Trade Remedies Authority – Future Trade Remedies Service – Case Management System Built on Microsoft Technologies.

Description

About adding context and requirements test Pre-market engagement An optional Early Market Engagement Questionnaire was published on Contracts Finder as a Early Engagement (https:www.contractsfinder.service.gov.ukNotice2a35b927-29fc-4e64-ae12-b3233fd76197) and Find a Tender as Prior Information Notice: Prior Information Only (https:www.find-tender.service.gov.ukNotice023610-2023) on 11th August 2023. This optional Early Engagement Questionnaire was used to understand the view of the market in terms of its approach to this requirement, key considerations, indicative timescales, and costings. Information that TRA gathered was used to refine requirements and inform an internal business . TRA held non-committal discussions with several suppliers, to clarify their responses to the Early Market Engagement Questionnaire. The TRA undertook a detailed review of all market engagement responses, in order to progress from Discovery into full procurement based on an appropriate technology which aligns with the strategic direction of the business. An optional Virtual Pre-Procurement Launch Event was held on Tuesday 23rd January 2024, and invitations were sent to all suppliers on the DOS6 Framework. A presentation was shared during the session, and a question and answer session was held. If you wish to have a recording of the event, and a write-up of the Question and Answers please contact CommercialDDaT@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Work done so far A Future TRS project was initiated in 2023 to replace the existing TRS solution, including a new technical solution and operational changes to improve efficiency and productivity. In accordance with CDDO and GDS project frameworks, the Discovery phase is now complete, and the TRA now requires a suitable partner to support implementation of the Future TRS system across business and technical change - i.e. a digital transformation project. The TRA is currently in the advanced stages of implementation of a PMO solution built using the MS Power Platform which enables project management. This solution is anticipated to be in LIVE ~end of March 2024. The TRA are expecting increased awareness of the experience possible via MS Power Platform, and this solution currently has some basic integration with SharePoint and PowerBI. The TRA community is becoming increasingly familiar and literate in the usage of Microsoft technologies to support data collection and analysis business intelligence (PowerBI), information document management (SharePoint). The Investigations team have developed a number of automation tools using MS Power Platform and MS Excel, which represent components which can potentially be re-used integrated into the Future TRS solution where relevant. The TRA continue to consult directly with Microsoft for ad-hoc advice relating to the execution of projects, or to explore potential usage of technology available in the context of the Microsoft E5 licence. This includes validation of intel received from current or potential suppliers. Which phase the project is in Alpha Existing team The Digital and Technology team will be leading this project for TRA. Key roles are: Head of Digital and Technology, Future TRS Project Manager, Digital Programme Manager, Cyber Security Manager, Infrastructure and Hardware Manager, Investigators, Analysts and Verification Team (accountants). Address where the work will be done Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) 4th , North Gate House, 21-23 Valpy Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1AF. To note: work can also be completed virtually within the UK only. Working arrangements The supplier will be required to attend the TRA offices as and when required by the project. This is predicted to be maximum of once a week (excluding design sprints). Expenses will be capped at £5,000 for the duration of the contract. Provide more information about your security requirements: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Provide more information about your security requirements: Security Check (SC) Provide more information about your security requirements (optional): BPSS SC. All must have BPSS as a minimum. SC clearance may be required at specific stages of the project. We will work with the supplier to understand requirements and we would be willing to sponsor the SC clearance process at the suppliers expense. Latest start date 2024-05-28 Enter the expected contract length: 2 years Extension period: 1 year Special terms and conditions Expenses to be capped at £5,000 for the duration of the contract. Write the term or acronym: TRA - Trade Remedies Authority Write the term or acronym: TRS - Trade Remedies Service Explain the term or acronym: The Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) exists to defend the UK against unfair international trade practices. We investigate whether trade remedies are needed to prevent harm to UK industries caused by unfair trading practices or unforeseen import surges, and we make recommendations on appropriate measures to defend UK economic interests. The Trade Remedies Authority is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade. Explain the term or acronym: The Trade Remedies Service (TRS) Trade Remedies Service, allows (industries and businesses) to request a trade remedies investigation or review of an existing decision, take part in an active trade remedies , invite an organisation or individual to represent a party in an active or invite a colleague to their account. The original TRS was developed by an external third-party supplier, and later moved in-house to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) team. Are you prepared to show your budget details?: Yes Indicative maximum: 1112000 Provide further information: The budget is yet to be approved, due to Business Planning. The budget will be confirmed at the point of Contract Award. The budget is up to £1,112,000 including VAT for 2 years + optional 12 month extension. Year 1: Fixed Cost Design and Build - up to £912,000 including VAT. The Pricing Schedule in the tender is broken down into Payment Specific Milestones. As part of the procurement process tenderers must complete the table, demonstrating a fixed price for each milestone. TRA and the successful tenderer will develop a series of Statement of Works for each milestone, as per the DOS6 guidelines. Each SOW will fall under a specific milestone, and payment will be released once all SOWs acceptance criteria have been accepted for that milestone. This will unlock payment for the fixed price milestone. Year 2 and Optional Year 3: Fixed Cost Break Fixes, and Call-Off Basis for Adhoc Fixes – up to £100,000 including VAT per year. TRA would the tenderers to complete a table to understand their annual cost for a Fixed Price Break Fix payment for Year 2. TRA would tenderers to complete a table demonstrating their rate card for information purposes. This will be used for an extra Ad hoc Fixes. The same pricing mechanisms will be used for the optional 12 month extension. For Information Purposes. For information purposes TRA would to understand the licensing approach to the proposed solution. Tenderers will be asked to complete the licences needed for the solution, but this will not be taken into account in the pricing evaluation. Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Summary of work TRA requires a supplier with exceptional Microsoft Power Platform and or Dynamics capability to design and build the Trade Remedies Service - the flagship digital service - in a sustainable and future-proof way. TRS needs to provide a portal for stakeholders across the globe to engage with the TRA and submit data and documentation. There will also need to be a document management system solution to support our internal teams to manage investigations, data and documentation and stakeholder communications. The Future Trade Remedies Service (TRS) will allow external stakeholders in industries and businesses to initiate a trade remedies investigation or review of an existing decision, take part in an active trade remedies, invite an organisation or individual to represent a party or invite a colleague to their account through a GOV.UK facing portal. It will provide a document management system for internal investigations teams to manage, review and store data, publish documents to GOV.UK and provide management reporting capability. Teams in TRA should also be able to engage effectively with stakeholders via the digital service. The Future TRS project is an in-flight digital transformation project which aligns with the methodology mandated by CDDO and GDS, featuring Discovery, Alpha and Beta phases. The supplier will on-board to the project for the start of the Alpha phase, with access to all outputs of the Discovery Phase which completed in September 2023 enabling the TRA to commence procurement activities. Outputs of the Discovery phase have been uploaded to the procurement portal, and the successful bidder, once on-boarded, will be able to interface with TRA and DBT teams to obtain further information as needed to provide the contracted services. The End of Discovery Report uploaded to the procurement portal further describes the story so far, explaining how the project has progressed through various project phases to date. The TRA will retain overall project management responsibility, with the supplier expected to integrate with the existing Project Board, Project Working Group, and participate in collaborative project planning once on-boarded. Expectation has been set internally within the TRA regarding target dates for Release 1 (the Minimum Viable Product), and Release 2 (further enhancements), based on a Product Backlog resulting from the Discovery phase. The supplier will be expected to work within the time constraints set out, and it is accepted that the plan can be moderated in response to recommendations from the supplier. The supplier will be expected to participate in Project Board events, and as such be expected to report on project progress throughout in a transparent and open way, covering all aspects of the delivery, design, development, testing, change management (including training), and transition to BAU mode in accordance with CDDO and GDS standards. The Project Board will include representatives from the TRA, DBT, and independent CDDO advisory. Given the criticality of the solution to the functioning of the TRA, it is expected that all aspects of the project will be scrutinised during Project Board and Project Working Group events. Upon completion of Release 1 and 2, the supplier will be expected to provide support services until the end of the contracting period. The TRA will own all intellectual property rights (IPR) with the technical solution built using Microsoft technologies available to the TRA via the existing Microsoft E5 licence. The supplier will be expected to produce technical documentation describing the Future TRS system such that the TRA support team can manage ongoing maintenance and development under BAU mode. Evidencing readiness for BAU mode will be required in order for the project to be accepted into Live. As part of the ITT response the TRA request a fit-gap analysis to be undertaken with the recommendation forming part of the suppliers response, in line with Microsoft guidance on how to conduct fit-gap. The supplier, as a minimum requirement, will need to evidence Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001 certification. Key Factor: TRA also wishes to procure a contract for Software Testing. The supplier of this secondary contract for Software Testing cannot be the same supplier implementing the Future Trade Remedies Service in order to maintain the integrity of the testing activity. To combat this potential conflict, should the winning supplier for the Future Trade Remedies tender also score highest in the evaluation of the Software Testing tender, that supplier will only be awarded the contract for the Future Trade Remedies and the second highest scorer from the Software Testing evaluation will be awarded the Software Testing contract. Where the supplied staff will work South East England Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Who the organisation using the products or services is The Department for Business and Trade (formally Department for International Trade) is buying services on behalf of the Trade Remedies Authority. Why the work is being done TRA have a digital strategic goal - we will provide a high-quality experience for stakeholders through digitally enabled delivery. We will support our investigations work using technology, data and digital tools to optimise our operational performance, information base and the experience. We will seek and act upon feedback from all stakeholders to continuously improve the investigations experience from the customer standpoint. The Future TRS project is looking to replace the current TRS with a low-code, sustainable and maintainable digital service to drive operational efficiencies, make better use of our data and provide an excellent experience. We want to move to a service and product-led approach of iterative design, deployment, feedback and iteration utilising the Microsoft technologies. This project will kick start TRAs journey to its digital vision of enabling teams to make smarter decisions and take ownership of the experience we deliver to all stakeholders. The business problem you need to solve The Trade Remedies Service (TRS) allows stakeholders (industries and businesses) to request a trade remedies investigation or review of an existing decision, take part in an active trade remedies, invite an organisation or individual to represent a party in an active or a colleague to their account for an active . The original TRS was developed by an external third-party supplier, and later moved in-house to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) team. The original code has been refactored and, in places, rebuilt from the ground up by the in-house team to form the existing solution. A Future TRS project was initiated in 2023 to replace the existing TRS solution, including a new technical solution and operational changes to improve efficiency and productivity. In accordance with CDDO and GDS project frameworks, the Discovery phase is now complete, and the TRA now requires a suitable partner to support implementation of the Future TRS system across business and technical change - i.e. a digital transformation project. The business problem to solve is defined by the the documents available on this procurement portal. First user type: External and Internal Personas Enter more details about this user type: The Discovery phase of the project examined the as-is business process, and all personas involved. The Future TRS system will be used by external and internal stakeholders. Please refer to the documents as uploaded on the procurement portal, which include extensive information to enable suppliers to understand our needs. Note there are extra internal personas which have not yet been documented.