Developing an open source Data Science platform

Tender description

Summary of the work The evaluation of cloud infrastructure using RStudio products as proof of concept ready for production. Evaluating the success of these products with apps currently in development. Review R coding and versioning for apps. Final delivery is a playback session for senior leaders highlighting potential for investing in a production environment. Specialist role Data scientist Expected Contract Length 6 months Latest start date Thursday 1 October 2020 Who Speclialist Work With Lead Data Scientist What Specialists Work On Evaluate a pilot RStudio data science platform. Advise on coding and version control of demo apps ready for production Feedback on findings to senior managers Skills & Experience • Proven experience of working with RStudio products at scale • Proven experience of developing apps within the R environment • Proven experience of evaluating data science platforms • Proven experience of successful playback to business leaders Nice to Haves Data engineering and architecture experience and skills Work Location Bristol Working Arrangments Given Covid19 situation all work will be done remotely where possible. Effective communications systems (phone, email, video conference) in place and working to a good standard. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • be customer focussed and empathise with our business needs • have a long term relationship approach - not a quick contract Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 75% Cultural fit 5% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is there an incumbent supplier/specialist? No 2. What is your budget/ day rate? / Can you give us a guide on budget please? The expectation is that tenders will include the day rate of their data science specialists. In addition we expect CVs of staff likely to be involved so that we can be confident of their competency in relation to the work needed. 3. What are Security Clearance requirements for the resource? / Please confirm level of security clearance required for this role? Nothing specific as the contractor will not be working within our premises. Arrangements will be made to assess and put in place security around access to data systems. 4. What’s the timescale for this process? The requirement clearly states 6 months. 5. Could you please let us know the IR35 status of this opportunity? Using our IR35 guidance we would assess this on a case by case basis via an HMRC assessment tool. We will ensure that tax is not avoided and that we are not dealing with a ‘disguised employee’. The outcome of the assessment will determine the status, an outcome of ‘unable to determine status’ will not be accepted and further assessment needed. Given the short term nature of this requirement we would avoid situations where this could occur and we expect contractors to have arranged tax and NI contributions. If you’re unsure of this then please do not submit a tender. 6. Could you please confirm exact work location in SW England? The requirement states Bristol but there is some flexibility within that across the South West 7. Could you please confirm if this is T&M? The successful contractor will be paid for their time and the standard of the deliverables. I expect a breakdown of costs within any tender. 8. Is there a target infrastructure for this platform already? If not, would you be open to Google Cloud? We have two possible infrastructure options. We are not ruling out Google cloud in the future but for this project it is not something we have time to consider. 9. Developing app within R environment? Can you be more brief on this question? Are you looking for App Development? If you do not understand ‘developing apps within the R environment’ then you clearly do not satisfy the ESSENTIAL skills and experience set out in the requirement so please do not tender. I cannot be ‘more brief’ than that. 10. How much experience are you looking for in this role? The requirement states:• Proven experience of working with RStudio products at scale• Proven experience of developing apps within the R environment• Proven experience of evaluating data science platforms• Proven experience of successful playback to business leadersIf you haven’t got ALL of these, please do not tender. 11. What is the suggested start date for this project? The requirement states October 1st 2020. 12. Is this a full time Mon-Fri 9-5 role? This is a call-off contract, there is no ‘role’ as such. The requirement shows that the start is October 1st 2020 and will last approximately 6 months. Whoever does the work can work whatever hours they choose, they will be judged and paid based on the quality of the deliverables. This is not a position within the EA. 13. Will you consider working with remote candidates? Does it mean that Data Scientist can work from Offshore location as well? See the Q&A above. The requirement states that due to the Covid19 situation then we expect the work to be remote. However, we expect the contractor to be UK based and not off-shore. Where possible we will consider suitably Covid19 safe meetings that satisfy the dynamic risk assessment. 14. Have you performed an IR35 assessment already? As you may be aware, buyers can only use the Digital Outcomes and Specialists framework to fill positions that fall outside IR35. No assessment has been done. You are correct, Specialists must be employed or contracted by the supplier - known as working ‘off-payroll’ or ‘outside IR35’. This is the guidance for Digital Marketplace. My previous answer was based in general EA guidance so please disregard that one. 15. In regard to your response, "In addition we expect CVs of staff likely to be involved so that we can be confident of their competency in relation to the work needed."This opportunity is advertised under DOS Lot 2 (specialists) and each supplier can only submit one specialist. Further, suppliers cannot provide a CV/work history at this stage. We have to provide responses (max 100 words) to each of your essential and nice-to-have criteria. If shortlisted, we can then provide a CV/work history for the specialist.Are you aware of this? I am now thank you. In relation to CVs etc this would be at the shortlisting stage and certainly before we committed to a contract. 16. There are no "additional assessment methods" stated which means, following shortlisting, the assessment will be carried out using CV/work history only. Normally an interview would be stated. Is this intentional or will interviews be carried out? Apologies if information on interviews is missing, that's an oversight on my part. Interviews are likely in order to help final selection if there is no clear preferred tender from those provided when set against the evaluation criteria. 17. The expected contract duration is for 6-months. Would it be acceptable for the specialist to work remotely for that entire period, even after COVID restrictions are relaxed further? Perhaps with very occasional meetings (around once a month) in Bristol if absolutely necessary? I will be as flexible as practicable and safe. I cannot give specifics around frequency of meetings or periods of remote working right now. 18. Please can you confirm what email address we should send the CV to? Apologies for any confusion. CVs will be required after shortlisting. Details of what is required and where to send will be given at that time. 19. How many demo apps ready for production have been created to date? Between 3 and 5 at various stages of developement 20. In regard to the answer to Q17, if physical meetings were requested at a future date, is there an allowance for travel expenses (T&S) ? Not that I'm currently aware of but this could be looked at 21. What are the two possible infrastructure options? Currently Azure and AWS 22. SoW1: The evaluation of cloud infrastructure using RStudio products as proof of concept ready for production. • Is it like AWS vs Azure, which one is better suited for RStudio DS Platform?SoW2: Evaluating the success of these products.....• With ‘These Products’ do you mean RStudio products? Could you elaborate on what product combination are you considering (RStudio Server Pro / Package Manager / Connect / Shiny Server Pro/ Data Connections),SoW3: Review R coding: do you mean code optimisation and modularising?SoW3: Versioning for apps: Does EA currently use a versioning system (Git/ SVN/ Other?) SoW1 - Azure and AWS. Part of the work is to evaluate which one is best for usSoW2 - Server Pro, Package manager and Connect as a minimumSoW3 - Yes optimising codeSoW3 - Versioning; unclear what EA has currently, certainly not Git at present