Community Accommodation Service - Tier 2

Tender description

Summary of the work The MoJ is seeking a managed service provider to design and deliver a digital referral service for the Community Accommodation Service Tier 2 (CAS2). We require a multidisciplinary team to develop the service through an agile lifecycle from discovery into live running by December 2023. Expected Contract Length 11 Months Latest start date Tuesday 31 January 2023 Budget Range Up to £1,400,000 Why the Work is Being Done Accommodation is an enduring issue that impacts on re-offending and public protection. HMPPS has a Community Accommodation Service (CAS) to meet the specific accommodation needs of individuals. This covers three types of accommodation: ● Tier 1 - Approved Premises provision for high-risk ex-offenders with a public protection focus and intensive partnership working. ● Tier 2 - formerly known as Bail Accommodation and Support Services. This is for low and medium risk offenders predominantly released from custody on Home Detention Curfew (HDC) but can also include those released on bail. ● Tier 3 - is temporary accommodation for those at risk of being homeless on release from prison or moving on from tier 1 and tier 2 accommodation. We are developing digital services for CAS1 and CAS3, currently in beta. This work is to focus on CAS2 and develop a digital application service to improve the efficiency and quality of referrals and placements. Problem to Be Solved Referrals are made by prison or probation staff based in prisons and courts by completing lengthy PDF forms and emailing these to the accommodation supplier, NACRO. It is a time-consuming process, and information can be missed or incomplete. A digital service will make it easier for prison and probation staff to make referrals, improve the quality of applications, reduce re-keying and support an increase in occupancy levels as we’ll be able to better match demand and supply. The digital service needs to be built in line with MOJ’s technology standards: ● front-end server-side applications in Typescript/Node.js using the GOV.UK Design System ● back-end services in kotlin/java (integrated with authority systems via existing internal APIs) ● Use of AWS service i.e RDS (postgres), S3 and SQS ● Github to store and manage our code and CircleCI to build our software ● Kubernetes and Docker to schedule and run our services hosted in MoJ Cloud platform (built on AWS). There are common transactions between the CAS tiers providing the opportunity for reuse. However, there are operational differences in how the tiers operate that will need to be reflected in a digital service, as well as the specific application requirements for CAS2 accommodation. Who Are the Users Users are prison and probation staff in prisons and courts. Early Market Engagement N/A Work Already Done No, the current managed service digital teams are focused on CAS1 and CAS3. Existing Team As above - current managed service digital teams are focused on CAS1 and CAS3. Current Phase Not started Skills & Experience • Proven track record of design, development, and delivery of digital services to, and/or on behalf of, Government Agencies to meet the Digital Service Standard. • Experience of leading delivery throughout the product lifecycle (discovery, alpha, beta, live) demonstrating how agile methodologies have been applied to meet user needs and ensure value for money. • Evidence of in-depth understanding and experience of presenting clear, compelling, evidence-based recommendations. • In-depth understanding of collaboratively delivering rapid/ iterative prototyping (low to high fidelity) using design systems and approaches and taking this into build. • Proven experience of communicating with a range of stakeholders, advocating for user needs and GDS principles, standard and working practices. Nice to Haves • Experience of designing and delivering digital services for HMPPS • Knowledge of technical and security standards aligned with the Technology Code of Practice and MoJ requirements. Work Location Working remotely although occasional travel may be required to either: - MoJ Digital Studio, 32 Scotland Street, Sheffield, S3 7BS - MoJ, 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ Working Arrangments The majority of work can be completed remotely i.e., homeworking. However, there may be a requirement to work with MoJ Digital or business stakeholders who are predominantly based in London and Sheffield or to visit users at HMPPS locations. Security Clearance A minimum of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) standard is required. Where access to live production data is necessary, Security Check (SC) clearance is also required. Additional T&Cs Changes to the DOS framework. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Explain your approach and methodology for successfully delivering this work to time, quality and budget referencing your previous experience and how this adds value. (10%) • Provide a proposed team structure including skills, experience, responsibilities in this approach and relevance of individuals. (10%) • Provide a project plan for what your team would deliver for each delivery phase. (10%) • Provide examples of how you have identified and taken ownership of risks, issues, and dependencies and how you have managed their mitigation and resolution. (10%) • Explain how you’ll ensure collaboration at all levels of the project between users, stakeholders, digital in-house and managed service teams. Give examples of where you have applied this approach (10%) • Demonstrate how you ensure knowledge sharing and an effective hand over to an in-house team at the end of the contract. (10%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate an open and collaborative approach to making decisions. (5%) • Demonstrate experience of championing knowledge sharing within and outside of the team. (5%) • Evidence how your organisation encourages new entrees to the digital professions and up-skills, develops its workforce. (5%) • Evidence how your organisation encourages diverse representation in its workforce. (5%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Can you say which supplier(s) are providing the managed service digital teams who are focused on CAS1 and CAS3? The Dextrous Web (trading as dxw) are providing the managed service teams for CAS1 and CAS3. 2. How are MOJ ensuring a level playing field with suppliers that are already engaged in CAS 1 and CAS3 to ensure CAS 3 is a fair procurement? We will provide additional briefing to short-listed suppliers to support them in completing their written proposals. There will also be time for additional clarification questions to be asked within the timescales for completing stage 2. 3. Can you please advise who the providers are for the digital services for Tier 1 and Tier 3 accommodation which are currently in BETA? The Dextrous Web (trading as dxw) are providing the managed service teams for CAS1 and CAS3. 4. Can you share more information on the differences for CAS 2 and why you would not be able to leverage the CAS 3 or 1 solutions? There are common transactions across the services which we expect to be leveraged. However, the referral process for each tier reflects the different types of accommodation and have specific information requirements. Most applications for CAS2 are also made by prison staff which differs to CAS1 and CAS3 as these referrals are made by probation practitioners. CAS2 also differs as there is an external supplier assessing, matching, and allocating beds. 5. Could you please share the anticipated procurement timetable for stage 2? We are working to the following indicative timeline:Notify short-listed suppliers for stage 2 and provide additional briefing – 02.12.22Proposal Submission deadline – 09.12.22Stage 2 Presentations – 14.12.22Stage 2 Evaluation period – 15.12.22 to 16.12.22Award Notification – WC 23.12.22 6. Will you be running any additional assessment methods at stage 2 in addition to the written proposal? We will assess stage 2 via a written proposal and presentation. 7. Please can you confirm what you expect when asking for a ‘proven track record’? Does this mean you expect more than one example? We are looking for suppliers to demonstrate that they have a breadth of experience in designing and delivering digital services that have been assessed against and met the digital service standard. This will evidence that there is a proven track record, as in something done well and often.