MOD Programme Cortisone Quality Assurer/Test Manager

Tender description

Summary of the work To develop a testing strategy, write test scripts and scenarios and advise on test tools and methodology. Establish and manage a team responsible for completing tests within set time-scales. Line management of a System Administrator. Liaising with stakeholders to ensure effective management of configuration, build and test cycles Specialist role Quality assurance analyst Expected Contract Length The duration of the contract will be for 10 Months with possible 3 X 1 Month options to extend Latest start date 18/04/2017 Maximum Day Rate £425 VAT Excluded Early Market Engagement None for this specific role. CORTISONE has been the subject of industry briefs at Tech UK, the last one being Nov 16 Who Speclialist Work With The programme team consists of IT Design Architects, Project Management professionals (both Agile and APM) and NHS interface specialists in a blend of Military and Crown Servants, complemented by contract staff and specialist companies. Team size is in the region of 30. What Specialists Work On To produce and maintain a Test Plan of CORTISONE personnel using the test facility. To produce test scripts and scenarios based on functional and non-functional requirements and user stories. To deliver the Solution, Evolution and Evaluation Phase. To produce and maintain a plan detailing application testing, including resources. The timely availability of COTS products for testing through liaison with potential suppliers. To produce supplier assessment reports detailing support and services supplied by applications tested. To produce gateway and connectivity reports on products tested particularly in relation to pathway and NHS connection connectivity. Skills & Experience • Have proven organisational skills (5%) • Have proven experience in the production and delivery of Test Plans(10%). • Have proven experience in the writing and development of Test Scripts and Scenarios (15%). • Have proven substantial experience of Testing, Test Management, Performance and Capacity Testing (15%). • Demonstrate knowledge of current industry wide Quality and Test processes and practices and tools and techniques (10%). • Demonstrate knowledge and experience of test automation and test management tools (10%). • Have the ability to work under pressure and adhere to challenging timescales (5%) • Have proven line Management experience (5%) • Have experience in liaising with Industry Partners (5%) • Have excellent communication skills (5%) • Have strong analytical skills (5%) Nice to Haves • Evidence working within a Medical Environment and/or NHS Environment (6%). • Evidence Working within the MOD (2%) • Evidence experience in working within an AGILE environment (2%) Work Location This resource will be based at MOD Corsham, SN13 9NR, occasional travel to Lichifield , WS14 9PY, may be required. Working Arrangments The supplier will be expected to work within an Agile environment. To liaise with appropriate users to undertake appropriate testing and production of test results to a specified time schedule. As part of an Agile team they will need to work efficiently and follow best practice to ensure the digital products we develop meet the quality and standards expected by our stakeholders. Monday to Friday, locations as described above. Requests to work from home will be at the discretion of the Programme Manager. The Test Manager will work under the direction of the Programme Manager. Security Clearance Potential suppliers will be expected to hold or be in the process of obtaining SC Clearance. It will be at the Programme Managers discretion to allow work to commence if suppliers are awaiting clearance on the expected start date. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • Work to Agile methodology (20%) • Have experience of working within a team that covers multiple organisations (20%) • Be customer oriented (15%). • Share knowledge, experience and expertise with other team members (15%). • Communicates clearly (10%) • Have strong stakeholder management skills (10%) • Be transparent and collaborative (10%) Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is there any flexibility on the budget for this role? The rate indicated is the one we feel appropriate. It is the decision of the supplier to choose the level of rate from within the boundaries of the rates for this role that they have agreed with CCS. 2. The rate of £425 is extremely low for the skillset requested; market rate would be £500-550. Is there any flexibility on the rate, or on the skills mentioned The rate indicated is the one we feel appropriate. It is the decision of the supplier to choose the level of rate from within the boundaries of the rates for this role that they have agreed with CCS. 3. Regarding the SC clearance status, if the consultant does not hold SC but is willing to go through the process, is this something the MOD are prepared to facilitate? We would be prepared to accept a candidate that is willing to go through the SC process and that is SC Clearable, i.e. is compliant with the Mandatory criteria. We would support/facilitate their application if required, though could not commit to covering any costs. 4. Is this role judged to fall inside or outside of IR35? • the Authority will not be providing guidance on the applicability of the legislation to individual contracts but instead it is for each supplier to satisfy itself of its alignment with the new legislation;• the HMRC is rolling out a new certification tool in March that will allow suppliers and buyers to go and make sure that they are compliant; and• the Authority will not be approving any increase day rates on existing contracts as a result of the new legislation. 5. With regard to the HMRC IR35 tool could the agency confirm the response to this question: "Would the end client accept the worker's business sending someone else to do this work instead?" Thank you. As we would have evaluating and made a decision about an individual specialists skills and experience we could not accept the worker's business then sending someone else to do this work instead.