IT17533 UK Space Agency Digital Licensing Service - Alpha phase

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done The digital licensing service will support operators applying for licences under the Space Industry Bill and Outer Space Act. The Space Industry Bill is going through Parliament in this session and is expected to be laid in early 2018. The licensing service needs to be at a public beta phase ready for the first spaceport and launch operators in the summer of 2018. Problem to Be Solved The UK Space Agency will be the regulator for these activities (together with support from the Civil Aviation Authority and Health & Safety Executive) and will grant licences to spaceport and launch operators. Space industry operators need a straightforward “single front door” into UK government regulators; the UKSA wishes to manage licensing via a Government Digital Service. A joined-up approach to licensing and regulation is important for operators and will make the UK a less bureaucratic and more attractive place for conducting launches and spaceflight activities than other launching nations. Who Are the Users As a Spaceport Operator, I need a licence to operate, so that I provide safe and regulated launch facilities. As a Range Control Services Provider, I need a licence, so that I provide a regulated zone of exclusion for UK launches. As a Launch Vehicle Operator, I need a licence to launch, so that I undertake regulated space missions from the UK. As a Payload Operator, I need a licence so that I can operate a payload in orbit. As a Regulator, I need to oversee licence applications, so that I can permit UK spaceflight activities in accordance with legislation. Early Market Engagement No market engagement for the alpha phase has been undertaken. Work Already Done Pre-Discovery work was completed in October 2017. A Discovery phase will be completed on 31st January 2018. The Discovery phase has produced user needs matrix, pen portraits and a draft service blueprint, concentrating on the Regulator and Payload Operator users. Existing Team The UK Space Agency team will include a product owner, service manager and part time support from the regulatory reform and policy team. Subject matter experts will be available from the UK Space Agency, HSE and Civil Aviation Authority. Current Phase Discovery Work Location UK Space Agency, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon and occasionally at the Dept. for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Victoria Street, London Working Arrangments Weekly (1day) face to face meetings onsite in Swindon or London during Alpha Phase. Attendance at several industry engagement events and workshops scheduled over the Alpha phase to undertake further user research and validation of any alpha prototypes. These events will be typically one or two day duration. Some visits to potential operators’ premises at various locations in the UK, including Scotland and South West England. Remote working/teleconferencing where possible. Security Clearance BC and Disclosure Scotland required. Additional T&Cs Not Applicable Skills & Experience 1. Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to Simplifying complex (but well understood) business work-flows into designs for a simple-to-use web based interface and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 8 points Undertake user research with a niche group of technical experts from the space industry and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 6 points Migrate your development environments on to a production environment hosted by a third party cloud provider and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 3 points Create web-based dashboard designs that are clear and uncomplicated and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 6 points Reduce any training burden for users and managers of the digital licensing service and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 6 points Nice to Haves 1. Demonstrate how you will apply your skills and expertise to: Work at pace and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 3 points In working with similar technology & innovation based government departments to provide digital services and how this will ensure the successful delivery of this project - 1 point No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria Technical solution - 4 points How the approach or solution meets user needs - 8 points How the approach or solution meets your organisation’s policy or goal - 8 points Estimated timeframes for the work - 1 point How they’ve identified risks and dependencies and offered approaches to manage them - 2 points Team structure - 4 points Cultural Fit Criteria 1. Demonstrate how you will collaborate with the UK Space Agency to prioritise user needs based on research in the Discovery phase –5 points 2. Demonstrate how you will demonstrate designs to the UK Space Agency that address specific user stories based on research – 10 points 3. Demonstrate how you will provide updates on risks to the project and report on progress of work to the UK Space Agency – 5 points Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Written proposal Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers Budget range alpha phase £395,000.00 excluding vat.