Digital Strategy Consultant

Tender description

Summary of the work Discover the gaps in the digital services for this ambitious University and define a target service portfolio. Define what business activity is needed to accelerate the digital transformation including finance, governance, programme management. Deliver a Strategic Outline Case (5 case model) for accelerating the digital transformation. Expected Contract Length 2 months Latest start date Monday 16 April 2018 Why the Work is Being Done The University sees digital services as a critical enabler for education, research and running the business, in what is a competitive market place. There are existing digital services and new services being planned now for delivery. This work is the discovery phase to understand gaps in the journey, understand what could be accelerated to achieve a significant advantage in meeting future educational needs, enhancing research and optimising business activity and understanding the implications of accelerating the programme over a period of 3 years. Starting April 2018 for outputs by mid-June 2018. Problem to Be Solved Current understanding of digital services required for the future for the University are not necessarily complete. The target service portfolio needs to match the ambitions of the University. The University's IT, procurement and legal departments do not have the capacity to deliver an accelerated programme of digital services. Need to understand the financial, governance, and programme management implications for delivering an accelerated programme. Who Are the Users User community are students, academics who teach and carry out research, and professional services staff. Work Already Done Significant work has been carried out to establish the current programme of digital services as well as strategies for education and research. There is an existing service portfolio, with some key platforms in place such as WSO2. There are visions and blueprints that describe the outcome that is sought by the University. Existing Team Internal teams include Exeter IT, Procurement and Legal branches within the University. Access to key stakeholders for Education, Research and business areas will be through the Service Owner Board construct, and will be enabled by Exeter IT staff. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Experience in Higher Education Sector including research • Experience in digital transformation • Experience in IT platforms • Experience in higher education strategy • Experience in digital services gap analysis • Experience in digital and IT cost modelling • Experience in transformation and programme assurance and best practice • Experience in understanding local factors and constraints Nice to Haves • Evidence of delivering a digital transformation in Higher Education • Evidence of delivering a digital roadmap Work Location University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. Working Arrangments Minimum of 3 days a week on site. Travel expenses are limited to 10%. Travel time is not included in the 'working day'. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 4 Proposal Criteria • Approach and methodology • Understanding of higher education requirements • Estimated timeframe for the work • Team structure: permanent staff, associates, sub-contractors • Value for money Cultural Fit Criteria • Work closely with the University staff • Have ambitious views Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 75% Cultural fit 5% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Can you please confirm that this work is outside of IR35? Outside IR35. 2. Do you have an idea of the budget for this piece of work? Budget information is not available. 3. What is the Budget? Budget information is not available. 4. What size of team are you expecting? The title implies a single 'Digital Strategy Consultant' but this may require more of an outcome-based team which includes multiple skill sets (eg. user research, design, technical and business architecture, digital strategist etc). The University of Exeter is not specifying number of personnel required to complete the outcome. 5. Which team members / roles in the department will be the stakeholders for this project? Please refer to information already provided within 'Existing team' section. No further information is available at this stage. 6. We understand that the role has been published as an Outcome. However, the term "Consultant" and the specification would indicate that this role could be carried out by an individual with the relevant Digital experience. Therefore, would the University consider this contract to fall inside or outside of IR35? Outside IR35. 7. You have specified that experience in the higher education sector is an essential criterion. How flexible is this, please? Would experience in FE and education, in general, be appropriate? Experience in Higher Education Sector including research, is an essential criteria, Suppliers who can’t meet essential skills and experience requirements will be advised when trying to apply that they’re not eligible. 8. Are we able to reference more than one relevant example in each answer? For system queries please contact Digital Marketplace directly. 9. Can you confirm if there is an incumbent supplier currently engaged for Digital Strategy Consultancy? No incumbent supplier for this requirement. 10. You have specified a minimum of 3 days per week, on site. Would 2 days per week be acceptable? We envisage 3 days per week on site, however, ability to meet the outcome with an alternative working structure would be considered. 11. Is 3 days on site an estimate or a requirement? We envisage 3 days per week on site, however, ability to meet the outcome with an alternative working structure would be considered. 