Digital Solution for Integrated Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) Information - Discovery

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done Multi-Academy Trusts are playing an increasingly important role in the education system. There is a wide range of information about MATs published in the public domain, but to ensure this keeps pace with the role of MATs the department needs to facilitate a common understanding of the role trusts play and provide assurance to the public that its system of oversight is robust. Problem to Be Solved To ensure the Department is making best use of the transparency of information about MATs already available to have maximum impact in increasing understanding of the role trusts play and give the public confidence that oversight of MATs is robust. This discovery seeks to find the best solution for doing that. Who Are the Users - As a trust CEO I need to demonstrate I am accountable so the public has assurance I am held to a high standard. - As a parent of a child attending an Ofsted inadequate school I need to know information about the MAT the school is joining so that I have confidence my child will receive the best education possible. - As a school thinking about joining a MAT I need impartial information about its performance to help me make an informed choice on whether to join. Early Market Engagement Work Already Done We have engaged over 120 MATs to gather user insights about how the Department can facilitate a common understanding of the role trusts play in the education system using publicly available information. This found that DfE already publishes a wide range of information about MATs, but this is in different places, published in different ways. Bringing MAT information together in one place would: • support trusts to develop and improve by providing clearer information about performance. • make it easier for parents and the public to identify MATs that are performing well, or poorly, acting as a spur for improvements Existing Team Two existing DfE staff with limited experience in digital/agile methodologies. Current Phase Discovery Work Location Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, London. Co-locating with existing DfE team. Working Arrangments The discovery team should work according to agile methodology, in line with the GDS Service Manual; daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprints, retrospectives, show and tells. The discovery team should work 5 days per week, based on-site in DfE offices. The supplier should provide their own IT equipment. DfE will provide access to DfE systems and assets as required. The supplier will need to collaborate with the DfE team and invest time in knowledge sharing and coaching to increase DfE staff capability. All expenses will be included in the contract price and made in accordance with the DfE expenses policy Security Clearance BPSS clearance is required for all team members. Additional T&Cs All expenses should comply with DfE Travel & Subsistence Policy, which will be provided at the proposal stage of the process. All title to and all rights and interest in the IPR’s in the Services delivered by the Supplier for the Customer under this Call-Off Contract (or by a third party on behalf of the Supplier), and all updates and amendments of these items, shall vest in the Customer. Skills & Experience Recent and demonstrable experience of managing and delivering discovery projects, meeting all requirements and successfully delivering outcomes within specified timescales. (12) Recent demonstrable experience delivering discovery agile projects according to Government Digital Standards (GDS), including GDS Service Design Manual; the Digital Service Standard Assessment; Technology Code of Practice; wider industry standards.(5) Recent and demonstrable experience in delivering evidence-based research to inform a user-centred design, focus on user needs (including accessibility), end-to-end user journeys, motivations and goals. (3) Recent and demonstrable experience of understanding digital services that meet identified user needs and business objectives. (3) Recent and demonstrable experience in defining sets of functional and non-functional requirements and criteria that can be used to inform tool selection. (3) Proven experience of defining data transformation and migration strategies and architecture for data collection and manipulation solutions. (2) Be agnostic of any particular digital ways and software, enabling us to consider a range of options to meet user needs. (1) Nice to Haves Recent and demonstrable experience of working with in-house teams with limited agile experience and sharing knowledge, coaching, mentoring and upskilling to develop in-house team capability (4) Recent and demonstrable experience of evolving the most appropriate solution/data/technical architecture to meet user’s requirements, fully integrating across different environments and technologies (3) Knowledge of the UK education system, including accountability of MATs. (2) Demonstrable evidence of working successfully with users in the school/education system (3) No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 4 Proposal Criteria Proposed plan of activities with clear deliverables and dates demonstrating the ability to complete the delivery of the discovery project within the required challenging timescales.(6) Evidence of how the proposal represents value for money for DfE. (6) Proposed supplier team structure, with evidence to demonstrate a strong team and how their skills and experience will deliver the required outcome. (5) Evidence that the proposed approach and methodology for discovery will successfully ascertain user needs and meet specififed objectives for the discovery. (4) Evidence that the supplier has an appreciation of the role MATs play in the education system (1) Identification of key options, assumptions, dependencies, risk and issues, with robust approaches to addressing them. (3) Demonstration of appropriate approach to working with in-house teams with limited technical and agile expertise. (3) Proposed workable and flexible approach to co-location of the team within DfE. (1) Cultural Fit Criteria Demonstrate understanding of DfE's need to deliver the best value for money solution. (6) Demonstrate how you will work transparently, collaboratively and share your approach with the DfE MAT accountability Team, as well as other policy teams (e.g. assessment), and seek actionable feedback.(4) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Written proposal Case study Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers Budget range up to £100k including vat and expenses.