RM1043.9-2-UK Hydrographic Office

Tender description

Summary of the work: The UKHO are seeking to set up a contract to deliver User Experience including (but not limited to): 1. interaction design 2. content design 3. service design 4. user research 5.design / research ops and data analytics The contract will enable UKHO to scale the User Experience capability on a flexible basis as requirements dictate. Pricing model: Fixed price Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource: Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Organisation the work is for: The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) Latest start date: 2026-09-21 Expected contract length: 2-00-00 Expected contract structure: Initial 2 years term with an option to extend by 1 year Estimated contract value (excl VAT): 1000000 Why the work is being done: he Authority has established a User Experience (UX) practice made up of Interaction Designers and User Researchers to enhance its current product portfolio and aid in the development of new products and services in new unexplored markets. To that end the Authority has recognised the need for User Experience as a core capability within the Authorities’ Research, Design and Innovation (RDI) team, and whilst the capability is resourced by permanent members of staff, there will be on occasion, as demand dictates, the requirement to flex the capability and deliver projects above and beyond that which the current resource levels can provide. Therefore, the Authority wishes to seek a partner that can provide User Experience - Interaction Design, User Research, Service Design, Content Design skills on a project-by-project basis over two years. Problem to be solved: We want to speed up our delivery cadence and insight gathering by having UX professionals to work alongside internal teams to bring value to users at pace. The Authority has the internal resource, but not enough to cover the demands of product development in support of our current in year Business Plan and enduring 5-year corporate strategy. This requirement will address this. Who the users are and what they need to do: Key User Definition The nature of RDI projects and the associated UX and PoC development is such that involvement in projects and defining specific deliverables up-front is difficult to prescribe. More information to be provided at call-off stage. Existing team: The existing teams consist of 4 User Researchers, 4 Interaction Designers, several Software developers and 1 part-time Data Engineer. Incumbent supplier: Yes Working arrangements: Hybrid working resources required to attend the Authority’s Office on an ad hoc basis to collaborate and sync with internal development teams Security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Additional information on security clearance: Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)  All must have BPSS and DBS as a minimum.