Building REST APIs for our API platform

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done Hackney has been developing service and platform APIs to its API standard (the distinction is explained: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nvfUsdNGz08yPyOQKIB8ZM8Qb0DJFwEgS855f3WAjhA/edit&sa=D&ust=1579464761889000&usg=AFQjCNHDLqXYoQbTu2_38-lyJbM0X0B09A). These are increasing our speed of development, the resilience and security of how we manage data so that we can better meet user needs from our digital services. This team will help accelerate the pace with which we develop APIs by augmenting our capacity whilst ensuring APIs meet our standards. Problem to Be Solved We have identified a set of user needs for platform APIs - particularly for tenant and leaseholder information (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1unk2CML8GSnG9LgVta1oNNPvf63fnD3qX3OCQKLzQpo/edit&sa=D&ust=1579464761890000&usg=AFQjCNHqfy1ANymVtOKLewaeCdsyfA5HOA), repairs and document management. These APIs will support the development of our digital services. Who Are the Users As an application developer I need to access master data via Hackney's platform APIs so that I can GET and POST data via a digital service. As a third party developer, I need to connect to Hackney’s APIs so that I can provide a digital service. As the API Platform Product Owner I need APIs that meet our standards so that we can maintain and continuously improve our APIs Early Market Engagement We have developed APIs through other projects over the last 18 months, in partnership with a range of digital agencies and the API Playbook has been scrutinised by technical leads of five digital agencies. Work Already Done Hackney's API Platform: https://developer.api.hackney.gov.uk/ The API Playbook: https://github.com/LBHackney-IT/API-Playbook-v2-beta We are in the process of conducting pre-discovery for each of the prioritised APIs which will be complete as this procurement concludes Existing Team Development and Integration Manager, three lead developers and four junior developers along with 2 apprentices who are trained on tech stack. All of the team is familiar with .NET and the associated Microsoft stack. The team is also supported by three additional developers on fixed term contracts to support the teams developing digital services for tenants and leaseholders. Current Phase Alpha Work Location Hackney Council offices in Mare Street, E8 Working Arrangments We would expect the team to spend some time co-located to develop relationships, but other support can take place via Google Meet and Slack. Security Clearance Additional T&Cs Skills & Experience Have experience of working to the user-centred, Agile methods advocated in the Service Design Manual Have experience of developing the technical architecture for secure, scalable data platforms Have experience of designing and developing minimum viable solutions Have experience of developing ‘in the open’ - using tools such as Github Be able to advise on the best technology to adopt given the council’s aims Demonstrate experience of developing REST APIs to open standards Have experience of working with .NET core, Docker, AWS and Terraform Have demonstrable experience of supporting knowledge-transfer Nice to Haves Developed a service to meet the national, or local government digital service standard Experience of master data management No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria Understanding of user needs from the service Clarity of the approach Experience from an analogous project Team structure, including skills, experiences and relevance of individuals Cultural Fit Criteria Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions Share knowledge and experience with team members and the wider service Demonstrate simplicity (e.g. do less but better, explaining complex issues in a clear, simple way, break down and prioritise complex issues) Hackney is a diverse organisation, reflecting the diversity of our borough. Describe how you would successfully work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers in a diverse environment. Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 55% Cultural fit 15% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers Budget range we want to procure a team up to a total value of £200,000 but would expect to agree a budget for each api.