Provision of a Data Analytics Capability (DAC)

Tender description

Summary of the work The Provision of a cost effective, flexible and scalable Data Analytics Capability Managed Service that enables the exploitation of data including data from in-house and external applications under-pining effective decision making and planning. Copies of the SoR are available from nigel.rummey399@mod.gov.uk Expected Contract Length 2 years (24 months) Latest start date Wednesday 1 April 2020 Why the Work is Being Done ADAT is the Army HQ's centre of specialism for producing Business Intelligence (BI) and Management Information (MI) to the 3* and 4* areas. The Data Analytics Capability (DAC) contract is key in supporting the growing need for beacon projects and change programmes, utilising new data sets and data quality tools and plays a significant contribution in meeting the demand for high end MI and BI, and analytical innovation. Problem to Be Solved Operating large data sets integrated from multiple sources to provide single authoritative data sets which enables interrogation, comparison, and analysis and exploitation, through reports, models and dashboards. The service will be required to provide support in maintaining existing services whilst developing new requirements directed by ADAT. Copies of the Statement of Requirement and and Written Proposal Template are available from nigel.rummey399@mod.gov.uk Who Are the Users The users of this are split into 3 types: Specialist users trained with skills in data wrangling and mining to produce data analysis using predictive, forecasting, modelling, and statistical techniques. Self Service users, creating and producing their own reports and dashboards under the guidance and support of ADAT. Consumers of reports and dashboards through a single sign on mechanism through MODNET used to answer day to day questions with more than a 1000 reports being run monthly. Work Already Done The current service providers use SAS, OBIEE and Power BI Software Suite of tools providing the appropriate number of trained and skilled resources to meet specific requirements as directed by ADAT. The service is provided between the hours of 08.00 and 17.30 Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). Existing Team The current service provides a core team which flexes between 4 and 6 analysts dependent on the skills required to deliver the outputs embedded within ADAT. This service works closely with a very small mixed team of civilian and military personnel, but interacts with customers across the Army. Surge resource will be embedded in individual project teams. Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Demonstrate a track record of successfully using and implementing Data Analytics tools on the following platforms SAS, Power BI and OBIEE within the last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Experience deploying suitably skilled, security cleared experienced personnel to assist the Authority for roles which they are employed against the SFIA framework within the last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Demonstrate extensive knowledge, skills experience with SAS tool suite; Data Integrator, Enterprise Guide, Data Mining, Visual Analytics, Forecast Studio, Data Flux, Operational Research within last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Demonstrate depth of skills capability across major Analytics platforms to support the Authority on platforms that may be used in the future (i.e. SAS, Palantir, Salesforce, Tableau, Qlikview, etc.) (1%) • Experience providing documentation to Authority standards, policies, processes; demonstrating business rules, processes and standardisation across MI and BI providing the Authority with transparency within last 5 years (with dates) (1%) • Experience in establishing and executing processes to take analytics capabilities from a development environment into a production environment including archiving to ensure good housekeeping (1%) • Experience in conducting assessments and cataloguing of the as-is data, system and reporting landscape to inform future reporting capabilities and support Freedom of Information Requests (1%) • Experience providing training to the Authority to enable the transfer of a “business as usual” capability through knowledge, skills and experience transfer within the last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Demonstrate experience of data fusion between open source and Defence held data to conduct geo-location analytics in support of infrastructure balance of investment (1%) • Experience of Level 1-4 platform administration of SAS 9.4 on both Microsoft and Linux and holding of a SAS Platform Administration 9 certification within last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Demonstrate experience of auditing and identification of efficiency improvements that are acted upon to demonstrate organisational improvement (1%) • Demonstrate experience of 2nd line support for any security, application and configuration issues within SAS within the last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Experience of data science and machine learning to include natural language processing using existing MOD data within the last 2 years (with dates) (1%) • Demonstrate Data Science, machine learning experience, skills extracting insight from information for ‘big-data’ initiatives and integrating large data sets into single analytics capability within last 2 years (with dates) (1%) • Confirmation of completion of a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) to demonstrate compliance with the Cyber Risk Profile against Risk Assessment Reference RAR-DKQ74HZF (High). Octavian online tool: https://supplier-cyber-protection.service.gov.uk/ (1%) Nice to Haves • Experience and understanding of how algorithms are designed, optimised and applied at scale to enable the selection of appropriate statistical methods for sampling, distribution assessment, bias and error (1%) • Recognises/exploits business opportunities ensuring more efficient/effective ways to use data science and the use of data science tools to tackle business/organisational challenges within last 3 years (with dates) (1%) • Experience applying data science techniques to present, communicate and disseminate data science products effectively, appropriately and with high-impact (1%) • Demonstrate a user centric design