Housing Webpages User Experience Research, Testing and Design

Tender description

Summary of the work The consultant will user test: • Housing website pages • information architecture elements • service design patterns • forms • UI on mobile Deliverables: • testing and research results and documentation • accessible UX elements (wireframes, html) and design solutions Specialist role User researcher Expected Contract Length 6 weeks Latest start date Monday 18 February 2019 Early Market Engagement • We have completed general UX testing for the main website. • We have conducted a broad web content review focused on user needs. This work stream analyses website traffic. • A new website for Lewisham Council is being launched in January 2019 with a new look and feel. • We can help – to a limited degree – with recruitment of test users via the council e-newsletter, and directly from the housing services. • We are conducting workshops with stakeholders in the housing service to identify service needs and priorities for Housing Webpages. Who Speclialist Work With The consultant will work in partnership with our project team comprised of: • Project manager • Product owner – website • Content editor • Communications Officer • Graphic designer • Web officer • Housing managers What Specialists Work On There are currently approximately 30 housing related pages on the website. We're looking for an excellent UX agency to: • carry out research and testing covering this information and online forms • identify the UX issues • find the best solutions and test them. Solutions will be integrated into new content for housing webpages. The UX research and testing work will need to identify issues with: • current website pages and typical user journeys • content and information architecture elements • forms and form elements • UI choices on mobile devices • graphics and images. Skills & Experience • Be a market leader in UX research and testing • Have very good expertise in digital design and digital strategy • Have excellent knowledge and experience in interaction design and prototyping • Have excellent skills and experience in web design and development Nice to Haves Have experience of working for public sector (local government) Work Location London Borough of Lewisham Civic Suite 1 Catford Road SE6 4 RU London Some of the work can be done remotely (web development + design) Working Arrangments At least 2 days per week in Lewisham borough / council offices for user testing and meetings. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team with our organisation • Share knowledge and experience • Be transparent and collaborative • Take responsibility for their work • Challenge the status quo and existing assumption • Consider both present and future requirements Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 30% Cultural fit 10% Price 60% Questions from Suppliers 1. What is the maximum day rate for the specialist role of user researcher? There is no maximum day rate for any roles within this commission. Responses will be rated on overall value for money. 2. As we are able to put forward multiple practitioners for the role, are we able to base our responses on our agency's experience? Responses should relate to this specification as well as demonstrate relevant experience. 3. Are you looking for an individual specialist or an agency? Both individual specialists and agencies may respond to this specification. 4. What is the IR35 status? IR35 is a tax status that relates to off-payroll working. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ir35-find-out-if-it-applies 5. Is 'accessible' referring to web content accessibility guidelines https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/ ? Yes. 6. Could you clarify what you mean by 'accessible UX elements (wireframes, html) and design solutions'? Any solution deployed on the website needs to be WCAG2 AA compliant. For example: visual design needs to pass contrast tests, form elements should have relevant labels, multimedia content needs to be complemented by text-only versions. 7. Is this role inside or outside IR35? IR35 Status would not apply to this role as we are seeking to engage a business rather than a personal service. We would accept a substitute agent who meets the right criteria but is would be the selected business who must pay a substitute. 8. Is there any certain clearance required for this position? There is no specific security clearance for this position, though a selected supplier will be required to sign an information sharing agreement, and a non-disclosure agreement.