Learner Data Service – Architecture Resource

Tender description

Summary of the work Conceptual, logical and physical layered designs in data architecture, solutions architecture and data modelling to support reusable patterns and components, large scale transformations and modernisation projects. Solutions architecture roles will include documentation of designs covering all architectural domains, including, but not limited to, infrastructure, integration, networking, application, identity, and security. Expected Contract Length 1 year Latest start date Wednesday 1 March 2023 Budget Range £2,600,000 Why the Work is Being Done The Department has a cross cutting priority to embed data and digital throughout our work starting with improving data access, transparency, and quality to inform policy, operational delivery, and analytical activity. To support delivery of this priority we need to implement a ‘single thread’ approach for supply of data and that there are set patterns and approaches for managing operational and analytical data in relation to the education sector. Problem to Be Solved Establishing the core capabilities for operational and analytical data management and production including the matching and mastering of learner data. Developing the architectural designs, patterns and models for these core capabilities utilising the Department’s annual process for collecting, matching, processing, validating, and checking the Department’s business critical datasets on learner participation and achievement, children, and early years as a use case. Who Are the Users As an analyst, I need data that details learners and their attainment so that I can evaluate a school or colleges performance and assess their learners’ achievements. As the head of data ownership and sharing, I need to limit the sharing and visibility of personal identifiable data so that we protect learners’ identities and only share when there is a permitted purpose. As a data operations engineer, I need access to data that shows where a learner is registered for education, and their characteristics so that I can undertake further data production activities to enable the calculation of funding for schools and colleges at the provider, and learner level (e.g. pupil premium and national funding formula). As a data operations engineer, I need to ensure the National Pupil Database is maintained so that we can share data within the department, across government, the sector and to the wider public domain. Work Already Done Work is currently underway to establish and implement 4 assets by March 2023 – an operational data store, a matching service, a reference data store, and an analytical data store. These are being developed for the scope of primary education level learner and achievement and attainment data. Following this activity, we will continue to iterate on these assets and ensure the inclusion of secondary, 16-18- and 16–24-year-old learner and achievement and attainment data. Existing Team Our build-test-deploy delivery model is underpinned by agile. Existing teams are multi-disciplinary skilled. Teams are involved in service development for providing new/legacy replacement data services. There are 10 teams, team size is up to 10 with skill mix of: product managers, delivery managers, scrum masters, business analysts, data analysts, data modellers, data engineers and test engineers. Solution/data architects support cross programme delivery: setting strategic design direction, supporting build decision making and ensuring alignment with enterprise standards. Teams are remote based, including data service suppliers and permanent staff. Capability and knowledge should be shared throughout the duration of the work. Current Phase Beta Skills & Experience • Has previously undertaken solution architecture, data architecture and data modelling for learner data services and/or products in the Department including the National Pupil Data Achievement and Attainment Data Tables (NPDAAT). • Proven experience of providing solutions architecture, data architecture and data modelling services as part of a large transformation programmes for a complex data and/or analytics organisations. • Proven experience of designing data architecture and data modelling to support data matching and mastering services • Proven experience of service modernisation, additional data access, project onboarding. Create, update, and refine solution architecture documentation including: Technology components, component interactions and views (environment, network, identity, data storage) • Proven experience of working well in large organisations, across organisational boundaries, with multi-agency organisations, (ideally in Central government) and with multiple suppliers • Proven experience of supporting customers to build in-house capabilities and ensure effective knowledge management and transfer including training, coaching and mentoring for perm staff as and when needed • Proven experience of inclusion of metadata management (eg Data Lineage), Data Governance and Data Quality and ensuring adherence to enterprise standards • Proven experience in ensuring designs are fit for purpose, meets user needs but also demonstrate effective implementation with a strong service wrapper. • Proven resourcing and engagement model to ensure the right quality of the team, inside IR35 Nice to Haves • Experience and understanding of Data Governance platforms, e.g. Informatica (AXON/EDC/Data Market Place/IDQ) • Experience and understanding of Data Modelling Tools e.g. Erwin Work Location No specific location as remote working. Expected the supplier resource will likely attend the office 1 day per month. This could be any DfE office. Meet ups are typically London, Leeds, Darlington, Coventry, or Sheffield. Working Arrangments 5 day working week (Monday to Friday) commitment and