ADS Integration as a Service (IaaS)

Description

Summary of the work ADS currently exploits many Software AG (SAG) products which enable Application Programming Interface (API) Management, Enterprise Architecture Modelling, IT portfolio management, and an integrated development environment. Provision of SQEP resources to exploit the SAG Integration stack of software. Copies of the SoR are available from jess.gray175@mod.gov.uk Expected Contract Length 2 years Latest start date Saturday 1 April 2023 Budget Range The Authority will not be releasing the Budget for the Core requirement as we want to ensure VFM is achieved via competition. Please note there will be a non-guaranteed Ad Hoc Tasking Value £1.4m for additional requirements throughout the duration of the resulting Contract based on approved BCs. These additional requirements will be through an agreed Tasking Order Form. Why the Work is Being Done ADS currently exploits many Software AG (SAG) products which enable Application Programming Interface (API) Management, Enterprise Architecture Modelling, IT portfolio management, and an integrated development environment. The contract is expires on 31 Mar 23. Technical advances have seen the proliferation of integration services and ADS and wider Defence must invest to keep up with industry best practice. The management and development of multiple APIs, based on a sound API strategy, is essential. Unfortunately, suitably qualified and experienced personnel (SQEP) are not available within the military or civil service communities and the most effective route to such resource is to insource the expertise. Problem to Be Solved It will provide additional functionality for ADS and wider Defence and make operational efficiencies which will improve business output in the areas of data integration and enterprise architecture and conform to GDPR legislation. Who Are the Users The users of Applications are Regulars, Reserves, Civil Servants and contractors across the Army and wider Defence. The users are required to log on to the Ministry of Defence Network and browse to the appropriate url. Access is granted via single sign on. The users need secure, highly performant and available application services to provide information in the right context to undertake their business functions to enable the day-to-day operation of the British Army and wider Defence. Existing Team The supplier will deliver within ADS standards, policies and processes and may work with members of the ADS team. There may be occasions where suppliers will work off site with other partners (e.g. DIO, DD) Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of providing installation, configuration, technical consultancy to implement API designs and solutions (1%) • Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of devising, managing, developing APIs with knowledge of the wider web. Methods API architecture to deliver robust and scalable solution (1%) • Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of maintaining and supporting the Software AG products. Including platform development, operation, maintenance, patching, future platform planning and implementation (3%) • Experience within last 5 years, with dates, managing developing ARIS Platforms. Including installation, configuration, maintenance, availability, incident and problem management, healthcheck monitoring, event detection, filtering, service request handling (3%) • Experience of developing and supporting the release of analytics using tooling including technologies such as Git, Azure DevOps, Oracle Data Integrator (1%) • Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of ARIS platform analysis, conception, development, rollout of customized solutions. • Following on from no.6 - Implementation of ARIS Reports. Implementation of ARIS API.(Java Script)integrations .Db config/maint/mgt. Management of relationship with ARIS support (Empower).(1%) Nice to Haves • Demonstrable knowledge of Government Digital Service Standard. (0.5%) • Provide evidence of successful delivery of subscription-based software licensing within last 5 years (with dates). (0.5%) Work Location ADS is located at Army Headquarters, Marlborough Lines, Ramillies Building, Zone 7, Monxton Road, Andover, SP11 8HJ. The place of delivery for the contract shall be at such location(s) as agreed between the outcomes supplier and the Authority and will be dependant on the outcomes required at that time. Resources may be required to attend ADS if the outputs require direct access to other ADS resources or ADS systems for security or technical reasons. Working Arrangments The supplier will deliver within ADS standards, policies, processes to ensure the work is conducted to maintain the integrity and security of MOD systems. Resources may be requested to work on-site in Andover if coordination is required or technical/security restrictions dictate, however the supplier has the right to decide where their resources would be best placed to deliver the outputs. It is not possible to pre-empt what proportion of time will be required for on-site working as it will depend upon the business outputs required at each stage of work. N.B. MoD clearance requirements can impact of overseas working arrangements. Security Clearance Security Clearance (SC) will be required for the duration of the role. Incumbents are to follow both the letter and spirit of Army Headquarters security regulations. Additional T&Cs Any T&S costs are to be included at Written Proposal Stage. The Authority has assessed this requirement outside the scope of IR35. This assessment has been conducted in accordance with the MoD Intermediaries Legislation IR35 Guidance and is deemed as an output/outcome based contract. Whereby the supplier is responsible for managing their resources to deliver the required outputs, and they have responsibility and liability for the all the work and its delivery. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Technical solution (46%) • Value for money (40%) • Cultural Fit (14%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Demonstrate your ability of open and collaborative working relationship at all levels with excellent communication and co-ordination skills, with a no-blame culture, in a multi-vendor environment (2%) • Demonstrate how you will communicate effectively with users, technical architects and solve issues amongst complex integrations. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how you will create employment and training opportunities, particularly for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how will you consider equality and diversity in the provision and operation of services? (2%) • Social Value - Describe how will your supply chain ensure ethical considerations? (2%) • Social Value - Demonstrate action to identify and manage cyber security risks in the delivery of the contract including in the supply chain. (2%) • Social Value - Describe how you will support the physical and mental health of people affected by COVID-19, including reducing the demand on health and care services. (2%) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 46% Cultural fit 14% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers 1. 