solution to meet user needs while taking account of agreed cross-government ethics standards (1%) • Demonstrate experience working with other contractors, technologists, analysts integrating/separating data feeds to map, produce, transform, test new scalable data products meeting user needs within last 3 years (with dates) (1%) Work Location Army Headquarters, Marlborough Lines, Monxton Road, ANDOVER. SP11 8HJ Working Arrangments Provide a managed service in support of the Army HQ Data Analytical Capability as directed by the ADAT. Work must be completed working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders consisting of civilian and military personnel and other suppliers and consultancy providers. The authority expects the resources to work in Army HQ ANDOVER with occasional site visits in the UK . Remote working is permitted by exception, subject to security constraints and the need to access stakeholders and MoD systems. Security Clearance The supplier will be required to provide incumbents cleared at SC level and experience working with high volumes of personal data (so are DPA 18 aware) and employment will be in line with JSP 440 regulations. Incumbents are to follow both the letter and spirit of Army Headquarters security regulations. Additional T&Cs DEFCON 5J (Edn 18/11/16) Unique Identifiers DEFCON 76 (Edn 12/06) Contractors on site DEFCON 129J (Edn 18/11/16) Electronic business Delivery Form DEFCON 513 (Edn 11/16) Value Added Tax DEFCON 516 (Edn 04/12) Equality DEFCON 518 (Edn 02/17) Transfer DEFCON 531 (Edn 11/14) Disclosure of Information DEFCON 534 (Edn 06/17) Subcontracting and Prompt Payment DEFCON 537 (Edn 06/02) Rights of Third Parties DEFCON 550 (Edn 02/14) Child Labour and Employment Law DEFCON 566 (Edn 12/18) Change of control of contractor DEFCON 642 (Edn 06/14) Progress meetings DEFCON 658 (Edn 10/17) Cyber DEFCON 694 (Edn 07/18) Accounting for Property of the Authority No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Approach and methodology and how the solution meets the users’ needs (5%) • Commitment to quality of the deliverables, outcomes and experience of the resources, and rapid remediation / replacement if an issue occurs (5%) • Provide core team structure and CVs of those who could be part of the service and their experience relevant to this requirement. (5%) • Ability to flex up and down resources to meet the demand of the project during different phases, whilst ensuring quality and consistency. (5%) • Value for money (5%) • Provide two referenceable client-focussed case studies where your company have provided the desired service similar to this requirement. (5%) • How the approach or solution meets your organisation's policy or goal (3%) • How they've identified risks and dependencies and offered approaches to manage them (2%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Able to communicate effectively with staff, technical SMEs and senior management to identify pragmatic solutions to problems within resource constrained environment. (3%) • Recent proven experience of an open, transparent and collaborative working relationship at all levels with excellent communication and co-ordination skills when conducting daily stand-ups, team meetings, presentation and demonstrations. (3%) • Suppliers must demonstrate an ability and willingness to work collaboratively within a multi-vendor delivery environment to achieve outcomes (2%) • Be willing to challenge the status-quo with a no blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes (2%) Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 55% Cultural fit 10% Price 35% Questions from Suppliers 1. What's the budget? The Authority has a budget but, to ensure we obtain Value for Money, I am not in a position to divulge the budget. 2. What is the timeline? Contract to commence 01 Apr 20. Transition period (if required) 02 - 31 Mar 20. 3. you ask... Experience providing documentation to Authority standards, policies, processes; demonstrating business rules, processes and standardisation across MI and BI providing the Authority with transparency within last 5 years (with dates). Can you confirm if "Authority" means Army HQ or "an Authority" be they MoD or otherwsie, including private sector. Authority refers to MoD. 4. Kindly confirm that the proposal template needs to be completed only by shortlisted suppliers and not at this stage Confirmed 5. We note the essential criteria: "Confirmation of completion of a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) to demonstrate compliance with the Cyber Risk Profile against Risk Assessment Reference RAR-DKQ74HZF (High). Octavian online tool: https://supplier-cyber-protection.service.gov.uk/"Having entered the Risk Assessment Reference on the aforementioned website, we see the message "Reference must be for a published, non-sample RA and should not be for a Not Applicable Cyber Risk Profile. Moderate/High Cyber Risk Profiles require enhanced access – contact us to request.” Having clicked the “contact us” link, we’re taken to a page offering no mechanism to request “enhanced access". Please advise how to proceed. When trying to access the 'Contact Us' page we see the same almost blank page. Additional information is available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplier-cyber-protection-service 6. Can you please advise the current size (no. or people/roles) of the incumbent that has carried out the work so far? There is 6 core members of the team, 4 x full time, 2 x part time 7. Please can you confirm whether the Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the Cyber Risk Profile against Risk Assessment Reference RAR-DKQ74HZF (High). Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is not sufficient. A Security Assurance Questionaaire (SAQ) must be completed in response to RAR-DKQ74HZF. 8. We have been made aware of an issue the the Octavian tool which is inhibiting suppliers from completing an SAQ against the published Cyber Risk Assessment. This is a known issue with the tool which has occurred this week. If the issue is not resolved by Octavian before the submission deadline for the Expressions of Interest then no supplier with be disadvantaged for not completing the SAQ providing they confirm that they have attemped to and intend to do so. If the issue is resolved prior to submission deadline all suppliers will be expected to have completed an SAQ.