detailed working arrangements, including team location, size and make-up, will be contained within each statement of work. Day to day delivery governed by standard agile delivery techniques. These will be via scrum approaches and standard agile ceremonies will be undertaken. These will be monitored by the Delivery Manager and Product Owner will be responsible for prioritising backlogs in refinement sessions. There will also be regular architecture peer reviews and governance board to ensure best practice and standardised patterns. Occasional travel may be required to ensure good integration and skills transfer. Security Clearance Enhanced DBS and BPSS checks required. Successful supplier must be able to demonstrate that proposed team members have been subject to Baseline Personnel Security Standards checks. Suppliers will also be required to complete a supplier security assurance form to ensure they meet the required standard for DfE e.g. Cyber Essentials Additional T&Cs Standard Framework and Call Off Terms and Conditions. Expenses must be pre-agreed and comply with DfE Travel and Subsistence (T&S) Policy. Any expenses shall be submitted in line with DfE standard T&S policy. Primary work locations stated in SoW will not attract expenses. No parking is available on site. Suppliers must provide sufficient guarantees to meet the requirements of GDPR in line with Procurement Policy Note 03/17 Changes to Data Protection Legislation & General Data Protection Regulation No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Demonstrate approach and methodology to solutions architecture, data architecture and data modelling for learner data services/products in the Department including National Pupil Data Achievement and Attainment Data Tables (NPDAAT) • Demonstrate the ability to provide solutions architecture, data architecture and data modelling services as part of a large transformation programmes to provision digital products and services • Demonstrate understanding of common risks and dependencies in a data transformation environment and experience of how these have been managed in the past • Demonstrate the ability to design data architecture and data modelling to support data matching and mastering services • Demonstrate ability to provide service modernisation, additional data access, project onboarding. Create, update, and refine solution architecture documentation including: Technology components, component interactions and views (environment, network, identity, data storage) • Demonstrate working well in large organisations, across organisational boundaries, with multi-agency organisations, (ideally in Central government) and with multiple suppliers • Demonstrate supporting customers to build in-house capabilities and ensure effective knowledge management and transfer including training, coaching and mentoring for staff as and when needed • Demonstrate inclusion of metadata management (eg Data Lineage), Data Governance and Data Quality and ensuring adherence to enterprise standards • Demonstrate ability to produce designs that are fit for purpose, meets user needs but also demonstrate effective implementation, embedding and adoption of service with a strong service wrapper. • Demonstrate how you will evidence values for money throughout the contract • Ability to promptly mobilise expertise to scale up team and flex resource when needed and to respond to fluctuating requirements. Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate ability to work as a team and collaborate effectively with our organisation and other suppliers (2.5%) • Demonstrate approach to knowledge and skills transfer to build in-house capabilities and ensure effective knowledge management and transfer within agreed timescales. (2.5%) • How does your organisation encourage diverse representation of under-represented groups in the workforce, e.g. Women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and how you monitor and measure this. (5%) • How will your organisation support educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps, result in recognised qualifications such as traineeships, apprenticeships, and t levels. (5%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Work history • Reference • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 15% Price 35% Questions from Suppliers 1. Is there an incumbent supplier who has delivered the Alpha? If so, who is it? Is this contract meant to pick up from the incumbent has left or is the new supplier meant to be working alongside the incumbent and other resources? Yes, there is an incumbent supplier who has delivered Alpha, and part of the Beta work. The supplier is Opencast. This contract is to pick up from the incumbent supplier. 2. You mention this is beta stage, who delivered this service at alpha stage for you? Opencast 3. Can you give an idea of approximate number of resources required for the this work. We estimate the need for around 10 to 15 resources are required for this week. This is a mixture of Solution Architects, Data Architects and Data Modellers. Data Modellers are those required mostly. 4. What is meant by “project onboarding” in question 4? Project onboarding is relating to new projects being started and being able to 'onboard' onto the project or at least help shape the project during its inception. 5. What is meant by “additional data access” in question 4? Additional data access indicates designs whereby new consumers of the data can access it 6. Question 7 references “inclusion of metadata management (eg. Data Lineage), Data Governance and Data Quality”. It is not clear what this is to be included into. Can you clarify what this is to be included in? Ensuring these areas are key considerations and have been applied in any Architecture design creation through to implementation. Conforming with the enterprise wide standards for these areas.