701455373 - Provision of Integration as a Service (DInfoCom/0152)

Tender description

Summary of the work ADS currently exploits many Software AG (SAG) products which enable Application Programming Interface (API) Management, Enterprise Architecture Modelling, IT portfolio management, and an integrated development environment. Provision of SQEP resources to exploit the SAG Integration stack of software. Copies of the SoR are available from pauline.hewish662@mod.gov.uk Expected Contract Length 2 years Latest start date Thursday 1 April 2021 Budget Range The Authority will not be releasing the Budget for the Core requirement as we want to ensure VFM is achieved via competition. Please note there will be a non-guaranteed Limit of Liability of c£500K for additional requirements throughout the duration of the resulting Contract based on approved BCs. These additional requirements will be through an agreed Tasking Order Form Why the Work is Being Done ADS currently exploits many Software AG (SAG) products which enable Application Programming Interface (API) Management, Enterprise Architecture Modelling, IT portfolio management, and an integrated development environment. The contract is expires on 31 Mar 21. Technical advances have seen the proliferation of integration services and ADS and wider defence must invest to keep up with industry best practice. The management and development of multiple APIs, based on a sound API strategy, is essential. Unfortunately, suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) are not available within the military or civil service communities and the most effective route to such resource is to outsource. Problem to Be Solved It will provide additional functionality for ADS and wider Defence and make operational efficiencies which will improve business output in the areas of data integration and enterprise architecture and conform to GDPR legislation. Who Are the Users The users of Application are regulars, reserves, civil servants and contractors across the Army and wider Defence. The users are required to log on to the Ministry of Defence Network and browse to the appropriate url. Access is granted via single sign on. The users need secure, highly performant and available application services to provide information in the right context to undertake their business functions to enable the day-to-day operation of the British Army and wider Defence. Existing Team The supplier will deliver within ADS standards, policies and processes and may work with members of the ADS team. There may be occasions where suppliers will work off site with other partners (e.g. DIO, DD) Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Demonstrable experience within last 5 years, with dates, of providing the installation, configuration and technical consultancy to implement the API designs and solutions. (1%) • Demonstrable experience within last 5 years, with dates, of devising, managing and developing APIs with knowledge of the wider webMethods API architecture to deliver a robust and scalable solution. (1%) • Demonstrable experience within last 5 years, with dates, of maintaining and supporting the Software AG products. Including platform development, operation, maintenance, patching and future platform planning and implementation. (3%) • Demonstrable experience within last 5 years, with dates, of managing developing ARIS Platforms . Including installation,configuration, maintenance,availability, incident and problem management, healthcheck monitoring,event detection, filtering, and service request handling. (3%) • Demonstrable experience within last 5 yrs,with dates,of ARIS platform analysis,conception,development,rollout of customized solutions. Implementation of ARIS Reports. Implementation of ARIS API.(Java Script)integrations .Db config/maint/mgt.Mgt of relationship with ARIS support (Empower).(1%) Nice to Haves • Demonstable knowledge of Government Digital Service Standard. (0.5%) • Provide evidence of successful delivery of subscription based software licensing wthin last 5 years (with dates). (0.5%) Work Location ADS is located at Army Headquarters, Marlborough Lines, Ramillies Building, Zone 7, Monxton Road, Andover, SP11 8HJ. The place of delivery for the contract shall be at such location(s) as agreed between the outcomes supplier and the Authority and will be dependant on the outcomes required at that time. Resources may be required to attend ADS if the current work requires direct access to ADS systems for security or technical reasons. Working Arrangments The supplier will deliver within ADS standards, policies and processes to ensure the work is conducted to maintain the integrity and security of MOD systems. Resources may be requested to work on-site in Andover if technical/security restrictions dictate, however the supplier has the right to decide where their resources would be best placed to deliver the outputs. It is not possible to pre-empt what proportion of time will be required for on-site working as it will depend upon the business outputs required at each stage of work. N.B. MoD clearance requirements can impact of overseas working arrangements. Security Clearance Security Clearance (SC) will be required for the duration of the role. Incumbents are to follow both the letter and spirit of Army Headquarters security regulations. Additional T&Cs Any T&S costs are to be included at Written Proposal Stage. The Authority has assessed this requirement outside the scope of IR35. This assessment has been conducted in accordance with the MoD Intermediaries Legislation IR35 Guidance and is deemed as an output/outcome based contract. Whereby the supplier is responsible for managing their resources to deliver the required outputs, and they have responsibility and liability for the all the work and its delivery. