CAID Delivery Partner Service

Description

Summary of the work The Home Office requires a service to deliver the Child Abuse Image Database (CAID) change programme. Work will include strengthening the core CAID infrastructure, extending the use of AI, increasing automation and trialling new technologies. Experience required includes solution and technical architecture, business change, business analysis and technical project management. Expected Contract Length 24 months Latest start date Thursday 1 April 2021 Budget Range The Home Office anticipates the total cost over 24 months to be £9.5M. The department reserves the right to use any of the DOS pricing methodologies in any SoW (fixed price, capped T&M, Milestone payments, T&M or a hybrid of these). Day rates must be aligned with the Home Office-mandated rate card. The Home Office does not commit to a minimum or maximum spend under this contract. Why the Work is Being Done The aim of CAID is to continue to provide UK law enforcement with an image database and associated tools to aid investigations into indecent images of children. Over the next 5 years, the CAID Transformation Programme aims to expand CAID in line with policing priorities and provide new capabilities such as automated tools to examine and categorise large volumes of images and videos and new AI capabilities to help investigators safeguard victims. The improvements being made to CAID will to help streamline the investigation and prosecution of offenders and help to safeguard children from abuse. Problem to Be Solved The CAID programme requires a service to deliver the next stage of CAID development and the ongoing operation of the CAID system. Work will include architecting new infrastructure, designing the integration of tools, capturing requirements and designing new processes, project management and business change support. Delivery of the programme will require management of the approved suppliers, coordination with Law Enforcement users, engagement with stakeholders and collaboration with Home Office team members in roles across all functions of the programme. There is also a need to work with related policing and Home Office technology programmes with the aim of reusing common services where these fit with CAID requirements. Who Are the Users The users of CAID include UK Police Forces, the National Crime Agency and the Internet Watch Foundation. Law Enforcement Organisations need to identify, categorise and share illegal images and videos of children so they can safeguard victims of child sexual exploitation and prosecute offenders. They need to enhance their ability to carry out these activities and increase their capacity to support more investigations as offender behaviour changes due to the changing nature of technology. Work Already Done CAID has been a live service since 2014. Version 6 of the software will be deployed in 2020-21. Transformation projects are mobilised and include analysis phases as well as quick-win initial delivery projects. Delivery areas include the automated classification of known images, enhanced camera forensics, improved offender threat profiling and new tools to assist with the forensic triage of suspect devices. Existing Team The CAID programme comprises a portfolio of projects, strategy and transformation and technical release workstreams. The service will primarily be client-side and operate in partnership with the Civil-Servant and specialist contractor team members. Additionally: • Claritas Solutions build and manage the CAID technical environment • L-3 Communications ASA Limited is the CAID application software provider • West Yorkshire Police host CAID and provide first-line support • The Police provide an Implementation Support Team as the link with police users and stakeholders • The Home Office provide roles in all functions and provides QAT, Commercial, Finance, PMO and Product Management capability. Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Experience of working with Police Forces and government and, with this, the knowledge of expected controls and governance arrangements • Deep knowledge and experience of image repositories, image hashing, use of AI machine learning relating to images, integration of AI algorithms to deliver new functionality and support the live service • Experience of transforming legacy systems to a flexible architecture capable of integrating components such as workflow automation, MI and audit solutions while minimising risk and cost • Proven experience in defining and delivering large-scale technical transformational programmes with a multitude of suppliers and stakeholders • Experience of operating effectively in an environment with multiple vendors dispersed across different sites • Experience of providing project leadership and support for projects with multiple and complex dependencies • Proven knowledge and expertise on similar data projects in the public sector where data sensitivity and security are a major consideration • Experience in providing a flexible resource profile that can efficiently adapt to the demands of the programme, meeting short- and long-term resourcing needs • Experience of accelerating delivery to customers, monitoring benefits realised and implementing continual improvement practices • Experience of maximising knowledge retention and skills transfer, including advancing knowledge sharing, documentation and the use of enterprise repositories • Skills to manage personal and team effectiveness to deliver outcomes and necessary interactions with the broader programme • Knowledge of Agile and Waterfall delivery Nice to Haves • Experience of working with MS Project Online and government Project Delivery Frameworks • Experience