Emergency Travel Documents On-Line and Integration Bus Back End Developer (2 positions)

Tender description

Summary of the work FCO aim to develop their ETD on-line service. This includes: - Capability introduction to allow applicants to upload digital photos and supporting documents; - provide better integration of back-end systems supporting the overall ETD business process; - supporting business logic requirements elaboration and implement backend business logic and integration layer. Specialist role Developer Expected Contract Length 6 Months with the option to extend for a further period up to a maximum of 6 months Latest start date Monday 2 October 2017 Maximum Day Rate £650 Early Market Engagement The current ETD On-Line systems is supported by an incumbent supplier who have been consulted about possible branching/merging strategies required to deliver changes to the product and are therefore aware of these future planned developments and resourcing requirements. Who Speclialist Work With The successful supplier/candidate will be working within a relatively small established project team with a product owner, project manager, technical assurance/lead, business analysts and a front end developer. What Specialists Work On Working with the business analysts to elaborate requirements for the new backend logic and integration layer of the FCO Emergency Travel Document (ETD) application process. Within FCO Consular's existing ETD on-line process, develop back end logic to support the requirements that include: 1. Digital facial image capture 2. Supporting documentation Uploads 3. Caching of ETD application 4. Development of a new Consular integration layer with legacy applications Services provided will be required to support defined output based deliverables, agreed for each 2 week development sprint. Skills & Experience • Demonstrable experience of Agile development working within a CI environment that includes: GIT, Spray Framework, Scala, Akka Engine, Node.js, Express Web service, Java, JSON, RabbitMQ, RESTful web services. • 5+ years working with multi-disciplinary agile team to deliver transactional software against user stories. • 5+ years experience designing and building products using open source technologies. • 5+ years experience as a practicing back end developer. Nice to Haves • Familiar with the following technologies: HTML, JavaScript, React Framework, Redis Store • Familiar with GDS design principles and developing an existing digital service • Experience of developing document upload functions • Experience of supporting Non Functional Tests including Performance Tests in a CI environment. • Experience of incorporating a service into Government as a Platform Work Location Main location will be FCO's office in King Charles Street London. Remote working may be available where necessary. Working Arrangments The supplier is expected to supply a resource that can be on-site in London full-time during business hours Monday to Friday. 1. The resource should also be comfortable working using an agile approach including developing user stories from prioritised backlogs, sprints, daily stand-ups, sprint retrospectives. 2. Be comfortable talking to non-technical staff and translating their requirements into technical terms. Be a good listener. 3. Where appropriate be innovative and propose changes to processes. 4. We would like to be able to send the specialist unaccompanied to meet technical and non-technical staff. Security Clearance All staff working on FCO premises must be at least SC Cleared or capable of being cleared to SC. Bidders must confirm clearance of nominated resources. If required, FCO will initiate SC clearance. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • Working with technical and non-technical staff to understand requirements - 3% • Building good relationships and trust with teams both with and without departmental sponsors - 3% • Quickly joining teams and understanding their needs - 2% • Experience working in an agile manner - 2% Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 10% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. This role mentions that there are 2 positions available. Can you proviode details of how you submit applications for the second developer? We hoped that all suppliers interested in submitting proposals would be able to use the portal for both developers. However, if this is not possible, please send your response for the second developer position direct to Mark Froud (email address: Mark.Froud@fco.gov.uk) 2. Please could you advise re IR35 status of the role? This is unable to be determined at this time as 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. Please note that the FCO shall be using a milestone related approach and this may assist with determining whether this is in or outside the scope of IR35. 3. Linked to Question 2 (above, regarding the IR35 situation), a further question was asked linked to the previous response. After discussion, The FCO shall consider whether an handover period can be inserted into the contract which enables the FCO to buy a service (linked to milestones and/or sprints) rather than resources, which remain inside the scope of IR35. Further discussions shall take place on this with the successful supplier(s). 4. Does the developer require specialist application skills and if so, specific to which application? We have two domain areas of development: 1. ETD Online Portal with existing technology using a thin backend code: Scala & Node.js; 2. The Integration layer – this is a green field domain and without reducing our technology options we would like very good Java skills that potentially have Scala knowledge/experience – or at least it can be picked up quickly. Hence, the main requirement is for Java skilled resources. However, additionally and at an integration layer, we are looking for experience and skills in common technology we want to adopt to build message queuing (RabbitMQ) and build Micro Services. 5. Does the developer requirement integrate into other Government systems outside the FCO? Yes, via an API into other Government Departments (such as Her Majesty’s Passport Office). 6. Is the developer requirement linked to other public bodies (such as the Civil Aviation Authority or suppliers such as British Airways?) No. The only public facing element to this is the Emergency Travel Document online portal. The back end of the bus links integrates into three other Consular systems. 7. Grateful for details on expected start dates for candidates? Our current timeline (which is liable to change) is: Thursday 14 September – Close date for bidsMonday 18 September – Shortlisted suppliers contacted to arrange interviewsWednesday 20 September – Interviews take placeFriday 22 September – Final decision announcedand standstill startsMonday 25 September – agree call-off contract and debrief unsuccessful suppliersMonday 2 October – start date for developer(s) 8. Regarding the security clearance, would you prefer lapsed or current cleared staff as you preference for suppliers to put forward? Our preference is very much staff who are SC cleared which is current. It will take us time to set up a lapsed clearance which may impact the programme. So, please put forward staff who have active SC clearance.