HMRC Enterprise Integration Service - Borders & Trade Release 2 Delivery

Description

Summary of the work EIS are seeking a supplier partner to support the delivery of integration components for the Borders & Trade programmne. This engagement will be inside IR35. Expected Contract Length 2 Years with an optional 6 months extension Latest start date Monday 13 September 2021 Budget Range Estimated spend up to £15 million over 2 years Why the Work is Being Done CDIO leads the HMRC IT and security function and is responsible for all of the technology powering one of the biggest digitally enabled transformations anywhere in Europe. CDIO leads HMRC’s digital and data strategies and has significant involvement in the cross-government agenda. The CDIO is also responsible for running one of the biggest and most complex IT estates in the UK and implementing HMRC’s pioneering IT sourcing strategy. We have several key business transformations ongoing including programmes such as Securing our Technical Future, Making Tax Digital, Customer Experience transformation and Borders & Trade. EIS manage HMRC’s core integration/middleware services, dealing with over a billion transactions every year and connecting hundreds of HMRC services. We provide fundamental platforms for delivering Application Programming Interface (API) access to HMRC systems – we enable the HMRC digital agenda, API strategy and the wholesale transformation programme. EIS is also responsible for on-boarding and managing relationships with third parties (including commercial software providers), utilising HMRC's external facing APIs to integrate with HMRC. Problem to Be Solved EIS are seeking a supplier that will partner us to deliver the integration components for projects within Release 2 of the Borders & Trade Programme. The outcomes of the programme are to enable secure border operations with which traders can comply and support the long-term vision for UK Customs (including VAT and Excise). The partnership will extend our technical resource capability and capacity to respond to user’s integration needs identified across HMRC. The desired outcome is for the awarded supplier to bring industry best practices and high performing individuals to work alongside our delivery and live service teams. Who Are the Users EIS manage HMRC’s internal and external Integration Platforms, dealing with over a billion transactions every year and connecting hundreds of HMRC services. EIS is also responsible for on-boarding and managing relationships with third parties (including commercial software providers), utilising HMRC's external facing APIs to integrate with HMRC. Early Market Engagement No Early Market Engagement has taken place. Work Already Done To prepare for the end of the Transition Period on 31 December 2020, a number of key changes (known as Release 1) were successfully delivered to ensure a functioning border. Release 2 projects are moving through Discovery or are in various stages of delivery. Existing Team EIS has a mixed team including in-house staff, existing Service Providers plus contingent labour contractors. As incumbents are operating in this area some transition will be required. The successful supplier teams will work in collaboration with existing capabilities both in blended teams and independently to deliver products. Supplier development teams will report to the EIS Head of Products and / or Head of Delivery. Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Extensive experience developing integration services using APIs and API Platforms including REST, SOAP, XML, JSON, Java 8+. • Experience with large scale integration platforms using File Transfer technologies such as FTPS, SFTP, S3, Job Scheduler etc. • Extensive experience of developing with microservices architecture. • At least 3 years experience in architecting, transforming and maintaining applications deployed in multiple public cloud platforms including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. • Proven experience in Project management and software lifecycle methodologies including Agile. • Demonstrate working according to Government Digital Services (GDS) and other relevant design standards. • Deliver to common integration design standards, demonstrating capability in standard concepts including Synchronous and Asynchronous integrations, as well as Patterns and Anti-Patterns for software development. • Have demonstrable experience of test-driven development and modern software development lifecycle techniques. • Have demonstrable experience of accessibility testing, performance and volume testing, and security testing. • Capability to on-board Inside IR35 resources with the required levels of skills and expertise; at scale within 4 weeks of a request. (Current team size 5-7 teams). • Experience of successful service transition from incumbent suppliers and management of exit handover activities. Nice to Haves • Security architecture - in particular, convincing example(s) of implementing a ‘DevSecOps’ way of working within teams. • Proven track record of working with large organisations to implement digital transformation. • Strong experience of developing Scala based services. • Experience developing within the Play framework. Work Location The Supplier will be expected to work off-site with occasional visits in to an HMRC office. EIS locations: Shipley / Leeds, Telford, Southend/Stratford and Bristol Working Arrangments The Supplier will be expected to work off-site using their own devices or, where business reasons require, HMRC equipment. Use of supplier provided devices is contingent on this adhering to HMRC's security policies. Occasionally, the Supplier may be required to provide an on-site presence/attendance. The Supplier will select and supply suitably qualified personnel. The Supplier will manage their personnel and provide replacement staff of equal experience / expertise. Supplier teams will deliver requirements / outcomes specified by HMRC Product and Delivery Managers. This contract will be inside IR35. Security Clearance The Supplier will ensure all staff are as a minimum BPSS checked. Dependent on the nature of the work, some staff may require higher