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 10 Proposal Criteria • Provide a summary of ADS requirement and your proposed solution in accordance with the SoR including your approach and methodology to meeting ADS's policy, goals and user needs. (5%) • Descibe your pproach for transition of service, running and knowledge transfer. (2%) • Give examples of KPIs and SLAs that you would be prepared to commit to for this contract.(3%) • Provide an exit plan for the transition to an alternative supplier at the end of the contract. (1%) • Provide evidence of skills/experience of potential SQEP, including indictative CVs, who will potentially provide required services.List roles, responsibilities and number of resources you need for each stage of the work.(7%) • Provide two client-focussed examples of where your company have provided the desired service capability. (5%) • Describe how you will mobilise the team quickly and your approach to service continuity. (2%) • Explain how you plan to retain key resources/skills for the duration of the contract and how you can commit to meet ADS’s continuous need for development activities. (3%) • Describe how you will scale up and down resources, whilst ensuring quality and consistency. (3%) • Describe how you will optimise costs, generate savings and add value to ADS through the use of innovation and continuous improvement. Minimising transition costs between the current and new supplier.(3%) • Identifiy the risks and dependencies associated with this requirement and potential mitigation. (2%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate your ability of open and collaborative working relationship at all levels with excellent communication and co-ordination skills, with a no-blame culture, in a mutli-vendor environment (2%) • Demonstrate how you will communicate effectively with users, technical architects and solve issues amongst complex integrations. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how you will support the physical and mental health of people affected by COVID-19, including reducing the demand on health and care services. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how you will create employment and training opportunities, particularly for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how will you consider equality and diversity in the provision and operation of services? (2%) • Social Value - Describe how will your supply chain ensure ethical considerations? (2%) • Social Value - Demonstrate action to identify and manage cyber security risks in the delivery of the contract including in the supply chain. (2%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 46% Cultural fit 14% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers 1. . The Authority has to apologise but the following Defence Conditions were omitted from the "Additional information" section which will form part of any resultant Contract: DEFCON 5J Unique Identifiers, DEFCON 76 Contractors on site, DEFCON 129J Electronic business Delivery Form, DEFCON 513 Value Added Tax, DEFCON 516 Equality, DEFCON 518 Transfer, DEFCON 531 Disclosure of Information, DEFCON 534 Subcontracting/Prompt Payment, DEFCON 537 Rights of Third Parties, DEFCON 550 Child Labour/Employment Law, DEFCON 566 Change of control of contractor, DEFCON 642 Progress meetings, DEFCON 658 Cyber, DEFCON 694 Accounting for Property of the Authority. 2. The are multiple references to the Authority, which in the case of DOS is CCS, can you clarify how CCS is involved or do you, in fact, mean the Customer? CCS are not involved, we mean either the "Contracting Authority" or "Buyer" as defined in the Framework Agreement 3. Please can you advise who the incumbent are? The current incumbent is Monitor Intelligence Services Ltd 4. This notice and SoR are unclear as to the scale of the team required. The SoR suggests a team of between 3 to 6 personnel will be required. Is this correct? What is the breakdown of the current team in terms of military, civil service and contractor personnel? The SOR specifies a capability to be fulfilled. The scale of the team required to do so is at the discretion of the supplier. The IaaS team is comprised entirely of Contractors, there are no military personnel or Civil Servants integral to the team. Priorities are agreed in weekly standup meetings. The current supplier fulfils the capability using 3 roles 5. Are you willing to sponsor the security clearance of our team members? SC clearance is required; ideally this will be in place already (or an existing clearance can be confirmed) for an immediate start. You can read the process for getting security clearance at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security-vetting-and-clearance#contractors-and-consultantsIf the winning supplier is not SC cleared at the time of award the Authority will sponsor. 6. In working arrangement you mention “MoD clearance requirements can impact overseas working arrangements.” Does this mean you might consider a hybrid onshore and nearshore or offshore delivery? Geographic location is not dictated but the Contractor must fulfil the capability requirement of the contract to deliver specified outputs within the technical, security and cyber constraints of MOD systems and working practices. Currently these outputs require access to MOD systems through MOD supplied assets.