NHSBSA Technical Delivery Partner

Description

Summary of the work The NHSBSA requires a Delivery Partner to work across Technology, Digital and Data to ensure that the we can realise our ambitions whilst continuing to mature our function. The DDaT functions supports approximately 3000 staff, across multiple sites. These and our Strategy can be found on: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/what-we-do/strategy-business-plan-and-annual-report Expected Contract Length 2 Years with an Option to extend for 12 months Latest start date Monday 15 November 2021 Budget Range Our current resource requirements can be expressed as NHS Agenda for Change Roles at Bands. We are currently projecting a 25% reduction in year 2 and a further 50% reduction in year 3. We would be interested in commercial models that give us savings and flexibility in financial and contractual terms. Why the Work is Being Done The NHSBSA is an Arm’s Length Body of the Department of Health and Social Care. We provide a platform for at scale, national payments for primary care services to dentists and pharmacists. We support the NHS People Plan providing employment, HR and payroll platforms, as well as providing financial support to NHS students and managing the NHS Pension scheme. We also provide a wide range of services direct to the public to help citizens in gaining access to the healthcare and support with costs to which they are entitled. The NHSBSA technology environment has recently undergone significant change which has ended a long-term IT outsource contract with Capita bringing some services in house and establishing new contracts for others. We have a mixed infrastructure estate with the majority of data and applications residing in the Crown Hosting data centres. However, all new applications and services are being developed for cloud first and public cloud platforms. We have consolidated separate technology functions and built new teams. Maturing these new teams by investing in both additional capacity, new capabilities and modern tooling is now a key feature of our strategy. Problem to Be Solved The Application function within the BSA's Technology tower is seeking to complement its existing capability to enable rapid progress of a number of key delivery activities. These activities will be delivered by either a work package describing the creation of a blended team, extending internal NHS BSA teams that need additional capacity; or via a full work package encompassing an independent delivery. In the event of a blended team, the work package will describe skills, capabilities and outcomes and also facilitate knowledge transfer whilst we develop and grow capability from within. A full work package will also describe working with the rest of the NHS BSA to ensure successful delivery, handover and knowledge transfer. The deliverables will require work between Technology, Digital and Data to ensure that the architecture team can realise its ambitions whilst continuing to mature the function. The NHS BSA DDaT functions support approximately 3000 staff, across multiple sites. These and our Strategy can be found on: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/what-we-do/strategy-business-plan-and-annual-report Who Are the Users This service complies to most BSA users and Stakeholders. This contract will support the delivery of various projects which spans across a number of service users. The Delivery Partner is required to assess costs in accordance with NHS Agenda for Change Rates. Early Market Engagement We held a webinar on the 19th July 2021. Work Already Done New Requirement. Existing Team We usually plan our resourcing of work to form a multidisciplinary team: Delivery Lead/Scrum Master Developers (Front end/Full Stack) Testers (Automation wherever possible) Design (Content/UR/UX) Platform engineers Linking in with Architecture Linking in with Security This is one of two contracts with similar descriptions but a focus on different skillsets and types of delivery. This Architecture Delivery Partner contract focuses on architecture and design work packages. The other contract for an Technical Delivery Partner focuses on activity that will bring those specific designs into production. Current Phase Not started Skills & Experience • Using at least 1 example of where you have done this before, describe your process to collect client-requirements and enhance client relationships. Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16%. • Describe your experience of delivering multiple outcome based pieces of work within a framework agreement and will cover period of time (2-3 years)? Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16%. • Provide an example of deploying multiple teams to different projects. How many teams could you field concurrently and how will you manage onboarding? Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16%. • You are required to oversee a variety of SoW's-running across numerous-departments/projects. Provide an example of where you have managed DDaT-resources/demands of concurrent SoW's? Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16% • Provide an example of where you have added value/influenced strategic-direction, supported change for an organisation and the projects your teams are working on. Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16%. • Provide an example of where you have closely managed affordability and value for money whilst delivering outcomes on work packages? Section Weighting 25%, Question Weighting is 4.16%. Nice to Haves • Describe assurance of technical fitness for resources you'll provide to fulfil work packages. Describe how your recruitment and ongoing professional-development support ensures this. Section Weighting 10%, Question Weighting is 2.5%. • How do you manage your colleagues whilst they are allocated to clients and working on work package deliveries. Section Weighting 10%, Question Weighting is 2.5%. • Please provide an example of how you have successfully embedded a multi-disciplinary team, describing your approach to onboarding and enabling-blended-team(s) to deliver a successful-outcome. Section Weighting10%, Question Weighting is 2.5%. • Please provide an example of any major issues in team(s) and/or the management and delivery of work, include the successful outcome? Section Weighting 10%, Question Weighting is 2.5%. Work Location The NHSBSA Headquarters are in Newcastle upon Tyne, however we are open to remote working. Working Arrangments The working pattern will mostly be remote working, engaging through Teams and preferably using video as well as voice. As Covid restrictions ease, there is some possibility of visiting sites on occasion; all of our sites are in England and Wales and there is unlikely to be a need to be on-site for any sustained period. Security Clearance Not required Additional T&Cs To be provided at the next of stage of this process. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 6 Proposal Criteria To be confirmed at the next stage of this process. This is the first stage and the second stage will published on Atamis the e-procurement system. Cultural Fit Criteria To be confirmed at the next stage of this process. This is the first stage and the second stage will published on Atamis the e-procurement system. Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 15% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. What different technologies are to be included in the delivery of work?i.e.OracleMacCitrixSAPMicrosoftJavaFinancial Systems?HR Systems?Line of business Systems?What technology skill sets specifically are needed? A1) Java, CSS, Thymleaf, Microsoft, SQLSkills sets are across various roles.Front end Development User interaction designFull stack developmentAutomation testingAccessibility Testing 2. Can you please make the outputs from the early market engagement available (i.e. the webinar on 19 July)? The Digital Market Place -DOS Q and A portal does not allow the sharing of documents/attachments . 3. Is there any incumbent for this opportunity? I can confirm that there is no incumbent supplier as this is a new opportunity. 4. What’s the budget for this opportunity? The budget is currently unknown as all work and costs will defined by Statements of Work to meet the requirements of various workstreams . 5. The budget is currently unknown as all work and costs will defined by Statements of Work to meet the requirements of various workstreams . Yes I can confirm that all responses must be provided in line with the DOS format. 6. "would you have recorded the webinar held on the 19th July 2021, if so could we gain access.Kind regards" The Digital Market Place -DOS Q and A portal does not allow the sharing of documents/attachments . 7. Could the Authority share the Tech-stack for delivery? There is no Tech Stack for delivery all future requirements will be called off using Statements of Work. 8. Who from your team will be scoring applications for this opportunity and what positions do they hold? The Head of Technology Services and members of the Technology Applications team. 9. Can you please provide the slides from the webinar? The Digital Market Place -DOS Q and A portal does not allow the sharing of documents/attachments . 10. Can you please advise the preferred tech stack for this opportunity? Due to complexity of the technical estate and varying ages of products within them ,there is currently no consolidated architectural diagram available. There are a diverse range of products and services which require a range of different technical skills in open source including , AWS/Oracle, Azure/ Java rather than .NET/API development . 11. Can you please advise the preferred tech stack for this opportunity? Due to complexity of the technical estate and varying ages of products within them ,there is currently no consolidated architectural diagram available. There are a diverse range of products and services which require a range of different technical skills in open source including , AWS/Oracle, Azure/ Java rather than .NET/API development . 