Agile team to build reports (currently built in JasperSoft, XQuery/NOSQL) for MCHLG grant service

Tender description

Summary of the work There is a need to produce reports, currently built using JasperSoft (XQuery/NOSQL). We want an agile and user-needs driven process for creating reports. You'll work with our analyst-users to build our 7 critical reports and improve the process, building knowledge of the domain/data model, creating documentation and questioning our assumptions. Expected Contract Length 3 months Latest start date Monday 15 October 2018 Budget Range A budget range of between £40,000 to £60,000 is available to deliver this requirement. Why the Work is Being Done There is a need to provide reports to meet EU audit requirements. 7 major reports need to be delivered (preferably) before 31 December 2018. We would like them to be delivered on an iterative basis. Problem to Be Solved 7 reports are needed to be delivered on the MCHLG eClaims system which are required to meet EU audit requirements by 31 December 2018. Who Are the Users As an EU auditor, I would like MCHLG Compliance team to run this report so that I can assure that monies are being spent in an appropriate way. As a member of the MCHLG Compliance team, I want to understand how my programme is progressing so that I can ensure that risks are being managed and improvements are sought and delivered. Early Market Engagement Some previous reports have been delivered by the current incumbent, Williams Lea, who are contracted to deliver development improvements to the eClaims service for MCHLG. Work Already Done No discovery phase needed for this. Analysts has defined these reports. A data dictionary (which lists the field name, functional description and its reference in the eClaims service) are in the process of being developed. Existing Team The successful supplier will be working closely with internal MCHLG staff who have experience writing SQL reports and are developing their skills in writing reports in XML. MCHLG shall also provide a Product Owner for this work. Another supplier is engaged to deliver continuous improvement to the eClaims service. It's not expected that the supplier who wins this requirement will need to work as closely with the development supplier as with the MHCLG analysts, but some communication is likely. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Team workers with XML experience • Experience of working in an user-centred agile team • Experience of working with different types of data and different types of databases Nice to Haves • Skills and experience of using JasperSoft • Experience of other modern technologies Work Location Largely remote. Staff currently work in MCHLG offices in Leeds and Nottingham. These staff spend at least one day a week working in London. The expectation is that the successful supplier's team shall come to London one day a week when staff from Leeds and Nottingham work in London. However, the majority of this work can be delivered remotely from the preferred supplier's workplace. Working Arrangments We would like the successful suppliers team to work in London once a week (dates shall be flexible depending on when key MCHLG staff in Leeds and Nottingham are based in London). Otherwise, we are content for the team to work remotely but they must work in an agile way (remote stand-up meeting on a daily basis). Expenses will not be paid for any work delivered in London. If any other travel is required, then this will be paid for by MCHLG. Security Clearance Usually we would expect staff of the successful supplier to hold at least CTC clearance. However, as the expectation with this is the vast majority of work will be delivered off-site and remotely, the team shall be escorted while on site in 2 Marsham Street. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Value for money • Approach and methodology • Timescales to deliver the project • Technical skillset Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team (both internal and external) • Iterate your approach to delivering this requirement • Continuous delivery • User-centric delivery (for delivering technical requirements) Payment Approach Time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 15% Price 35% Questions from Suppliers 1. What is the budget for this work? A budget range of between £40,000 to £60,000 is available to deliver this requirement 2. Please can you re-clarify the budget or team size expectation. A "team" would be at least 3 developers plus a Scrum Master in the common Agile framework of Scrum. Your budget of £60,000 equates to under £1000 a day for the team, so for a minimum team of 4 this is £250 per day per person (not aligned to market rates). How many people are you considering as the team? We expecting the supplier to propose a team size – the proposal in this question seems reasonable, although an experienced team might not need a full-time scrum master (you will know your team best!). In terms of budget, the timescales expected to deliver is flexible based on your experience. We would look to flex our scope in a situation where a supplier felt they could deliver more during that period - 7 key reports before December is the Minimum Viable Product. Engagement with our development supplier suggests this work could be delivered by a team of 3 devs before December.