1. Under the “How suppliers will be evaluated” section, we can only see cultural fit criteria and no technical criteria. Please can the Authority confirm if there will be any criteria beyond those specified under “cultural fit criteria”? Apologies, the Authority has realised that the proposal criteria has been missed on the advert so thank you for raising this. Please see below the percentages for the proposal criteria: - Provide a summary of ADS requirement and your proposed solution in accordance with the SoR including your approach and methodology to meeting ADS's policy, goals and user needs. (5%)- Describe your approach for transition of service, running and knowledge transfer. (2%)Please see further supplier questions for full response to Question 1 due to word count. 2. Further response to question 1, included below. - Give examples of KPIs and SLAs that you would be prepared to commit to for this contract.(3%)-Provide an exit plan for the transition to an alternative supplier at the end of the contract. (1%)- Provide evidence of skills/experience of potential SQEP, including indicative CVs, who will potentially provide required services. List roles, responsibilities and number of resources you need for each stage of the work.(7%)-Provide two client-focused examples of where your company have provided the desired service capability. (5%)-Describe how you will mobilise the team quickly and your approach to service continuity. (1%) 3. Further response to question 1 below. -Explain how you plan to retain key resources/skills for the duration of the contract and how you can commit to meet ADS’s continuous need for development activities. (3%)-Describe how you will scale up and down resources, whilst ensuring quality and consistency. (3%)-Describe how you will optimise costs, generate savings and add value to ADS through the use of innovation and continuous improvement. Minimising transition costs between the current and new supplier.(3%)-Identify the risks and dependencies associated with this requirement and potential mitigation. (2%) 4. Further response to question 1 below Percentage split for evaluation:Technical = 46%. This is made up of EOI (11%) and proposal (35%). The top 3 suppliers for the EOI will then be invited to submit a written proposal which will be marked against the criteria described above. Cultural fit = 14%Price = 40% 5. Please could the Authority confirm the weighting for this question:- “Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of ARIS platform analysis, conception, development, rollout of customised solutions.”? Please see below the questions for you to answer: -1. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of devising, managing, developing APIs with knowledge of the wider web. Methods API architecture to deliver robust and scalable solution (1%)2. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of devising, managing, developing APIs with knowledge of the wider web. Methods API architecture to deliver robust and scalable solution (1%)Please see further supplier questions for full response to Question 2 due to word count. 6. Further response to question 2 below 3. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of maintaining and supporting the Software AG products. Including platform development, operation, maintenance, patching, future platform planning and implementation (3%)4. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of providing APIs and integration across the MOD multi cloud environments, as well as links to non-MOD cloud environments. Understanding of associated MOD accreditation processes for network connectivity. (3%)5. Experience of developing and supporting the release of analytics using tooling including technologies such as Git, Azure DevOps, Oracle Data Integrator (1%) 7. Further response to question 2 below 6. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of Alfabet platform setup, configuration and integration with applications, data sources and APIs. Management of relationship with Alfabet support (Empower). (1%)Questions 4 and 6 are the ones that have changed. Please answer these ones instead of the ones on the advert.Do not answer Question 7 as it is no longer valid. 8. Is there a current incumbent or preferred supplier for this role? Yes there is a current incumbent. 9. The skills and experience percentages do not add up to 100%. Could you clarify please? Technical = 46%. This is made up of EOI (11%) and proposal (35%). The top 3 suppliers for the EOI will then be invited to submit a written proposal which will be marked against the criteria described above. Cultural fit = 14%Price = 40% 10. We note that the newly defined Q1 and Q2 appear to be identical. We presume Q1 remains unchanged from the original - is this duplication just a copy and paste error perhaps? Apologies for the confusion, please discount questions 1 and 2 in CQ number 5. The Authority is unable to delete them.To clarify:Question 1 is Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of providing installation, configuration, technical consultancy to implement API designs and solutions (1%) Question 2 is Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of devising, managing, developing APIs with knowledge of the wider web. Methods API architecture to deliver robust and scalable solution (1%) 11. So as to avoid any confusion, please could we kindly request a definitive list of the questions that should be answered in responding to this advert? Questions 1 and 2 are clarified in the CQ above. 3. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of maintaining and supporting the Software AG products. Including platform development, operation, maintenance, patching, future platform planning and implementation (3%) 4. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of providing APIs and integration across the MOD multi cloud environments, as well as links to non-MOD cloud environments. Understanding of associated MOD accreditation processes for network connectivity. (3%)5. Experience of developing and supporting the release of analytics using tooling including technologies such as Git, Azure DevOps, Oracle Data Integrator (1%) 12. So as to avoid any confusion, please could we kindly request a definitive list of the questions that should be answered in responding to this advert? Following on from the CQ above:6. Experience within last 5 years, with dates, of Alfabet platform setup, configuration and integration with applications, data sources and APIs. Management of relationship with Alfabet support (Empower). (1%)Nice to Have skills:1. Demonstrable knowledge of Government Digital Service Standard (0.5%)2. Provide evidence of successful delivery of subscription-based software licensing within last 5 years (with dates) (0.5%) 13. Given the late change to the questions required, will the Authority be allowing more time for a response? Apologies, but due to the strict timeline, we are not able to give more time for a response. The deadline for submitting tenders is still Monday 30th January at 11:59pm