Technical Support for NATO Standardisation of Message Text Formats & IRIS Management (ND – 0265)

Description

Summary of the work There is a requirement to provide sustained digital Message Text Formatting (MTF) development and standardisation support to deliver information effects in the maritime environment. This includes legacy, emerging and unsupported MTF requirements. All development will be delivered against NATO standards to maintain current and ensure future maritime interoperability. Expected Contract Length 24 Months Latest start date Sunday 1 January 2023 Budget Range It is estimated that the work can be delivered within the budget of £420K for a period of 24 months including £30K for Travel & Subsistence, for which the authority expects in the order of 242 days of service (168 'Core' days with 74 'Call-off' days as required). This budget includes £30K for travel. Why the Work is Being Done Navy Command - The RN, Navy Digital is the designated custodian of the APP-11 symbology on behalf of NATO and is for maintaining all NATO MTFs, sponsoring and implementing MTF changes to NATO standards for use across all NATO and UK Military public and private cloud networks. Problem to Be Solved Provide digital Message Text Formatting (MTF) development and standardisation support to deliver information effects in the maritime environment. This includes legacy, emerging and unsupported MTF requirements. All development will be delivered against NATO standards to maintain current and ensure future maritime interoperability. Who Are the Users Navy Command. Navy Digital acts as the lead user on behalf of Royal Navy NATO users Work Already Done This work is currently underway and this Outcome is required to sustain the service. Existing Team There is mixture of RN Service, Civil service, NATO partners and contractors from other suppliers contributing to this of Work. This service will be expected to integrate with, support and draw upon this existing team to deliver this service. Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Have the ability to understand complex C2 user and operational information exchange issues. • have experience project managing enterprise digital solutions into the UK Defence environment. • have experience in and understanding of UK and NATO Maritime doctrine and tactics • have experience in application and interpretation of Message Text Format standards and protocols across various CIS systems • Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and experience in managing digital services and their interdependent activities to enable naval and maritime outputs • Demonstrate an understanding of UK and NATO maritime organisation • have experience of programme management of complex change activities at the organisational level. • Demonstrate the ability to provide regular MTF database maintenance updates to ensure RN units are aligned with all MTF updates • Demonstrate ability to represent RN at national and international meetings/forums where exchange of information and data is discussed in support of RN output and UK national security objectives • Demonstrable experience in conducting technical evaluation and critical review of MTF change proposals. • be able to host up to six 1-week f2f workshops/NATO board meetings with up to 15 attendees. Venue must be easily accessible from Portsmouth, MARCOM and main London airport destinations. • Must have capacity to host hybrid and virtual meetings • Must have the correct security accreditation to hold classified Allied reference publication, up to NATO Secret, for reference purposes in support of current MTF work. Nice to Haves • The service should have experience delivering project and programme management to recognised NATO and UK standards. • Experience representing RN/Maritime digital information exchange requirements into Multinational programme/project boards to ensure coherent digital solutions meet RN/Maritime specific operating domain and platform requirements • Experience of costing digital services, budgeting, and budget planning in relation to digital and information requirements • Experience developing and translating digital outcomes and structuring as requirements for delivery • Experience of maritime warfare and operations and its dependence on information and digital services • Experience in delivering content utilising the IRIS programme • Experience in editing and compiling complex NATO publications • Ability to maintain and report upon change management databases aligned to MTF delivery across all NATO stakeholders Work Location Principally centred in Navy Command Headquarters, Portsmouth. Ability to work remotely. Elements of overseas travel are required to discharge management and representational responsibilites across NATO and Partner Nation Working Groups. Working Arrangments The majority of this work will be based in Navy Command Headquarters, with remote working as dictated by the tasks. The delivery team may be required to visit/work in other Military locations across the UK. Elements of overseas travel are required to discharge management and representational responsibilities across NATO and Partner Nation Working Groups. Security Clearance MoD endorsed SC is required at commencement of work for those engaged with prgramme development. Attendance at NATO establishments will require NATO Secret clearance to be held. Additional T&Cs All expenses (T&S) must be pre-agreed between the parties and must comply with the MoD Travel and Subsistence (T&S) Policy. All suppliers are obliged to provide sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures so that the processing meets the requirements of GDPR and ensures the protection of the rights of data subjects. For further information please see the Information Commissioner's Office website https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/data-protection-reform/overview-of-the-gdpr/ No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Technical Competence (70 marks) broken down into: • Approach and Methodology - how the solution meets our needs (30), • Technical experience of the assigned workforce and team structure (25), • Risks, dependencies and mitigation (5). • Stage 1 assessment score (10) • Value for money. (Overall price) (20 marks) • Cultural Fit/Social Values (10 marks) Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a team with our organisation and with other government organisations • Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions and have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes • Share knowledge and experience with other team members • Able to work with stakeholders with mixed/low technical expertise • Consider equality & inclusion in the provision & operation of services, including a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve, where relevant and proportionate Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Work history Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 70% Cultural fit 10% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. How will T&S be charged and payments made throughout the contract? "The contract value will include up to £30K of T&S to be invoiced as actuals in line with MoD T&S ratesThe £30K for T&S is not to be included within the bid tender.Foreign travel will require Authority approval before these costs are met. T&S throughout the contract will be limited to a maximum liability of £30K.The service delivery will be receipted and invoiced in arrears via C,P&F and EXOSTAR using the method of Capped time and materials." 2. Will this be assessed as inside IR35? It is not expected that IR35 will apply. An assessment will be made after the winning supplier has been selected. 3. Is there a Cyber Risk Assessment? The Cyber Risk Profile is Low 4. Is there an incumbent supplier in the role? Yes, There is already an incumbent. 5. Would you accept a DV cleared candidate? Yes, we would accept a candidate with a DV. 6. Will there be any performance indicators within the contract Yes there will be performance indicators, these will be advised following down-selection. 7. How will initial tender submissions be evaluated ( part 1) Each tenderer will be evaluated and allocated 0 (Not Met), 1 (Partially Met), 2 (Met) or 3 (Exceeded) against their responses to each of the essential and nice to have criteria. The points awarded for each criteria will be added together to give the total technical evaluation points. 8. How will initial tender submissions be evaluated (part 2) The Authority reserves the right to consider tenderers non-compliant if their points are below 2 on any criteria. Tenderers may also be considered non-compliant if their proposed start date is after the required start date, if their day rate is above the stated budget or fail to meet submission deadlines. Non-compliant tenderers will be excluded from the competition and their total technical evaluation points will be 0. 9. How will initial tender submissions be evaluated (part 3) Tenderers with the three highest total technical evaluation points from this evaluation will be down selected and invited to take part in stage two. 10. How will final tender submissions be evaluated after initial down selection The submitted proposals and work histories will form the basis of the evidence for selection during the final tender and will be scored using the following weighting: Technical competence 70%. Cultural fit 10%. Price 20%.