DfT - User Interface and Report Generator for the new Rail Passenger Demand Forecasting System

Tender description

Summary of the work User Interface and Report Generator development will be a waterfall development. The aim is to develop the User Interface and Report Generator using the MOIRA 2 specifications combined with the updated requirements/user expectations. It is expected that some innovation should be applied. The current system will be available for comparison/testing. Expected Contract Length 12 months Latest start date Wednesday 15 February 2023 Budget Range Up to £250,000. Why the Work is Being Done The ambition is to own a tool that could be deployed and used widely to provide a common basis for rail demand modelling, forecasting and appraisal, providing wider opportunities to use, develop, support and maintain the product. The project includes the development of the User Interface and the Report Generator which will work with the Core Algorithm (already developed) based on the Business Requirements of Rail Industry. Problem to Be Solved • The User Interface and the Report Generator modules to be part of an integrated system that is yet to be built and it will replace the current MOIRA 2.2. The Core Algorithm module has been built. • Think about innovative ways to achieve modern and more user-friendly modules than the current MOIRA 2.2 system; • These modules should be built according to a list of Business Requirements; • The User Interface and the Report Generator should have at least the same capabilities as MOIRA 2.2. • All the code to be written with regards to coding best practice with full annotation, full model documentation and quality report. • Need for a system that DfT owns with no reliance on proprietary code. Who Are the Users The new system will be used by different stakeholders for a wide range of purposes, mainly: • DfT and Network Rail will use the new system to determine the value for money of rail infrastructure and rolling stock schemes. • Bidders for rail franchise competitions can use the system to show the effects their proposed timetables may have, and DfT can use it to assess those bids. • Train operators will use the system to optimise the train timetable for their network, and to decide which types of trains should be used for each service. • Most users will use the system to predict demand and passenger revenue Early Market Engagement DfT have commissioned independent model and code reviews of the current system, MOIRA2.2. The language and functionality were independently reviewed. Additionally, work has been pulled together on user lessons learnt, particularly for use in franchising. These studies are: • Source code review ITS Leeds - 2017 • Source code review for DfT - 2017 • MOIRA2.2 review - 2017 • Lessons learned by Systra on CrossCountry franchise - 2018 Passenger Demand Forecasting Council (PDFC) have commissioned BJSS to run a Discovery Phase. This Discovery project validates the existing MOIRA 1 & 2.2 systems (models, algorithms and technology platform). It then explores if the creation of a new system is required to address un-met or new needs. Having identified the users and understood their needs, it also identifies and scope potential options and solutions for further exploration in a follow up stage” DfT hired a Business Analyst who built a catalogue with the Business Requirements of the new system. Work Already Done Model users have developed a good understanding of how existing models work, and the use cases where an improvement of its functionality is crucial. The Discovery phase has identified who the users would be and the needs of those users, while the limitations of the existing system have been explored. The Core Algorithm of the new system has been built in C# and it is accompanied by its technical documentation. Existing Team Project Leader, Business Analyst, Digital Architect, Data scientist, Rail Modelling Team, MOIRA 2.2 working group, IT Specialist. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Provide demonstrable evidence of transport modelling experience. • Provide demonstrable evidence of developing code to a modern and open-source programming language • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience in producing and maintaining technical documentation and a knowledge base. • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience of designing and implementing algorithm and physical data models to enable integration and reporting requirements • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience in design/development of complex web systems and applications using PHP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create responsive web designs to WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards • Provide demonstrable experience in developing web application data/content editing, modelling and structuring forms in a user-friendly way • Provide demonstrable experience in leading or supporting projects for discovery, UX (User Experience) design, development and build stages of digital services and websites conforming to Government Digital Service standards • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience in structural redevelopment and optimisation of C# and Delphi applications, including data interaction on complex webpages, forms and databases • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience in building, developing, integration and securing APIs • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience in working with non-technical users to describe technical solutions and agile processes in a simplified way, providing training where necessary • Provide demonstrable evidence of experience of delivering a service assessed against the Government Service Standard, with alignment to the Technology Code of Practice Nice to Haves • Provide demonstrable evidence of working within a challenging and complex public-sector environment • Provide demonstrable evidence of handover knowledge on system to internal staff in specialised and experience technical roles for post-implementation maintenance and support • Provide demonstrable evidence in delivering conformance to the System specification and Cloud Strategies (IaaS, PaaS and SaaS) for incremental functional replacement including approach to migration/management of legacy applications. Work Location Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR. The supplier will work from their offices. Meetings will be on Microsoft Teams. Working Arrangments The suppliers will work on the project until a working and tested version of the module with full documentation has been delivered. Regular updates will be given to DfT every couple of weeks. Security Clearance BPSS No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Describe the specific technical approach or solution you’re proposing (15%) • Describe the approach or methodology you’ll take to meet the buyer’s requirements. Include how you’ll manage the work and maintain quality (15%) • Please provide demonstrable evidence on how your approach or solution meets user and organisation needs (10%) • Please explain how you will identify risks and dependencies and offer approaches to manage them (10%) • Say when you can deliver the work. Break down the work into phases and say when each phase will be done (10%) • Please provide information on how you will deliver value for money during this contract (10%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Provide demonstrable evidence of working as a team with our organisation and other suppliers (2.5%) • Provide demonstrable evidence of transparent and collaborative decision making (2.5%) • Provide demonstrable evidence of transparent and collaborative decision making (2.5%) • Provide demonstrable evidence of sharing approach, knowledge and skills with other team members and with the department by example (2.5%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Does the MOIRA 2 project currently have an interface to the Report Generator? MOIRA 2.2 has a User Interface where the users can set up their studies and define what outputs reports will be extracted by the Report Generator. 2. What is your biggest challenge right now? What are the goals that you want to achieve with the new solution? The main goal of this solution is to develop a model that will be written in a modern programming language (C#) and it will be fully owned by DfT. The new model should be able to deliver at least what the current model does, and it should be easy for DfT to develop it further. 3. Could you please clarify the need for PHP (as it is not often used on government systems)? Although the aim is to develop the new system in C#, Including PHP experience will ensure greater flexibility and provide more development options to address the anticipated complexities of the next phase of development. Thus, including this skillset extends our overall development options, which have the potential to aid considerably. 4. Can you please share the discovery, screen shots or mock ups. DfT will share this information at stage 2 of this procurement. 5. Hi, we are interested in this opportunity. However with some limitations in time. Please, could you confirm what is the timeframe for the second stage of the bidding process? Would it take place before the Xmas break? The indicative procurement timeline is as follows:Date Action Stage 105/12/2022 Stage 1 Clarification Period Ends 09/12/2022 Deadline for responding to clarification questions.12/12/2022 Stage 1 bid deadline 13 to 15/12/2022 Isolated evaluations 16/12/2022 Stage 1 moderation 19/12/2022 Issue stage 1 results, invite suppliers to stage 2Stage 219/12/2022 Stage 2 clarification period Starts 10/01/2023 Stage 2 clarification period Ends 11/01/2023 Deadline for responding to clarification questions.16/01/2023 Stage 2 bid deadline 18 to 20/01/2023 Stage 2 Isolated Evaluations23/01/2023 Stage 2 Moderation 30/01/2023 Supplier Presentations 03/02/2023 Issue contract to preferred supplier 13/02/2023 Contract to commence. 6. Could you confirm the extent of Delphi development on the platform and the ongoing requirement for Delphi expertise? There is no Delphi development in the new platform. The Delphi expertise is needed for accessing the current MOIRA 2 Source Code which will help in dealing with any complexities of the development.