of working with SPARKS EA. Work Location 2 Marsham Street, London, with an expected move to Croydon. The team must be able to on-board and work remotely. Occasional travel to other UK locations, the US and European countries. Working Arrangments The supplier should provide team members with technical skills and a breadth of project and communication skills to plan and deliver the required outcomes. Team members will not need to view images stored on CAID but the subject matter could be distressing. Additional support is provided, including an annual psychological screening session. The team must be flexible to working remotely, in line with current Covid 19 restrictions or from Home Office locations within the M25 area, when allowed to do so. Some overseas travel may be required. Security Clearance The service requires resources who either have or are prepared to apply for and obtain SC and NPPV3 (Non-Police Personnel Vetting level 3) clearances. Additional T&Cs The Home Office will have ownership of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) created during the contract. Travel and Expenses will not be paid for any T&E incurred within the M25 area. Travel and Expenses will only be paid based on the Home Office Travel and Expenses policy & guidance. Key supplier staff included at the proposal stage will be expected to work on the programme. The Home Office will retain the option to replace some supplier resources with Civil Servants during the life of the contract. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Approach to the work, illustrating flexibility in team roles and multi-skilled personnel to meet CAID goals. • How you would bring to bear your experience in delivering large-scale technical transformational programmes with a multitude of suppliers and stakeholders • How you would utilise your experience of operating effectively in an environment with multiple vendors dispersed across different sites • How to be effective in a small focussed team • Service delivery approach and proposed Team structure • Demonstrate Value for Money in your approach with transparent costs • Ability to plan and anticipate for risks and provide potential mitigations • Demonstrable experience of working alongside clients in co-located, integrated teams • Demonstrate approach to knowledge and skills transfer • Technical competence in a range of relevant technologies, such as image hashing, use of AI, machine learning relating to images, integration of software, AI algorithms and Agile & Waterfall practices • Demonstrate how you would understand CAID user and stakeholder requirements to deliver change to meet business needs • Demonstrate approaches to defining, measuring and maintaining the pace and quality of delivery. Cultural Fit Criteria • Experience of working with public sector organisations • Share knowledge and experience with other team members • Work as a team with our organisation and with other suppliers • Be adaptable and flexible and able to deliver against changing priorities • Proactive issue management, problem resolution and improving ways of working • Have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes • Be transparent and collaborative with colleagues and Product owners to make informed decisions. Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Work history • Reference • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 10% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Could you please confirm if either bidding and/or being awarded the Delivery Partner work might preclude a supplier from bidding from any downstream transformational type work for the CAID programme? I can confirm that the wining Supplier, on award of contract, would be precluded from bidding for any other CAID Transformation work. This is to maintain the integrity and impartiality of the Client-side role of the Delivery Partner.However, if a Supplier bids but is unsuccessful for the Delivery Partner opportunity, they are not precluded from bidding for any other CAID Transformation work. 2. The opportunity states that “Day rates must be aligned with the Home Office-mandated rate card.”Please can the buyer confirm the Home Office-mandated rate card Day rates so that bidders can ensure they are able to be aligned. Home Office DDaT are mandated to applying target rates to all procurements. These will be factored into the pricing evaluation at written proposal stage.Rates as follows:- Architecture: £600(SFIA 3); £750(SFIA 4); £950(SFIA 5)- Data: £550(SFIA 3); £650(SFIA 4); £900(SFIA 5)- Delivery: £500(SFIA 3); £700(SFIA 4); £850(SFIA 5)- Engineering: £450(SFIA 3); £650(SFIA 4); £800(SFIA 5)- IP Ops: £450(SFIA 3); £650(SFIA 4); £800(SFIA 5)- Product: £540(SFIA 3); £680(SFIA 4); £800(SFIA 5)- QAT: £460(SFIA 3); £575(SFIA 4); £800(SFIA 5)- UCD: £425(SFIA 3); £575(SFIA 4); £625(SFIA 5) 3. Should SPARKS EA actually read Sparx EA? Yes, it should read Sparx EA. 4. Thank you for confirming the target day rates for this specific procurement. Please could you clarify if these are the maximum rates for each role / SFIA grade, or please could the HO also disclose the maximum rates for each role / SFIA grade. The maximum rates will be shared with shortlisted suppliers. Bidders should use the target rate price points to decide whether to proceed as the target rate or less is what we expect to pay for the majority of services. 5. Thank you for confirming the target day rates for this specific procurement. Please could you clarify if these are the maximum rates for each role / SFIA grade, or please could the HO also disclose the maximum rates for each role / SFIA grade. To clarify, the rates published for this opportunity are the Target rates and not the Maximum rates