Prevent E-learning Platform - development, hosting and management of content

Tender description

Summary of the work The Home Office is seeking a supplier to, via a discovery phase, assess its current training platform and determine the extent of its reusability and compliance against Government Digital Standards. Dependent on the outcome, the supplier may be awarded subsequent alpha and beta phases. Latest start date Wednesday 1 May 2019 Budget Range Up to £50K for the Discovery Phase. In the event that Alpha and Beta is awarded as separate statements of work, this contract may have a value of up to £1.5m. Why the Work is Being Done Under the Prevent Duty, certain public bodies are required to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. They are required to ensure that staff are provided with the knowledge and confidence to identify individuals at risk of being drawn into all types of terrorism and take appropriate action to safeguard those individuals. The delivery of this training requirement has changed since 2015 from a position of mainly face to face training to predominantly eLearning. We require a long-term solution to provide a one stop shop for all training requirements online including downloadable resources. Problem to Be Solved The current training provision is not aligned to UK Gov's Digital Service Standards, accessibility requirements and modern digital platforms meaning that it is inflexible and not future proofed against existing and developing user needs. In order to develop this further, the Home Office is seeking a supplier to initially undertake a Discovery phase to review and the current platform content and assess future technical requirements in order to provide a number of technical options in delivering the future training strategy. Alpha and Beta Phases may also be awarded under this contract, subject to approval and contract. Who Are the Users E-learning is provided, primarily at an entry level, for HO partner organisations across England, Wales & Scotland (Circa 5 million+ staff) however, there is a requirement to develop bespoke complementary training resources at an advanced level. Partners include: Department for Education Department for Health Local Authorities Police HMPPS Other public sectors The training enables frontline practitioners to spot the signs of radicalisation, learn what steps to take, and when necessary, refer them to see if additional support is required. We have identified three key audiences – Frontline staff, Managers with a safeguarding role and Practitioners E.g. Channel panel members. Work Already Done There is an existing Public facing eLearning platform hosting training content specific to Prevent: http://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/preventreferrals https://www.elearning.prevent.homeoffice.gov.uk/channelawareness It is the intention that this course material will be the basis from which the future requirements are based and form part of the discovery phase. Existing Team The supplier will be working with the Prevent training team who own and have oversight of the current Prevent eLearning content and responsibility of the development of new bespoke content. The team consists of a Project Manager, Project Finance Support, and Procurement Manager. There is an existing supplier that hosts the current platform that a new supplier would need to work with to transfer responsibilities during the mobilisation phase of the new contract. Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Experience of delivering a discovery phase in line with GDS guidelines • Proven track record of delivering projects at speed using an agile project management methodology with clearly identified deliverables and timescales. • Demonstrable evidence of abilility to incorporate a range of innovative and cutting edge technologies to enhance product specifications, resulting in increased functionality and improved user experience. • Experience of drawing up recommendations and options for alpha/beta on IT and data projects Nice to Haves • Demonstrable evidence of using clear development methodologies, outlining how this would work in conjunction with a client’s internal development team. • Experience in conducting stakeholder analysis where knowledge gaps were identified and plans implemented to address the shortfall. • Experience and technical ability to deliver digital elearning projects from Discovery, Alpha and Beta Phases • Demonstrable evidence of working successfully with users in the public sector landscape or in similar public services contexts. • Experience of working with a range of contractors and sub-contractors in order to deliver a project. • Provide evidence of government domain expertise and Government Digital Service understanding Work Location It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be able to work from their own location. Working Arrangments The Authority would look to hold an initial workshop followed by meeting at milestones and touch points, subject to further definition and input from the bidders proposal. Security Clearance All supplier staff should meet the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard Controls, defined at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmg-personnel-security-controls Additional T&Cs 1. Payment will be via the Home Office's electronic payment system 2. Any travel and expenses will be in accordance with Home Office policy. 