’s suitability for funding can be assessed and granted (or refused). Early Market Engagement RIFS has, as two separate programmes of work, been in motion for several months. The incumbent service design suppliers have made significant progress in articulating the service design at both high and more granular levels, identifying and articulating combined and varied service needs between research and innovation funding. There is a good understanding of the high level service design but there is a continued requirement for the supplier to provide both strategic direction and day-to-day expertise to ensure that RIFS delivers a coherent end-to-end service for users. Service design has been (and will continue to be) shared with users and iterated in discussion with the Product Owner. Work Already Done The two previously separate services that constitute RIFS – Research grants and Innovation grants – have both passed their Digital By Default Alpha service assessments and the unified programme is now in Beta production. As mentioned above, significant service design work has been undertaken on the programme and has helped to articulate the end-to-end service. Ongoing service design support will be needed as delivery continues. Existing Team The Research and Innovation Funding Service team, specifically the Product Owner, Delivery Manager, User Researchers, Interaction Designers and Developers. This team is a mix of contractors and public service staff. Current Phase Beta Skills & Experience • Have proven experience as a professional digital service designer, delivering and communicating excellent end-to-end designs that underpin successful digital services (Scores 10%) • Extensive working knowledge and experience in Government digital transformation programmes with actual experience helping to deliver/develop Government digital services that comply with GDS principles/digital-by-default service standard (Scores8%) • Some experience of interaction design. There is a requirement to work closely with interaction designers within the team. (Scores 5%) • Substantial experience of user-centred design of services/digital stuff — specifically projects where user research was tightly integrated with delivery.. (Scores 5%) • Have mentoring/management experience of helping develop digital capability in civil and public servants. (Scores 5%) • Have proven experience of agile working environments as part of a multidisciplinary team (Scores 5%) • Have experience of delivering business change and service improvement through excellent service design (Scores 5%) Nice to Haves Knowledge and experience of Government grant funding, including working on a project or service that delivers government grants funding (Scores 2%) Work Location The primary site is Polaris House, Swindon SN2 1UH. However, there is a secondary site at Department for Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy HQ at 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET. There may be a requirement for the team or specific team members to attend this site at the direction of the Programme Director. Travel expenses will be paid where incurred for travel to the secondary site in London The assumption is that this is a Swindon based project with occasional work in London. Working Arrangments Monday to Friday on site, locations as described above. A professional working day, hours and working pattern as needed to deliver the service in an efficient way as agreed by the Programme Director. Requests to work from home will be considered at the discretion of the Programme Director. Security Clearance Minimum Baseline Personnel Security Standard No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Proposed approach and methodology (Scores 10%) • Proposed team structure (including CVs of key members) (Scores 5%) • Value for money justification (Scores 5%) • Similar contract examples, case studies, references (Scores 5%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate flexibility (e.g. the ability to shift tasks to meet changing priorities) (Scores 2%) • Demonstrate responsibility (e.g. act like a leader, serve your team, provide solutions to problems, engage in external/internal environments, seek the best for the organisation beyond your team) (Scores 2%) • Demonstrate simplicity (e.g. take simple steps to goals, do less but better, mitigate failures, talk straight with respect) (Scores 2%) • Demonstrate excellence (e.g. seek actionable feedback, set challenging targets, know users, deliver cost effective high level customer satisfaction) (Scores 2%) • Demonstrate enthusiasm (e.g. bring whole self to work, celebrate success, share passion and energy with others, optimistic) (Scores 2%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Would this not be more appropriate under Digital specialists, given the nature of the work? As per our requirements (see extract below) we require 2 service designers initially and this may rise over the term of the contract."RIFS require experienced digital service design expertise to provide both strategic and operational input to deliver an excellent end-to-end user experience. The requirement includes the need to provide skills transfer to an internal service designer. We envisage that two service designers are required initially but this may increase." 2. It would be really useful if you could give us the start date? The start date is 'As soon as Possible' and will be determined by how long the process takes. The process is expected to take a further 4 - 5 weeks to complete. 3. How would service design work sync in with current beta delivery work streams? For example, do they work alongside in more of a testing role or are they a few sprints ahead, defining the service, journeys and features in a more waterfall approach before it gets built? The service designers are working in sprints, generally a couple of sprints ahead of the development team. The design is iterated as we gather more information. The team will work closely with the product owner, user researchers and interaction designers to identify gaps and refine the service. Our roadmap is based on a simple funding opportunity to be delivered initially, moving through more complex requirements (more stages and user interactions) to a full solution. 4. What are the day to day activities expected of the service designers within this context of this projects Beta phase? The service designers are working in sprints, generally a couple of sprints ahead of the development team. The design is iterated as we gather more information. The team will work closely with the product owner, user researchers and interaction designers to identify gaps and refine the service. Our roadmap is based on a simple funding opportunity to be delivered initially, moving through more complex requirements (more stages and user interactions) to a full solution.