Full Stack Developer needed to create data entry and visualization app

Tender description

Summary of the work Development of bespoke desktop solution for data entry and visualization software for research institute. Specialist role Developer Latest start date Monday 7 June 2021 Who Speclialist Work With You will be working with the client(user) to develop the product. The client is a researcher who has developed a tool on excel which needs to be migrated onto bespoke software solution. What Specialists Work On Researchers within the LSHTM are seeking an experienced full-stack developer who can adapt our excel based tools to existing solutions or create a bespoke software product for our ongoing research work. We are looking for full-time developer who can who can take this work from inception to minimal viable product. i) Advise on the suitability of existing solutions ii) Develop detailed wireframe and storyboard for mobile and desktop versions iii) Lead on the development or customization & migration of the excel based tools onto this new platform iv) Maintain and update software for a fixed term. Skills & Experience • Have experience designing software for users in the non-profit sector • Have experience collaborating remotely • Must be proficient in user experience and design • Must be be profocient in developing secure applications and backend • Must be certified agile project management • Must have experience in qualityassurance Work Location You will work remotely but in close coordination with the client. Working Arrangments Full time remote working with weekly calls zoom call to update progress, refine requirements and discuss any challenges. No. of Specialists to Evaluate 3 Cultural Fit Criteria • work as a team with our organisation • take responsibility for their work • can work with clients with low technical expertise • share knowledge and experience with other team members Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 40% Cultural fit 20% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is there an incumbent? No. 2. what is the duration for this contract? The duration is 6 months of which 3 months is allocated for development and the remainder for QA and piloting. 3. To provide the best support for your needs, would you be happy to work with both a designer and developer, or are you only looking for one person to cover all tasks? We prefer to work with a individual who is able to do both or a firm that can supply both services. 4. Does the developer need to be a certified agile project manager or can the supplier provide that service, and supply the developer too? The developer may not need to be certified but the supplier must provide this service in one or more individuals. 5. What internal team members will also be working on the project? You will be working with a member of the research team who has developed the initial content required for the application. They are not a technical expert in software development 6. What are the reasons for wanting to switch from the current excel based approach to using a bespoke product? The excel based approach is not ideal because the content is split into 2 separate workbooks and a user guide. The files are large, difficult to easily manipulate and consist of 20+ sheets. 7. What sort of data sets are you working with? Do they include PIR or other sensitive information for example? The data sets are aggregate figures of programme evaluation data. No sensitive or information is planned to be collected through this tool. 8. What sort of visualisations do you envisage the tool supporting? Similar to charts and figures produced by power BI dashboard. However any proposed solution should not require an ongoing license or subscription. 9. Is have a certification for agile project management mandatory, or would you be happy to work with an individual with significant experience of running agile projects? We will consider individuals if they are able to provide evidence of such experience. 10. Does the specialist need to be Certified in Agile or just Experienced, as unusual to have developers certified? We will consider individuals without formal certifications if they are able to provide evidence of agile development. 11. The requirements are for “multiple hats” to be warn – User Requirements/Discovery, Dev, QA/Test and PM. Could this be a blended resource where we consume multiple skilled individuals under a single blended day rate, giving the ability to use a range of team members for the overall solution? Yes this is acceptable. However it is the responsibility of the supplier to ensure that no delays occur as a result of using an expanded team. 12. Are any existing visualisation tools used, outside of Excel? The tool is entirely on excel currently. 13. Do you have a preferred technology stack that should be used for this project? and are you happy to use cloud based tools? No preferred technology stack. However strong preference for desktop based solution as intended users do not always have access to internet. Additionally technology stack should be widely used and well documented to allow for further development in future. 14. Is this position inside or outside IR35? Off-payroll working rules (IR35) do not apply for this position. This position is outside IR35 15. Our company has delivered a number of projects exactly like the one you require. The tender says “Full Stack Developer” but would you also consider a small team where expertise is pulled-in as needed? This would likely yield better results anyway.Is your budget compatible with the above approach. Are you able to provide an indicative budget? Yes we are happy to receive proposals in which the work is done by a number of individuals in a team as required.Our indicative budget is £45k. However supplier proposals should have a detailed breakdown of the proposed tasks required to deliver this project, including hours, daily rates and rationale. 16. What is the budget for this project please? Our indicative budget is £45k. However supplier proposals should have a detailed breakdown of the proposed tasks required to deliver this project, including hours, daily rates and rationale. 17. what is the max day rate please? We do not specify a daily rate. Our indicative budget for the entire project is £45k. Supplier proposals should provide a detailed breakdown of the proposed tasks required to deliver this project, including hours, daily rates and rationale. 18. You mention that you have a “strong preference for desktop based solution as intended users do not always have access to internet”. Does this mean you require a PC based solution for a single user? Or would you like a multi-user solution with shared data? A good solution for the latter is a cloud-based database but this conflicts with two of your requirements: “supporting no internet” and “no ongoing license or subscription” (even though the cloud costs would be small). Alternatively you could have a database on your own network, but does no Internet actually mean no network? Yes, we would like a PC/ mobile solution in which data entry and visualization can be done without the need for a stable internet connection. However their should be an option for sharing or storing the data in a location specified by the user. The data can be stored in a location of the users choosing (either locally or on their own cloud storage). The university will only host the software for download and will not host the user's data. 19. You mention “wireframe and storyboard for mobile and desktop versions” but you also say “strong preference for desktop based solution as intended users do not always have access to internet”. These two requirements potentially conflict – could you elaborate please? Yes, we would like a solution in which data entry and visualization can be done without the need for a stable internet connection either on smartphone or on desktop. However there should be an option for sharing or storing the data in a location specified by the user. The data can be stored in a location of the users choosing (either locally or on their own cloud storage). The university will only host the software for download and will not host the user's data. 20. Is it possible to know the expected number of (cocurrent) users who will access to this new application. Are those only all internal user or application will be access by external users as well? Same questions for Reporting solutions, will it be access by internal or external users? We envisage 3-4 users who will be able to enter data for a single project within an organization. Software solution should allow for visualisation and reports to be shared externally. This software will be made available to use for any organization working in the NGO sector. Potentially hundreds of users in the long term. 21. Is there restriction for the Developer to be based in UK, can the developer be based offshore/nearshore? Developers do not need to be based in the UK.