Setting and Communicating our Operational Technology (OT) Services Strategy

Tender description

Summary of the work This outcome will capture our operational technology design, assurance and test capabilities and assess, define, deliver and communicate an operating model including product family evolution roadmaps covering the 5-10 year period Expected Contract Length Up to 24 months Latest start date Monday 23 November 2020 Budget Range Up to £2.6m over contract period Why the Work is Being Done At Highways England we know that our technology services which connect our customers, control rooms and roadside services are critical to smooth road network operations. As part of our current I&T Transformation programme we have the opportunity to assess our current capability and develop our operating model in terms of our expert technology product design and engineering services. We need to have a clear roadmap of transformation in place by March 2021 with a plan to deliver by March 2022. Problem to Be Solved Currently, our organisation doesn't understand and appreciate the value of OT has to the business and as a result OT suffers under investment, slow reactive maintenance and lacks appropriate resource to manage technology efficiently and effectively to meet the demands of an advancing and data hungry business. To meet this challenge, we must: - establish the baseline for OT landscape; - publish OT Strategy (already started) with 5-10 year horizon; - create roadmaps for all OT products; - engage our organisation/supply chain through a communications and marketing plan; - design and implement a Test Framework and service wrap Who Are the Users This is a strategic outcome, the intended audience is both our I&T Leadership Team and our organisation as a whole. “…Highways England should clarify the ownership of RT assets through the asset lifecycle, including how they are governed and who is accountable….” Office of Rail & Road Report 2019 Adopting asset management principles, this work has already started. It now needs to be validated with stakeholders, refined and areas where gaps exist throughout the lifecycle identified (human, physical and organisational resources). Work Already Done We already have a knowledgeable internal team in place for our unique range of services. However, we do not have the capacity to undertake these required transformational activities without additional support. We have started work on the Operational Technology Strategy. Existing Team This outcome will delivered in partnership with our current Architecture, Design and Technology Services team. This team already receives external support from long term partners who are integrated within our overall team Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Able to deliver and communicate asset strategies up to board level. • Able to convert complex technology landscapes into simple roadmaps and communication materials. • A current understanding of Highways England's Operational Technology Services and Systems. • Demonstrable knowledge of integrated global road transport technology strategies and capabilities. • Able to design testing regimes for operational critical services Nice to Haves • Demonstrable knowledge of integrated transport technology operating models. • Specific knowledge of other countries OT technology, particularly those seen as leading the advancement of Connected Vehicles, Corridors and Advanced Traffic Management. Work Location Remote Working - During COVID19 Restrictions Possible meetings at our offices in; Temple Quay House, Bristol The Cube, Birmingham Working Arrangments This team is expected to form an integral part of our group but will have day to day autonomy over their activities working to an assigned member of our leadership for direction Security Clearance Baseline Security Check No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Demonstrate how you will deliver the Operational Technology Strategy (23%) • Demonstrate how you can deliver a product roadmap for all of HE's Operational Technology (22%) • Demonstrate how you would design and build a testing framework and testing service wrap for operational systems (15%) • Demonstrate how you will plan and execute a robust and effective communication and marketing plan for OT including the provision of materials (10%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Place safety of ourselves, our workforce and our customers as number one priority (2%) • Take ownership of work tasks with limited supervision (5%) • Considers new and innovative ways of working (1%) • Acts with integrity in delivering the service (2%) Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. What is the required base location of this role when COVID restrictions are lifted? Or can consultants work remotely for the duration of the contract? Consultants can work remotely throughout the duration of this contract. Once the COVID19 situation reduces we may me in a position to hold some meetings in the stated office locations but no regular commitment is foreseen 2. There is an essential requirement 'A current understanding of Highways England's Operational Technology Services and Systems.' This introduces potentially significant bias towards incumbent suppliers because it prejudices positively towards those who have prior internal knowledge. Please can the authority make such documentation available on current services and systems so that this is not the case and it is a level playing field for tenderers who are willing to invest time in reading such materials to gain the required understanding to respond. Our operational technology services are critical to the smooth running of our strategic road network and therefore knowledge of this area is a genuine requirement to make this outcome a success. The documentation for our services are made available publicly and can be found by registering at;TSS Plans Registry - https://tssplansregistry.highwaysengland.co.uk/login.aspDesign Manual for Roads & Bridges - https://standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/ 3. Would it be possible for you to share with us the documents related to this ITT? All the information relating to this opportunity is provided on the portal.If you have a question relating to any specific aspect of this requirement please raise it via the portal. 4. Could Highways England confirm that suppliers will not be conflicted for tendering for the ‘Information & Technology Commercial Framework’ and the ‘Operational Technology Commercial Framework’, if they are successful on the ‘Setting and Communicating our Operational Technology (OT) Services Strategy’ opportunity. This outcome is to support an immediate need to undertake key pieces of work. The ITCF and OTCF are future commercial vehicles for procurement activity and all suppliers remain able to apply to join these opportunities regardless of currently contracted work, including this opportunity. 5. Would Highways England consider their previously released Operational Technology Strategy to be an asset strategy relevant to this question? The previously published Operational Technology Strategy is not the basis of this task. We are currently working up a new version of the strategy that will form the focal point for this task 6. Can Highways England confirm if one supplier will be appointed from the tender phase? It is the Authority's intention to award to one supplier 7. OT technology/integration with IT&T provides larger threat landscape; requirement does not depict any CS involvement, please clarify if roadmap development needs aligned to a best practice model, government standards or highlight the integration of security risk management as part of the overall output? -Would you be expecting any threat assessment with touch points to reassess on at least an annual basis and embedding in roadmap? -In roadmap should we be covering the full extent of for example the NIST CSF IDPRR as part of the CS work which includes configuration of equipment for detection/response to a cyber incident? We have a separate group within IT that focuses on security, so specific work relating to this topic is not sought through this task. However, there will be a need for close working with the security team to ensure work in the OT space aligns with current and future security requirements. 8. The opportunity detail suggests the roadmap future state would look to provide improvements such as enhanced operational response, improve maintenance services and overall delivery of the OT. Would the supplier of the framework/roadmap also be part of the hardware supply and demand process? No, we don’t expect so, to ensure we avoid conflict of interest, but close communication will be needed with the supply chain in order to deliver an effective roadmap. 9. As part of the roadmap does this include asset cyber profiles for each asset group, i.e. where applicable hardening of devices? We have a separate group within IT that focuses on security, so specific work relating to this topic is not sought through this task. However, there will be a need for close working with the security team to ensure work in the OT space aligns with current and future security requirements and this may result in specifying extra requirements for devices and systems. 10. As part of the roadmap does this include communication profiles for devices? We are not clear in this context what you mean by Communication Profile. Can you expand? 11. Does the road map include the accumulation of information storage that may be required moving forward i.e. for any regulatory requirements or for root cause analysis? Not at this phase of work, but may become a future task. 12. Can graphics/images be included as part of the question responses? Digital Marketplace have put in place word limits for supplier responses and responses must be within these limits.