Digital and Data Capabilities Framework

Tender description

The tender was completed under the new NESO entity with Public procurement organisation number (PPON) PHQL-5234-MWWV National Grid Electricity System Operator Limited (NGESO), a legally separate business within the National Grid Group, is the electricity system operator for Great Britain. NGESO moves electricity around the system to keep homes and businesses supplied with the energy they need 24/7. NGESO became a legally separate business from the rest of the National Grid Group in 2019. In summer 2024, NGESO will change its name to National Energy System Operator (NESO) and become owned by the UK government. Where in this notice we refer to NGESO, this should be understood as also including NESO after the change is taken place. The Digital, Data and Technology (DD&T) organisation within NGESO provides the sourcing capabilities, roles and skills required to achieve NGESO digital deliverables. To support the role of the National Energy System Operator (NGESO), we are looking to put in place a digital and data capabilities framework, encompassing the following lots: • Lot 1: All Digital & Data • Lot 2: Data & AI • Lot 3: Security • Lot 4: Engineering and Architecture • Lot 5: Management Lot 1: All Digital & Data this lot encompasses all competences and skills required to achieve NGESO's objectives under its business plan, digitalisation strategy, and digital first ambitions, as well as supporting NGESO as a full end to end business, and Page 5 to 13 expanding these same capabilities to cover NGESO's new roles and ambitions. Working under multiple digital delivery methods (from Waterfall to Agile) and different types of technology, from ideation and design stages to implementation, configuration, and support as well as maintenance, these services will span software, hardware, infrastructure, and network solutions. Our current technology estate encompasses combinations of in-house built solutions, PaaS, SaaS; hosted either on-prem, data centres, public cloud, private Cloud; and classified between CNI and non-CNI. The successful tenderer(s) for this lot will be responsible for providing end to end capabilities to enable partnership delivery of turnkey types of agreement. This Lot will be used for call off which span two or more capabilities in the other Lots, with the expectation of full end to end management of the relevant call off. As such, capabilities for this Lot should be considered as the capabilities referred to in all other Lots, being the sum of Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5 as well as the ability to deliver these in a coordinated way under the call off. Lot 2: Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI) this lot will provide NGESO with specialist data capabilities including management, processing, storage, and analysis of data to inform and support data-led strategic decision-making, system related innovation, and operational efficiency. We will look to it for application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), be it in current legacy systems, new transformational platforms, or standalone solutions. Lot 3: Security This lot will enable NGESO to cover both physical and digital specific security needs. This would range from internal to external threats and encompass work from policy creation to incident response. Call off for this Lot will require the successful tenderer to deliver an outcome and/or resource augmentation. Indicative examples of required capabilities are as follows: • Threat intelligence • Security operations • Vulnerability assessment and management • Incident response • Security consultancy and expert advice • Software and application security engineering • Security architecture • Data security • Security awareness and training • Risk assessment Lot 4: Engineering and Architecture this lot encompasses the application of principles and practices involved in the development and maintenance of digital solutions and platforms which make up NGESO's digital landscape, including but not limited to software development, platform architecture, Agile DevSecOps, cloud computing. It also includes the application of architecture standards in line with NGESO defined solution strategy and modernisation practices. Lot 5: Management This Lot will enable NGESO to cover its portfolio supporting needs. This will range from ideation type of engagements, creation of policies and procedures, and thought leadership papers to manage digital deliverables, as well as supporting maintenance services. Call off for this Lot will require the successful tenderer to deliver an outcome and/or resource augmentation.