level clearance i.e. SC clearance. No offshoring will be permitted for both resource and data, and work must be delivered in line with HMRC’s Offshoring Policy. Additional T&Cs The supplier will provide HR management support to each individual resource. Any capability or behaviours concerns will be raised by HMRC to the supplier, who will then need to act on these. HMRC will have the right to move an individual off of the account if standards of capability or behaviour are breached. All expenses must be pre-agreed between the parties and must comply with the HMRC Travel and Subsistence (T&S) Policy. HMRC Mandatory Terms will apply to the contract No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Provide details of how you would mobilise a flexible pool of resource and how you would increase capacity in areas of skill shortages to meet urgent demand. • Describe your internal governance procedures to ensure HMRC receive assurance for quality of service, including monitoring staff performance on the account. • Describe how you will engage with EIS; at SLT level, Delivery & Product Manager Level; with other supplier teams engaged by EIS or other delivery teams. • Describe the project, product and delivery capability you propose to bring to the engagement. • Outline the DDaT roles you would supply for a typical Agile delivery team working as part of a customer facing digital service. • Outline the DDaT roles you would supply for a typical Agile delivery team working on an internal integration component (e.g., API or File transfer). • Explain how the resources supplied would work with EIS / incumbent suppliers to transition a complex live service/platform; the transition process and artefacts/documentation you would expect to be provided. • Explain your Technical capability including your engineering expertise and awareness of our preferred technology and tooling. • Outline your User-Centred Design capability and awareness of the GDS standards. • Set out your internal training and Continuing Professional Development. • Explain how you ensure best practice in security and Security by Design. • Explain how will you work to ensure you meet the strategic goals of the client organisation? • Describe how will you conduct knowledge sharing to ensure EIS retain central control of knowledge and have the skills necessary to continue to work on services you have provided? • Describe your experience in contract exit plans and handovers to incoming suppliers and/or internal resource in previous engagements. Cultural Fit Criteria • Describe how you will collaborate and partner with HMRC staff and other suppliers, potentially in the same team. • Describe how you will demonstrate proactivity in sharing knowledge and experiences with members of the team, especially with junior HMRC staff. • Describe how you will promote ideas and demonstrate innovative ideas and value-added initiatives. • Describe how you will respond when your members of staff make mistakes • Describe how you will work with other suppliers present in HMRC • Describe how you will create employment, re-training and other return to work opportunities for those left unemployed by COVID-19, eg:workplace schemes and opportunities for Digital apprenticeships, traineeships and higher apprenticeships • Please describe how your organisation will create employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment and/or who are located in deprived areas. • Describe how you have improved workplace conditions that support the COVID-19 recovery effort including effective social distancing, remote working, and sustainable travel solutions Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method • Case study • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Could you please provide and estimated timeline for the next stage of the procurement? Following deadline for applications (8/07/2021), evaluations will take place and it is anticipated that all suppliers who submitted applications will be contacted within 4 weeks of the deadline. 2. Could you please provide details on the incumbents of the service and what each did/does? The existing elements were delivered by a range of Suppliers, but People Source were responsible for the bulk of the delivery. 3. Who are the incumbent suppliers please? The existing elements were delivered by a range of Suppliers, but People Source were responsible for the bulk of the delivery. 4. Are bidders required to complete the proposal and cultural fit criteria in the first phase of this procurement which completes on 08 July or is there a second phase? If there is a second phase, what are the associated dates? No, the proposal and cultural fit criteria are not required in the Stage 1 application. Following deadline for applications (8/07/2021), evaluations will take place and it is anticipated that all suppliers who submitted applications will be contacted within 2 weeks of the deadline and shortlisted suppliers will receive further details of Stage 2. 5. Can HMRC provide a timeline to the stage 2 evaluation of 3 suppliers, is there a timeline for award and an expected start date for the winning bidder? TImelines are are subject to change. The anticipated date for suppliers to be contacted regarding stage 2 is week commencing 19th August. Contract award anticipated early October. 6. Can HMRC provide scoring weightings against each of the proposal criteria? Further details on weightings for individual proposal criteria will be released within Stage 2. 7. Is the Stage 1 evaluation based on only a proposal submission? Stage 1 is based on essential and nice to have criteria. No proposal submission is required in Stage 1. 8. Will HMRC consider SMEs providing an outcomes/services-based solution outside IR35? No, the opportunity is within IR35. 9. Can you confirm whether providing one or multiple examples within criteria responses will be allowed and will it impact scores? It is up to individual Suppliers if they want to give one or more examples per criteria (where you feel it is necessary whilst staying within the constraints of any specified wordcount and guidance). Whether a supplier gives 1 or multiple examples will not impact their score.