Biometrics Technical Services 2023 Procurement

Tender description

Summary of the work A client-side technical service with experience of: • Biometric application design at conceptual level • Biometric service design and development • Biometric interface integration • Biometric Performance and Presentation Attack Detection validation • Solutions / Technical / Security architecture • Systems assurance • Management of the biometric assurance environment Expected Contract Length 12+12 months Latest start date Friday 3 March 2023 Budget Range c£10.4m over 2 year period Why the Work is Being Done The Home Office Biometrics (HOB) Programme has been commissioned to undertake and deliver future biometric IT services. This is a cross-functional technology convergence programme for biometrics (initially Fingerprint, Facial recognition and DNA). HOB includes biometrics for borders, security, law enforcement and intelligence functions, HM Passport Office, Visas, Immigration and Asylum, and others. The Home Office will own the high-level design and direction of the new service. Problem to Be Solved Provision of specialist biometric technical service to be delivered flexibly in support of the HOB Programme biometric projects and associated initiatives. In particular the technical services are to: • Provide specialist biometric input to the specification of associated services, workflows and product evolution across all aspects of the system lifecycle - front end equipment, workflows, biometric matcher software and bureau operations. • Provide technical biometric specialist input to the requirements, design, procurement and delivery of biometric solutions. • Ensure the integration of the biometric services during delivery. • Provide biometric and PAD performance test assurance services • Maintain a roadmap for the technical capability of the biometric service. Optionally • Provide a technical support service for on-premise biometric assurance environment. Who Are the Users The users of HOB services are primarily the UK law enforcement agencies and Home Office Borders Immigration and Citizenship programmes, additionally other government departments both in the UK and Internationally need to use HOB services in a number of situations and locations including custody suites, mobile locations, borders, passport offices and visa application centres. The Biometric Technical Services will support the implementation, and integration to support all of the existing HOB users, and new services as they are developed. Early Market Engagement Potential bidders who respond to this opportunity will be invited to a market engagement event. Work Already Done The programme has a technology roadmap, high level designs and high-level requirements. HOB projects and products are at various stages in their life cycle and the designs and output reflect this with lower-level road-maps requirements and designs. Existing Team The supplier will be working with the existing HOB Technical Design Authority, Business Design Authority and Quality Assurance and Test Service. The supplier will also work extensively and collaboratively with many external delivery partners and support suppliers for the new developments and changes to existing systems. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Ability to provide leadership in the integration of biometric systems and solutions including biometric interfaces, within complex IT and business landscapes. • Practical experience in the specification, procurement, design, assurance of complex, mission critical systems. • A proven ability of working collaboratively alongside a mix of suppliers to assure designs and proactively identify and resolve issues. • Experience of co-ordinating complex / legacy IT systems migrations to future state architectures. • Experience in the co-ordination of security assurance to a UK Police and HMG standards in a multi-system environment. • Expert knowledge of biometric technologies used to support enrolment (self and supervised), verification, and search (watch-listing, identification, investigation) for all Biometric modalities. • Detailed knowledge and experience of implanting relevant biometric standards as relevant to the UK use of biometrics; Specifically NIST interface standards, and capture standards for fingerprints and face modalities. • Experience of large-scale biometric accuracy assessment and assurance, in multiple modalities and applications. • Experience and approach to the management and operation of a high performance biometric assurance environments. • In the ITT 10% of the evaluation weighting will be allocated to Social Value (cultural fit) based on one or more of the following themes: • Tackling Economic Inequality •Fighting Climate Change •Wellbeing • Successful bidders will provide response to Social Value questions in the ITT with a delivery plan which will be monitored as part of the performance management review. Nice to Haves • Demonstrable knowledge of the legislation and policy requirements UK biometric systems operate with-in. • Experience in assuring liveness detection (PAD) in biometric application. • Understanding of current UK Government biometric systems, projects and bureaux working practices Work Location London, Croydon (main base) HOB Supplier Sites (UK wide) Remote Working Working Arrangments Working arrangements are expected to be flexible and best configured for the project and team the supplier is working in. Remote working is supported as well as on-site work in Croydon and occasionally at HOB supplier sites will be required in particular for security sensitive work. The BAT Environment Management work is currently on-premises in Croydon, with no external connectivity. Security Clearance All personnel must hold or be prepared to undergo Home Office SC clearance. Staff with access to live police data and sensitive designs will also require Non-Police Personnel Vetting Level 3, it is anticipated that 50% of the team will need NPPV3. Additional T&Cs Advance information about price evaluation in the ITT. Bidders will be required to provide SFIA rates for Levels 3, 4 and 5 resources within the rate caps stated below. The price score will be evaluated based on bidder's SFIA day rates. Architecture: SFIA 3 Target £690 Max £855 SFIA 4 Target £980 Max £1075 SFIA 5 Target £1095 Max £1180 Engineering SFIA 3 Target £730 Max £880 SFIA 4 Target £895 Max £985 SFIA 5 Target £990 Max £1095 IT Operations SFIA 3 Target £530 Max £700 SFIA 4 Target £775 Max £855 SFIA 5 Target £945 Max £1035 No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Bidder's response to Essential and Nice to have skills and experience will be scored as detailed below. • 3 - Comprehensive evidence of meeting the requirement. All elements of the response conform to the requirements. The response identifies factors that will offer potential added value. • 2 - Good evidence of meeting the requirement. • 1 - Some evidence of meeting the requirement. There may be multiple minor deficiencies which reduce the overall confidence in the response and some areas may have more significant deficiencies. • 0 - No evidence of meeting the requirement, with no suitable mitigation presented. Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers • Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions • Have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes • Take responsibility for their work • Share knowledge and experience with other team members Payment Approach Fixed price Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 10% Price 25% Questions from Suppliers 1. Who are the current suppliers to the programme? Please be advised that the current supplier to the HOB Programme is Identity E2E Ltd. 2. When will the market engagement event be held? Please be advised that no Market Engagement event was planned at this stage of the procurement. However if a Market Engagement event is required we are willing to hold one via Teams on Monday 7 November 2022 from 11;00 to 12:30.Should you be interested in attending this Market Engagement event please email btsprocurement@homeoffice.gov.uk by 13:00 on 2 November 2022. 3. Do you propose to hold the market engagement event before the deadline of this initial submission of 10th November 2022? Please see response to the earlier question. 4. The question “In the ITT 10% of the evaluation weighting will be allocated to Social Value (cultural fit) based on one or more of the following themes:” it doesn’t have any themes. Themes appear to be in the next question:”Tackling Economic Inequality •Fighting Climate Change •Wellbeing” but there’s no question, so how are we supposed to answer either of these? Please be advised that this statement has been split into more than one field due to the word count limit. Please read these as one. 5. the question “In the ITT 10% of the evaluation weighting will be allocated to Social Value (cultural fit) based on one or more of the following themes:” it doesn’t have any themes. Themes appear to be in the next question:”Tackling Economic Inequality •Fighting Climate Change •Wellbeing” but there’s no question, so how are we supposed to answer either of these? Please be advised that Social Value question(s) will be set in the ITT. No response is required at this stage to any Social Value questions.