12. What sort of things are meant by: Experience in understanding local factors and constraints Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:Local Factors - dealing with a range of stakeholders including academics and students.Constraints - the need to understand how much change a group of stakeholders can viably manage at any one time. 13. With the outcome of the consultancy phase, is their capacity for a long-term (2-5 years) relationship with the supplier? We have not decided the long-term governance and management requirements, however, any requirements will be advertised in accordance with OJEU regulations / University of Exeter Procurement Procedures as appropriate. 14. How do you see the relationship with supplier after the consultancy phase? We have not decided the long-term governance and management requirements, however, any requirements will be advertised in accordance with OJEU regulations / University of Exeter Procurement Procedures as appropriate. 15. Would you prefer to have the successful consultancy also deliver and execute the outcomes of this phase of work or will you be looking to tender for the outcomes of this phase? We have not decided the long-term governance and management requirements, however, any requirements will be advertised in accordance with OJEU regulations / University of Exeter Procurement Procedures as appropriate. 16. There is an existing service portfolio, with some key platforms in place such as WSO2. There are visions and blueprints that describe the outcome that is sought by the University.” Can you please share these with suppliers at this stage? These will be shared at the next stage. 17. Could you share some your visions of what the outcome of the digital roadmap might look like or are you expecting the successful agency to put these forward independently as part of the consultancy? We have visions and blueprint statements for education, research and business activities. These will be shared at the next stage. However, it is an important part of this work to challenge and enhance these statements. 18. How long should the digital roadmap be for the University? This phase of the digital journey is likely to be 3 years. 19. As “digital transformation in higher education” comes in many forms, can you please specify what kind of transformation experience are you expecting from the successful supplier in this area? We are expecting a transformation in the way we educate, conduct research and carry out business activities. 20. Experience in higher education strategy - What is the strategy & ambition for Digital at the University, and when does it need to be implemented by? Higher education strategy for University of Exeter is available on the our website. 21. Experience in higher education strategy - Please can you clarify what type of higher education strategy experience you require from the successful supplier? This is broader higher education sector strategy experience, not necessarily digital. 22. Experience in IT platforms - Would you prefer solutions to open source or proprietary software? On a case by case basis. 23. What’s the timeline for the next assessment stages following the 23rd of March? The evaluation stage will be conducted between 26th March 2018 and 16 April 2018. 24. What is your definition of Digital Transformation? Are you able to share a holistic overview of the University of Exeter’s Digital Transformation ambitions? At the next stage. 25. Digital Transformation - Are you able to share the visions and blueprints for University of Exeter at this stage with suppliers? At the next stage. 26. Please confirm if the scope of this project includes working with/assessing the digital entrepreneurial programs that currently centre on Digital research (e.g. EXIST and other partnerships in the community)? No. 27. Is the current digital transformation plan and this consulting project aligned to both Digital Learning (NGDLE, Open courseware, Virtual Campus) and Digital Campus (Smart city, IoT, ResNET etc) strategies? This work is not directly aligned to EDUCAUSE NGDLE but there is significant common ground 28. The term "Experience in IT platforms" is quite broad. As we have to demonstrate this in 100 words, could you provide more detail about what you are looking for in response to this point? Understanding the implications of digital services on IT platforms is important. As an example, we use WSO2 and SITS (Tribal) as 'platforms'. 29. You mentioned that there are existing digital services and new services being planned now for delivery. Can you please provide an overview of the type of work being carried out? How far along are you with progress? We have a good view for future requirements through the existing governance mechanism. However, we could be more ambitious. 30. You mentioned that there are existing digital services and new services being planned now for delivery. Are these being done in house or by an agency? If you are working with an external agency, can you provide us with the name of the agency you work with? We use SaaS solutions and in-house solutions when we need to do so. 31. Please can you specify the kind of higher education research experience you are looking for in the successful supplier? Need to have experience in digital services that support research, for example on-demand data storage, research management service, on-demand high performance computing. 32. Are there any particular IT platforms you had in mind for this project or are you expecting recommendations from the supplier based on the outcomes of the consulting work? Understanding the implications of digital services on IT platforms is important. As an example, we use WSO2 and SITS (Tribal) as 'platforms'. 33. You specify “Experience in transformation and programme assurance and best practice” as an essential requirement. Please can you elaborate on the type of experience you require from the successful supplier in this area? Experience of having delivered a digital transformation of some sort, with programme management and assurance whilst using best practice techniques.