12. Could you give an indication of budget please? The budget is currently unknown as all work and costs will defined by Statements of Work to meet the requirements of various workstreams . 13. Who is the incumbent and how long they have been the incumbent? I can confirm that there is no incumbent supplier as this is a new opportunity. 14. Who from your team will be scoring applications for this opportunity and what positions do they hold? The Head of Technology Services and members of the Technology Applications team. 15. The requirement states that it is offsite and remote working. Can this work be done at an offshore location? I can confirm that the requirement is for onshore working only with the possibility of some remote working subject to specific conditions and agreement - offshore working is not permitted. 16. Is there an incumbent for this service? I can confirm that there is no incumbent supplier as this is a new opportunity. 17. The skills and experience questions for this Technical Delivery Partner are identical to those asked for the Architecture Delivery Partner. Is that correct? Yes I can confirm that the skills and experience questions for both opportunities are identical in both however we would expect the Reponses to reflect the differences in roles- RHM 18. "Under the section Existing questions it is stated:“This is one of two contracts with similar descriptions but a focus on different skillsets and types of delivery. This Architecture Delivery Partner contract focuses on architecture and design work packages. The other contract for an Technical Delivery Partner focuses on activity that will bring those specific designs into production.”My understanding is that this is the Technical Delivery Partner requirement. Please confirm what this requirement is for." Yes I can confirm that this opportunity is for the Technical Delivery Partner. 19. “Provide an example of deploying multiple teams to different projects. How many teams could you field concurrently and how will you manage onboarding?”, Can you indicate on how many teams you anticipate running in concurrently? It is expected that there are potentially up to 4 running concurrently dropping into a hybrid teams model and working in the same space. 20. Would you consider near-shore or off-shore teams? I can confirm that the requirement is for onshore working only with the possibility of some remote working subject to specific conditions and agreement - offshore working is not permitted. 21. To assure technical fitness, are there any specific technical qualifications or accreditations required of supplier resources? Experienced with front and back end development /accessibility/and developing to Access to WCAG2.2, experience of working to the GDS standards framework would be useful and user centric design approaches . 22. Please what is the anticipated project? Various as defined by future Statements of work. 23. Is there any overlap between this work and the Dental Services Enhancement work shared with suppliers in the RFI and market engagement session on 25 June? Not currently , all work will be defined by Statement of work and it is not currently expected to overlap with Dental Services , however - we wouldn't wish to exclude this. 24. Which projects have been confirmed as in scope of the contract? Various as defined by future Statements of work. 25. Can you provide a list of expected projects in the pipeline for the successful supplier? Various as defined by future Statements of work. 26. What is the anticipated year one spend? We are currently unable to anticipate year on year spend as the various requirements will be defined by future Statements of work. 27. What proportion of the roles do you expect to be: on-shore, near short or off shore? All roles are required to be onshore. 28. Do you have an indicative budget range in mind? Unknown as all work and costs will defined by Statements of Work to meet the requirements of various workstreams . 29. Where can we access the materials from the early market engagement webinar? The Digital Market Place -DOS Q and A portal does not allow the sharing of documents/attachments . 30. The Digital Market Place -DOS Q and A portal does not allow the sharing of documents/attachments . Yes a single supplier could deliver both however we offered two opportunities as we didn't wish to exclude smaller specialist suppliers who may only wish to deliver one of the contracts and not both . 31. Having looked at the portal details we can see questions worth 35% of the weighting, would it be a possibility to get a full question list? These questions are made available to suppliers who are successful in stage 1 and progress to stage 2 of the evaluation. 32. What is the number of multiple engagements and teams you would be expecting to be deployed at one time? Up to 4 concurrently - expected to be dropping in to work as part of a a hybrid team part of hybrid teams. 