Data Service Provision and Interoperability

Tender description

Summary of the work Development of data transforming, routing, hosting and other supporting components to improve the services we provide to our Defence customers whilst also ensuring alignment with wider Met Office Architecture. In addition, planning, preparation and execution for regular external interoperability and experimental exploitation events. Expected Contract Length 2 years Latest start date Monday 14 October 2019 Budget Range Maximum £1.1 million which includes, but is not limited to, development, project planning and handover activities. Why the Work is Being Done New customer requirements and changes to Enterprise Architecture are driving us to change how we deliver services to our Defence customers. Our Solutions Architect has defined several high-level software components that are required to ensure that Defence services work effectively within the wider Met Office Architecture whilst still meeting upcoming customer requirements. In addition, to ensure operational success, we continue to attend external exercises, such as CWIX, Sandbox and Nelson, alongside our Defence partners. These exercises allow us to deploy our services onto secure networks together with our partners to assess effectiveness and levels of interoperability during simulated military scenarios. Problem to Be Solved Major changes in how forecast data is delivered from our high performance computer require us to change how we deliver data to downstream systems. In addition, the need to deploy our services to many different environments and classification levels require portable and environment-agnostic solutions. These data routing and hosting requirements will be met by the Data Service Provision project. We must also ensure that our systems operate effectively in a live, military environment when used together with our partners’ systems. This need will be met by the Interoperability project. Who Are the Users End users are typically meteorological and oceanographic specialists who provide briefings for Defence decision making. The meteorologists tend to be Met Office employees but MetOc specialists also exist in parts of the MOD and other NATO countries. These end users need to access relevant forecast data quickly in secure systems, in connected, disadvantaged or disconnected environments. Work Already Done • We are currently supplying data to our Defence customers using legacy architecture. • Some specialist applications already exist based on legacy architecture. • An alpha of an AWS-based API exists which makes forecast data available using the new architecture has been developed. • Several high-level design options have been identified to provide the tactical decision aid suite (TDA) and Defence customers with data using the new architecture. • As part of a recent CWIX exercise, a service was created to allow users to select areas of interest from the AWS-based data API for delivery to higher classification environments. Existing Team 1x Product Owner, 1x Solution Architect, 1x Technical Lead (who will manage the supplier’s development team as an Agile project). We anticipate a short period overlap with the incumbent supplier for technical handover. Current Phase Alpha Skills & Experience • Demonstrate experience of delivering complex software solutions working collaboratively with in-house teams while providing effective coaching and mentoring • Demonstrate provision of Senior / Lead Developers in a public sector / government sector (SFIA PROG up to level 5) • Demonstrate experience of working with government sector organisations to deliver software development projects with complex regulatory requirements including international standards and governing bodies • Demonstrate experience of tailored application of Agile working practices and process such as Scrum and Kanban to meet prioritised project milestones • Demonstrate experience of using Secure by Design, Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery development approaches including unit and full stack automated testing • Demonstrate experience of working with industry standard APIs such as OGC to expose and/or consume complex datasets such as Meteorological Forecast and Observational Data • Demonstrate experience of data format transformation between standards, such as WMO GRIB1, GRIB2, CFNetCDF, MetGM, MetCM and other artillery formats, while meeting prescriptive timeliness rules • Demonstrate experience of AWS including serverless architectures and automation of AWS resources • Demonstrate experience of modern software build techniques and tools, such as Jenkins, JIRA, GIT, Maven • Demonstrate experience of containerisation using Docker and supporting technologies such as Kubernetes • Demonstrate knowledge of IBL's Visual Weather • Demonstrate experience of Esri ArcGIS • Demonstrate experience of secure coding compliant with Cyber Essentials Plus • Demonstrate experience of understanding outputs from IT Health Checks and how to resolve vulnerabilities identified • General working knowledge and application of JSP440, JSP604 and Defence Cyber Protection Partnership very low to high • Ability to flex and surge resources to support agreed project plan to manage changes and minimise impacts on quality and delivery • Demonstrate experience of knowledge transfer during and at the completion of a contract Nice to Haves • Demonstrate experience of IBL's Visual Weather, preferably including basic use, configuration and exposure of Meteorological Data via APIs • Demonstrate experience of Behaviour Driven Development and Test Driven Development • Demonstrate experience delivering software projects for national or international Defence customers • Knowledge in the weather domain • Demonstrate experience of using Nifi, preferably to manage data routing • Demonstrate experience of delivering within Waterfall and Agile project management frameworks • Familiarity with NATO Recognised Environmental Picture • Familiarity with MOD Geospatial Metadata Profile, NATO Geospatial Metadata Profile (STANAG 2586) • Familiarity with NATO Federated Mission Networks • Familiarity with NATO Hazard Impact Layers • Familiarity with NATO Defence Geospatial Information Working Group, (DGIWG) • Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems Speciality Group, (GISSG) • Familiarity with Met Office Tactical Decision Aids (TDA) • Familiarity with Met Office MOMIDS Work Location The successful candidate will be expected to work at Exeter Met Office HQ during handover and on-boarding activities. Co-location is preferred however remote working may be possible (to be agreed with Met Office). Working Arrangments Hot desks are available at Exeter Met Office HQ. Minimum engagement will be attendance at daily "stand-ups" (including remote attendance). Any supplier Technical Lead will work under the supervision of a Met Office Technical Lead and Solutions Architect. Outstanding work is logged in a product backlog which is continuously updated and prioritised by the Met Office Product Manager. Security Clearance Supplier staff are required to be minimum SC cleared before contract start date. DV clearance will be required in some cases. Supplier must be able to supply UK nationals for certain development and trials with Defence partners. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Technical solution • How the approach or solution meets a balance of security, cost and user needs • Estimated timeframes for the work • Approach and working methods • Value for money • Ability to meet security requirements included in Cyber Security Questionnaire Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers • Be able to demonstrate effective remote working practices when not co-located • Be prepared to coach and mentor in-house development teams • Plan to deliver knowledge transfer to the in-house team for the duration of the contract • Ability to work on site but deliver off site including abroad for extended periods (up to 4 weeks in duration without return) Payment Approach Time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers No questions have been answered yet.