3. Key Supplier staff included in proposals will be expected to work on the contract. 4. Supplier will be required to agree to the Authority's security requirements including having Cyber Essentials 5. The Supplier shall (when designing, implementing and delivering the Services) ensure that it and its employees or sub-contractors work in alignment to the Government Commercial Function Supplier Partner Code of Conduct (September 2017) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplier-code-of-conduct throughout the term of the contract. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Approach and methodology - clear and detailed timeframes, considering all factors from develop through to delivery, future proofing, ongoing maintenance and upgrades (20%) • Technical infrastructure - evidence that the organisation has the technical ability to develop and deliver the discovery (20%) • How the approach or solution meets user needs - how the solution will be tailored to meeting the problem statement, and how this might be managed during the process (20%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Provide evidence of working with UK Government, local authorities or large organisations with a range of different stakeholders (2%). • Provide evidence of sharing knowledge, experience and collaborating as part of a wider group (2%). • Have the ability to communicate effectively and be responsive to client needs (1%). • Has respect and understanding of client's internal governance and procedures (1%). • Be innovative, cutting edge and not afraid to try new things (2%) • Have security at the heart of its organisation (2%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 10% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. What is the expected contract length for the discovery phase? The expected contract length for the discovery phase is 6 to 8 weeks. 2. Would you accept an organisation currently undergoing the Cyber Essentials process? Yes 3. Is this to replace the current NCALT system? No it is not to replace the current NCALT system. 4. In each answer would you prefer: One case study (in depth) per answer OR where appropriate several case studies (covered in brief) in each answer? The 'essential and nice to have skills & experience’ request bidders to provide evidence of your skills & experience within the available word count. It is the bidders decision whether a detailed response of 1 example or a less detailed response of many examples best meets the criteria. 5. In addition to BPSS would you require SC (or any other Clearance) for any or all of the team? SC would not be required particularly. The miniumum requirement is BPSS. 6. Can you host a call with suppliers about this opportunity where we can have a live Q&A and the discussion notes are shared on this tender ad? This has proven helpful on other DM opportunities. A live Q&A has not been factored into this particular advertisement and the written Q&A process on the portal selected. 7. Has there been any previous research/data into user needs? The prevent training team have undertaken an internal review and hold some information on user needs. 8. Will any team from the Home Office be working on this project? Yes, it is confirmed in the advert who the existing team is. 9. The DOS ad mentions that you may proceed to Alpha/Beta. Is Home Office looking for the Discovery to compare Build vs. Buy options on training solutions, or are you firmly expecting that the outcome will be "Build" i.e. because you have bespoke technical needs? It is expected that the Discovery process will explore Build v Buy options. 10. Can we confirm the extent of the "review... current content". Does this mean review the detail of the context or only the type/style – i.e. to ensure the proposed solution supports all necessary types of content? The review is expected to, but not limited to, review existing approach, material and content. 11. Is the existing training hosting supplier looking to bring their system up to GDS compliance, i.e. can they bid for this work too? The existing supplier has the opportunity to bid for this work. 12. Please, can you provide details of what the next steps are following this initial application i.e. deadlines for the written proposal/if there will be an interview and when? This detail will be confirmed following shortlisting, however is expected to take place shortly after this. 13. Who from your team will be scoring applications for this opportunity and what positions do they hold? Bids will be scored via a mix of relevant technical and commercial Home Office team members. 14. Are you working with any existing suppliers in relation to this tender opportunity? If you are, who are they? No existing suppliers are providing support in the development or award of this opportunity. 15. Will it be an advantage for a supplier to be able to deliver subsequent alpha and beta phases of the work? Or will you be awarding this work purely on the ability to deliver the discovery phase? This advert offers the opportunity for a supplier to be awarded subsequent statements of work, following delivery of the Discovery and subsequent business decisions related to it. This is represented within the ‘nice to have’ criteria (i.e. it is not essential). The Home Office also reserves the right to return to the market if it wishes to do so.