33. Could the Authority share the high-level procurement timelines? Including Shortlisting, ITT, Presentation and results. "Indicative TimelineStage 1: Closing date 21/10/2021Stage 1: Evaluation and shortlist 04/11/2021Stage 1: Supplier notifications 05/10/2021Stage 2: Publish on Atamis 05/10/2021Stage 2: Supplier responses 15/10/2021Stage 2: Supplier Presentations 16/10/2021Stage 2: Conclude Evaluation 22/10/2021Stage 2: Contract Award and notices 24/10/2021- 26/10/2021" 34. Can you please advise the timelines of this procurement (e.g. shortlisted companies notified, anticipated contract award)? Also, can you confirm if shortlisted suppliers will have the opportunity to present? "Indicative TimelineStage 1: Closing date 21/10/2021Stage 1: Evaluation and shortlist 04/11/2021Stage 1: Supplier notifications 05/10/2021Stage 2: Publish on Atamis 05/10/2021Stage 2: Supplier responses 15/10/2021Stage 2: Supplier Presentations 16/10/2021Stage 2: Conclude Evaluation 22/10/2021Stage 2: Contract Award and notices 24/10/2021- 26/10/2021I can confirm suppliers will have the opportunity to present in the second stage as indicated on the timeline." 35. "1) Do you have a total/overall budget figure for this opportunity please? An indicative figure/range will be fine.2) You mention a parallel Architecture Delivery Partner contract. Where can we access further information on that please? If it is also on Digital Marketplace, please share the weblink." "1)The budget is currently unknown as all work and costs will defined by Statements of Work to meet the requirements of various workstreams .2) The Architecture Delivery Partner opportunity has already progressed onto stage 2 ." 36. What are your expectations on daily rates? Suppliers have been asked to ensure their rate card's comply to SFIA/DDAT requirements, this will ensure suppliers rates cards align to Government Standards and the Authority does not pay above these standards." 37. For Q1: will suppliers be awarded greater marks for providing more than one example?For Q7 and 8, are suppliers required to evidence this methodology with an example as per the standard DOS format, or simply state their methods?Please can you clarify Q10. Are you looking for suppliers to demonstrate an example of completed work where they have encountered difficulties, as well as how they have overcome these difficulties? Q1) DOS guidance sates that - Suppliers are required to provide one example for each ‘skills and experience’ requirement. Unless you have asked for several examples, you should not score suppliers higher or lower because they gave more or less examples than another supplier.Q7) and Q8) if you believe an example helps you to describe your process or answer the question - you will not be marked down if you do not provide an example.Q10) yes 38. In Q6. Please could you define ‘managed affordability and value for money’? Does this relate exclusively to managing costs to a budget and price, or other measures of value over and above the deliverable? The requirements are stipulated by the Statement off works in which we will agree that it will take a specified amount of time and money to deliver the required outcomes. The supplier has a responsibility to stay within the cost envelope and also to highlight during initial conversations if the requirements can be delivered more effectively using different mechanisms . 39. "Could the authority please provide an indication of the initial team shape required on commencement of the contract, and subsequent ramp-up over the period to the end of March?Could the authority please confirm the reasoning behind the reduction in expenditure in years 2 and 3?On Essential Q1 – for the avoidance of doubt, could you please clarify what is meant by this question? Should our ‘process to collect client requirements’ and our process to ‘enhance client relationships’ be treated as distinct, or related, in our response?" Up to 4 concurrently - expected to be dropping in to work as part of a hybrid team defined and deliver against agreed via statements of work .We expect hybrid working arrangements to increase the internal capabilities of the base team . The budget is set and reviewed annually as part of the ongoing spend review the outcome is currently unknown Essential Q1) Were you have acted as an Technical Delivery Partner focuses on outcomes based activity bringing specific designs into production.The supplier must determine how they respond in respect of client requirements and relationship requirements. 40. In Q1. Please can you clarify ‘client-requirements’. Does this relate to resourcing requirements, or delivery/project requirements? Q1) Relates to both resourcing and delivery of outcomes based project requirements. 41. For Question 1, where you refer to ‘where you have done this before’, could you elaborate on this? Is it requesting details of a project like yours, or the process to collect client requirements etc? Essential Q1) Of were you have acted as an Technical Delivery Partner with a focuses on outcomes based activity bringing specific designs into production. It relates to both the collection of client requirements and delivery of outcomes based project/s.