RM1043.8-1-DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE - Find Public Health Data

Tender description

Work done so far The internal team and previous suppliers have undertaken user research and discovery work. The output documents from the discovery will be provided to the successful supplier, who will be expected to deliver the next phase of the project building on these learnings. An MVP has been delivered with basic functionality. This project will be expected to build upon the successes of the MVP to develop it into a public beta. Which phase the project is in Alpha Existing team There are existing teams within DHSC working on Find Public Health Data and the successful supplier will need to work to alongside while delivering separate deliverables. The current project team consists of Head of Data Projects, user researcher, UX/UI designer, product manager. The technical team consists of a Head of Digital Developments. The wider team consists of analyst users who provide critical input and decision making abilities regarding the data held in the platform and its presentation. The buyer will provide all UR and UX/UI skills and lead user testing. Address where the work will be done No specific location but must be UK based and willing to travel to DHSC core offices (Leeds or London) as required Working arrangements The supplier will be primarily working remotely with meetings held using Microsoft Teams and other collaboration tools. There may be requirements for on-site meetings, most likely in either Leeds or London, but could be in any of the DHSC locations where the project team work - including Nottingham and Birmingham. The Supplier will be given DHSC laptop and will be expected to use when engaging with team. The Supplier will be expected to use DHSC SharePoint and emails when working together. The Supplier will be expected to build upon existing discovery work and DHSC employee knowledge. Provide more information about your security requirements: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Latest start date 2025-12-15 Enter the expected contract length: 12 months Extension period: 6 months Write the term or acronym: PHI Write the term or acronym: MVP Write the term or acronym: GDS Write the term or acronym: QA Are you prepared to show your budget details?: Yes Indicative maximum: 3700000 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 Fingertips (https://fingertips.phe.org.uk) is a large health data repository with API access options. This project will deliver a public beta "Find Public Health Data" service on GOV.UK to replace the current Fingertips service, which is nearing end of life. The project will augment an existing team of user researchers and designers, product owners, and analytical specialists with a delivery team to include developers and testers. The application is a .NET Core, NextJS application hosted within Azure making use of cloud technologies. The service is currently at early MVP stage and needs to move through to public beta by end of March 2026, passing all relevant GDS assessment criteria. The deliverables for the project will include: • An API allowing advanced users to call the data directly • R and python packages to allow analysts to work with the data • Analyst ability to upload and manage platform data and the presentation of this to users, as well as handle QA processes • Ability to automate data publications and revisions or updates, with ability to redact data along with full audit history • Ability to archive versions of the data and front end, ideally through the National Archives • Seamless integration of user-friendly front door data access alongside more detailed breakdowns of the data • Non-functional requirements including load balancing and security needs Requirements refinement is an ongoing process within DHSC and the delivery team will be required to work with internal teams to develop and deliver these. Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Who is the organisation using the products or services The service is publicly accessible and currently used mainly by statisticians and analysts within DHSC and across local authorities. Why the work is being done Policy goals: The departmental goal of ‘leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer’ requires good quality data and analysis to achieve, which this work enables. Time constraints: The current service is uneconomical and is reaching the end of its useful service. We need to deliver a replacement service as soon as possible, and by the end of March 2026. The business problem you need to solve The current Fingertips service is reaching the end of its useful service. There is a need to replace this service and to use this opportunity resourcefully to build in user improvements including alignment with the GDS. The internal project team will provide oversight, delegation, and guidance for the delivery for features and user stories from user research The deliverables for the project will include: An API allowing advanced users to call the data directly R and python packages to allow analysts to work with the data Analyst ability to upload and manage platform data and the presentation of this to users, as well as handle QA processes Ability to automate data publications and revisions or updates, with ability to redact data along with full audit history Ability to archive versions of the data and front end, ideally through the National Archives Seamless integration of user-friendly front door data access alongside more detailed breakdowns of the data Non-functional requirements including load balancing and security needs An MVP exists and suppliers will be expected to build on this We expect the service to go through either service assessment or a modified form of service assessment (i.e. lower-demand/looking at fewer standards) at the end of private beta. The form of this will be clarified by the DHSC assessment team as the service develops through beta. This is because the service is primarily informational but with minimal transactional elements which need some review once more developed In pricing, resourcing and responses, suppliers should respond as though they are preparing for a standard full government service assessment between private and public beta. The current MVP has not been alpha assessed. However DHSC assurance has reviewed the alpha work and is content that the work is proceeding in line with standards. DHSC assurance will check in with the team and supplier to provide advice as the beta proceeds and the team works towards beta assessment First user type: As a public health analyst: First user type: As a policy professional: