UK SBS IT17085 DIT Digital System Administration and Web Operations for Export Licensing

Tender description

Summary of the work Enable software development teams to replace an existing service (SPIRE) to facilitate faster and easier import and export licensing. Through architecting and building highly-available and resilient container/deployment/monitoring “self-service” platform, you will be helping the team rapidly prototype, deliver, and run a high-impact and high-value service for exporters and government alike. Specialist role Web operations engineer Expected Contract Length 12 months with an option to extend for up to an additional 12 months Latest start date 02/05/2017 Maximum Day Rate £700 excluding VAT Who Speclialist Work With The Web Operations Engineer will be working with an agile, multi-disciplinary team of specialists as per the GDS service manual's recommendations. Licensing for International Trade and Enterprise (LITE) is a cross-governmental project under the umbrella of the Department for International Trade. Its goal is to replace an existing service (known as SPIRE) for import and export licensing. The service is currently in Private Beta, with a view to going Public later in 2017. The LITE service follows GDS “coding in the open” best practices with frequent public blog posts and are active members of the cross-government digital and data community. What Specialists Work On • Full automation of operational management of servers and software stacks delivering a complex and consistent web application stack • Ensure identical stacks are available across both developer workstations and multiple, identical, public cloud environments • Expand and maintain a public cloud OpenShift Enterprise environment using OpenStack and PFSense • Use of open source tools and monitoring for a microservices architecture • Building and configuring new server platforms and automated tooling • Supporting development teams with configuring applications for deployment • Ensure that the service is kept secure through routine and automated software upgrades and low downtime platform upgrades Skills & Experience • Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to... • configure web and application servers within a continuous delivery environment and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • undertake “immutable infrastructure” best practice automation with full unattended environment build-out from configuration under source control and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • run identical software stacks across both developer workstations and multiple identical public cloud environments and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • build service-based technologies using “12-factor” best practices and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • produce OpenShift and OpenStack and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • engage with diverse stakeholders (including technical architecture and information security) and how this will ensure the smooth running of all environments and the successful delivery of this project. • automate the application of the agile deployment methodologies using techniques such as AB/MV testing and blue-green deployments and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • use GDS “coding in the open” practices with all configuration and automation scripts (minus secrets) in the public domain (GitHub). Nice to Haves • Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to... • support a large production platform with zero downtime deployments and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • manage microservice monitoring and logging, and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • mentor and coach junior team members and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • use “self-service devops” via automated “platform as a service” capabilities and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • test, debug and troubleshoot platform level problems and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • Demonstrate how you will apply your expertise of PFSense and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. • Demonstrate how you will apply your expertise of RedHat technologies with relevant professional qualifications and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project. Work Location Department for International Trade, 3 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2AW Working Arrangments Monday to Friday on site. A professional working day, hours and working pattern as needed to deliver the service in an efficient way. Mainly based from our office in 3 Whitehall Place, London. The Web Operations Engineer must be available to participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota. The contract will cover Private Beta, Public Beta and Live phases. Security Clearance SC level security clearance No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate how you will actively participate in cross government “devops” and “webops” communities throughout this project. • Demonstrate how you will actively engage in show-and-tell about how the platform works to the wide government community throughout this project. • Demonstrate how you will work collaboratively as part of an agile team throughout this project. • Demonstrate how you will show courage to express controversial views, confront reality, make tough decisions and question actions inconsistent with group behaviours throughout the project. • Demonstrate how you will be enthusiastic to lead and be part of the team throughout the project. • Demonstrate how you will be committed to the highest standards of work, by seeking actionable feedback and setting challenging targets throughout the project. Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Has this piece of work been deemed outside of IR35? This is unable to be determined at this time, it is possible for contractors who are both in and out of scope of the off payroll working rules to be engaged through DOS. The successful supplier / contracting authority will need to check the status in accordance with the HMRC online tool prior to contract commencement. A link to this tool can be found here: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/setup 2. Given the description of working arrangements has an IR35 assessment already taken place on this contract and if so what is the outcome? It is possible for contractors who are both in and out of scope of the off payroll working rules to be engaged through DOS. The successful supplier / contracting authority will need to check the status in accordance with the HMRC online tool prior to contract commencement. A link to this tool can be found here: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/setup 3. Can more than one candidate per supplier be submitted? No, a supplier can only submit one candidate application per opportunity. 4. Will this role be within IR35? This is unable to be determined at this time, it is possible for contractors who are both in and out of scope of the off payroll working rules to be engaged through DOS. The successful supplier / contracting authority will need to check the status in accordance with the HMRC online tool prior to contract commencement. A link to this tool can be found here: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-employment-status-for-tax/setup 5. What is the lead time for feedback once the application is submitted? The shortlisting outcome is scheduled to be issued to applicants on the week commencing Monday 10th April. 6. Regarding the SC clearance status, if the candidate does not hold BPSS but is willing to go through the process, can this be considered, if yes will you sponsor the security clearance? Unfortunately this cannot be considered. SC Clearance will need to be in place when the successful supplier enters into the contract and begins work. 7. Can any other security clearance be considered? No. SC Clearance will need to be in place when the successful supplier enters into the contract and begins work.