Surgical Site Infection Surveillance System (SSISS) accessibility and Front-End design

Description

Summary of the work To complete front end design and accessibility work for UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) (previously Public Health England) for redevelopment of their existing SSISS web-application Expected Contract Length Up to 12 months + 3 Months optional extension Latest start date Monday 3 January 2022 Budget Range £40,000 ex VAT Why the Work is Being Done The UKHSA SSISS programme forms part of the UKHSA Business plan to protect the public's health from infectious diseases and other public health hazards and to reduce antimicrobial prescribing and antimicrobial resistance. The SSISS web-application is used by more than 400 hospitals across England to monitor surgical site infection rates and feedback the results to surgical teams to inform action to improve practice and reduce infection rates. The current web-application is more than a decade old and a new front end has been developed. However, this requires further design input to complete this development and ensure it meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA and pass the accessibility audit. Problem to Be Solved Working to an existing design, the objective is to update the existing design and user interfaces and develop CSS and JavaScript libraries for webpage and frontend controls that can be integrated with an ASP .NET MVC web application. This project follows the GDS service manual to the extent it applies to this project. As a public sector application, all elements of the design must be compliant with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA and pass the accessibility audit. The supplier will assess, upgrade and test using accessibility tools to ensure success at accessibility audit. Who Are the Users Surveillance staff at over 400 NHS and Independent Sector hospitals use the SSISS web-application to submit surveillance data to UKHSA, communicate with UKHSA admins, manage user accounts, and download reports and support documentation. It is therefore critical for the UI to be robust and of high quality. UKHSA administrative and scientific staff also use the web app to manage hospital accounts and undertake data quality checks. Early Market Engagement None Work Already Done A design for the SSISS web-application has already been produced but requires further work to update the design and user interface. The current work will follow the existing design. An initial accessibility audit was carried out highlighting that further work is needed to ensure the web-application meets WCAG 2.1 AA and passes the accessibility audit. The initial accessibility audit could be made available to shortlisted suppliers at the Request for Proposal stage and in addition, the Software Development Unit can also do a demo of the Web-application during Supplier presentations to those who are shortlisted. Existing Team The work is to be carried out for UKHSA software development team and the business side of the project. The Supplier will manage the project and report regularly to the development team (UKHSA Software Development Unit) and project team (UKHSA SSI Team). UKHSA will provide: • Product Manager: Principle Scientist and Project Lead • Analyst programmer: working on existing SSISS web application who will work with supplier on integrating the design with SSISS • Senior Internal Supplier: UKHSA Software Development Unit (SDU) • Senior Responsible Officer: Senior Epidemiologist and Section Head • Finance Manager: Head of Business Operations, HCAI&AMR Division Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • For Essential and Nice to Have skills/experience stating “recent experience”, please provide the year of the project within your answer. Insert n/a in the corresponding response field for this guidance • Recent experience (within 3 years) of applying UI/UX principles and web standards to develop digital solutions for multiple devices and browsers, meeting Accessibility standards level AA of WCAG 2.1 • Recent experience (within 3 years) of updating  existing responsive design to meet project requirements and ability to troubleshoot and fix technical performance issues in CSS and JavaScript code • Recent experience (within 3 years) of manual testing, using automated accessibility testing tools and assistive technologies for testing throughout project, including but not limited to, those described by GDS:(Testingforaccessibility-ServiceManual-GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) • Demonstrate (within 3 years) expertise in web frontend design, wireframes and prototypes, and development in ASP.Net MVC, C#, Razor views, HTML, CSS, jQuery, jQuery plugins/widgets, JavaScript, Ajax, bootstrap, MSSQL backend • Recent experience (within 3 years) of web-application security risks/vulnerabilities, ability to write secure JavaScript code, and using JSON data files to populate data grids/tables and tested by adding new records • Recent experience (within 3 years) of managing their own project, providing full documentation including UI specification, test cases and deployment guidelines and reporting regularly back to development and project teams Nice to Haves • Recent experience (within 3 years) of working with interdisciplinary and cross disciplinarily project teams and stakeholders including clinical staff, scientists, in-house developers and administrators • Recent (within 3 years) experience of embedding Agile within an organisation with low Agile maturity and working in teams encompassing development staff from customer organisations with low agile maturity • Experience of building services using standard NHS or GDS design patterns • Knowledge and experience of using GIT, JIRA and Confluence Work Location Due to COVID-19, some work will need to be undertaken remotely. Some attendance at UKHSA offices (Colindale, London) may be needed. Working Arrangments Work may be carried out remotely. Attendance at UKHSA offices may be required, within COVID-19 restrictions and after a risk assessment and subject to current guidance and legislation. Should the situation change greater attendance at UKHSA may be necessary. Remote and in-person meetings should be sufficient to manage relationships with senior stakeholders; the project team and users. Security Clearance Not required Additional T&Cs Payment of the final invoice will be contingent on front-end design being confirmed at audit to meet WCAG 2.1 level AA. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 5 Proposal Criteria • Proposed approach to applying the principles of user centred design and web-standards; developing digital solutions that meet Accessibility standards level AA of WCAG 2.1 on multiple devices/browsers (max score 10) • Approach to taking over an existing digital website project, updating responsive design, making UI design accessible, testing accessibility (manual, automated, assistive technologies) and passing an accessibility audit (max score 20) • Approach to web design, development, and testing systems developed using Microsoft technologies (ASP.Net MVC, C#, Razor views), frontend technologies (HTML, CSS, jQuery, JavaScript, bootstrap etc), and MS SQL backend (20) • What is the potential provider’s approach to web-application security, risk and dependency management (max score 5) • What is the potential provider’s approach to agile project management, taking strong ownership and commitment to delivery, documentation and reporting regularly to the project team and stakeholders (max score 5) Cultural Fit Criteria • The shortlisted suppliers will be required demonstrate cultural fit through a presentation to a panel that should summarise their proposal for clarity and demonstrate how they propose to: • Work within the constraints of budgets and existing services and technologies already used within the programme (max score 5) • Demonstrate your approach to translating complex issues to different stakeholders including knowledge sharing and transfer to stakeholders throughout the duration of the project. (max score 5) • Provide details of how this contract may result in employment, training or education that may reduce the disability employment gap (max score 10) Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 20% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. From our initial review this project is focussed on front-end design, development and accessibility with the primary goal to meet AA-level accessibility guidelines. Therefore, why is experience required for ASP.Net MVC, C#, Razor views, and MSSQL backend? The application is written using these technologies and an understanding of these technologies is required. The existing application uses ASP.NET MVC razor views and HTML helpers. Also, some inline C# code written inside the razor views which is required for some of the key functionalities to execute. 2. Are you expecting the team working on this project to implement front-end changes directly into the ASP.NET web application or to focus on HTML and accessibility improvements to meet accessibility guidelines? To make changes to the already existing design in the ASP.NET application and to make it accessible. 3. It sounds like an existing front-end has been built and needs improving. Can you detail what CSS framework or methodology was used to build the site and what JavaScript libraries or frameworks were used for interactivity? Bootstrap 3.3.7JQuery 2.1.3JavaScriptHTML 5AjaxCSS 4. We have a concern over the requirement to pass WCAG 2.1 level AA to pay the final invoice. Meeting accessibility requirements requires more work than just HTML/CSS and JavaScript and also includes content and the web application itself, which we may not have much control over. You also indicate an agile approach which would require prioritising work. Who will be auditing accessibilty and is it acceptable to tie final payment to an evaluation of whether accessibility has been meaningfully improved? Payment of the final invoice will be contingent on meeting accessibility-standards as demonstrated through the accessibility audit completed by a specialist-supplier identified via G-Cloud. Payment of the invoice will not be withheld where meeting this standard is beyond the control of the contractor, and this has been identified and communicated to the client prior to audit. It is a DOS-Framework requirement that digital-projects should follow Agile principles, however there is limited scope in this project for prioritising the work.Accessibility and compliance with WCAG2.1 will be audited by an external specialist-service. Further detail will be provided to the contracted supplier. 5. Does the web application have a custom design or does it use the GOVUK Design System (a well established set of design patterns with a high level of accessibility). https://design-system.service.gov.uk/ It has a custom design 6. If it doesn’t use the Design System is this something you are open to, if it provides a more cost-effective route to meeting accessibilty and meeting user needs? It is unlikely to be cost-effective to change the design at this stage. The application predates the GOV.UK design system and whilst we can absorb some aspects we are not in a position to change completely due to the implications for back-end code.