Discovery into how DfE user journeys are presented online

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done DfE is transforming from a policy to a delivery department. Following mapping discoveries in 2017, research identified around 250 digital services and nearly 60 service lines. Work has already begun to deliver some of these. DfE now wants to strategically align our user journeys across the government digital estate - including content and digital services - to provide a better experience for our users and to improve join up across our various departmental responsibilities, in line with the Secretary of State’s digital ambition. Problem to Be Solved It is hard for some users to find DfE content and services. This Discovery should explore: Users' needs for accessing DfE content and services. How users interact with the brands that DfE's domains provide and how they might interact with new brands in future. Co-design exercises to prototype and test new ways in which users could access DFE content and services in a joined up way providing a better experience. Financial analysis to support a DFE business case. Subject to approval, deliver an Alpha to: Take forward recommendations into an alpha. Deliver a report recommending work to undertake during Beta. Who Are the Users As a parent I need to know how to apply for financial support for my child, as a parent I need to find support to help my child learn at home, as a potential teacher I need to train to be a teacher so that I can be employed as a qualified teacher, as a school leader I need to know about funding opportunities so that my school can apply for relevant grants. We would expect the supplier to further define user-stories as part of the discovery phase. Early Market Engagement Work Already Done Existing Team A small team of civil servants will be in place to work with the discovery team as part of this requirement. Current Phase Not started Work Location Department for Education 20 Great Smith St Westminster London SW1P 3BT Working Arrangments Co-located working principally from the DfE's London office, maximising opportunity for engagement with the policy unit and stakeholders. Some travel to meet users is likely. In relation to expenses, this must be included in the contract sum, there is not a separate budget for expenses. Operate a standard agile methodology: daily stand-us, sprint planning, sprints, retrospectives, show and tells. Supplier will lead by being a role model in agile working. Security Clearance BPSS as a minimum. Additional T&Cs Standard Framework and Call Off Terms and Conditions. Expenses must be pre-agreed and comply with CCS Travel and Subsistence Policy. Any expenses shall be submitted in line with DfE standard T&S policy. Primary work location stated in SoW will not attract expenses. Contract and Vendor Management will form a key part of governance and suppliers will be expected to co-operate in a manner that fosters healthy working relationships and quality delivery. Suppliers must provide sufficient guarantees to meet the requirements of GDPR in line with Procurement Policy Note 03/17 Changes to Data Protection Legislation & General Data Protection Regulation Skills & Experience Recent and demonstrable experience in delivering evidence-based research to inform a user-centred design, focused on user needs, end-to-end user journeys, motivations and goals. Recent and demonstrable experience of designing and developing digital services that meet identified user needs and business objectives. 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. Recent and demonstrable evidence of managing and delivering discovery and alpha projects, meeting all requirements and successfully delivering outcomes within specified timescales. Recent and demonstrable experience of working with in-house teams with limited Agile experience and sharing knowledge to develop in-house team capability. Be agnostic of any particular software, enabling us to consider a range of options to meet user needs. Understand how to effectively build brand(s) for public services online that can work with GOV.UK Nice to Haves Demonstrable evidence of working successfully with users in the school/education landscape or in similar public services contexts. Demonstrable knowledge or experience of the education and education policy landscape. Demonstrable experience of managing and proactively engaging internal stakeholders across multiple digital projects and building relationships to support wider digital transformation. Experience of working successfully with UK public sector organisations of a similar size and scope to the DfE No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria Evidence that the proposed approach and methodology for discovery and alpha will successfully ascertain user needs and meet specified objectives for the discovery and alpha. Proposed plan of activities with clear deliverables and dates demonstrating the ability to complete the delivery of the discovery and alpha project within the required challenging timescales. Proposed supplier team structure, with evidence to demonstrate a strong team and how their skills and experience will deliver the required outcome. Evidence that the supplier has an appreciation of the education policy landscape of this project and that the proposal is relevant to that context. Identification of key options, assumptions, dependencies, risk and issues, with robust approaches to addressing them. Evidence of how the proposal represents value for money for DfE. Demonstration of appropriate approach to working with in-house teams with limited technical and Agile expertise. Proposed workable and flexible approach to co-location of the team with DfE. Cultural Fit Criteria Demonstrate your approach to engaging with internal senior stakeholders undergoing cultural change and how this will support project success. Demonstrate how you will work transparently, collaboratively and share your approach with the DfE project team and seek actionable feedback. Demonstrate approach to knowledge and skills transfer to permanent members of staff Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Written proposal Case study Work history Reference Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers Budget range up to £160,000 for discovery and up £400,000 for alpha totalling £560,000 for the entire contract.