HMRC Enterprise Integration Service - Borders & Trade Release 2 Delivery

Description

Summary of the work EIS are seeking a supplier to support the delivery of integration components for the Borders & Trade programme. Expected Contract Length 2 Years with an optional 6 months extension Latest start date Monday 30 August 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 party 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 such as APIs and File Transfers 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 assist with responding to user's integration needs identified across HMRC. The desired outcome is for the awarded supplier to bring industry best practices and high performing teams to work alongside our delivery and live service teams. 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 party 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 mobilise resource 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. • Please provide evidence that supports your financial capability to deliver a contract of this size. 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: 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. 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 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 5 Proposal Criteria • Provide details of how you would mobilise resource with the required levels of skills/expertise and how you would increase capacity in areas of skill shortages to meet urgent demand. • Describe your internal governance procedures to ensure HMRC receive a quality service, including performance reviews. • 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. • Describe how you 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. • 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 • Reference • Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 50% Cultural fit 20% Price 30% Questions from Suppliers 1. Will consortium bid be considered? DOS is a single supplier contract award framework. A supplier awarded a place on the DOS framework can act as a prime with subcontractors to deliver customer requirements at HMRCs discretion. 2. Please provide evidence that supports your financial capability to deliver a contract of this sizeRe the above question is this outcome applicable for Large companies and not SME’s? This opportunity is open to all suppliers on the DOS Framework. HMRC is committed to the Government's support of SME's and encourages participation in procurements and the delivery of goods and services wherever possible. This particular opportunity is part of a larger project which has been disaggregated to encourage participation from a wider market. HMRC are not looking to exclude suppliers purely due to turnover value as per Procurement Policy Note 8/16 which indicates that turnover is part of a wider assessment of financial suitability. (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/558531/PPN_8_16_StandardSQ_Template_v3.pdf) 3. Previously the same bid was inside IR35 and now moved outside IR35, any specific reason? The previous requirement was identified as inside IR35 and following receipt of several questions and comments from potential providers, it was decided that a review of the proposed operating model should be undertaken. As a result this opportunity now requires the provider to make the determination. 4. How does HMRC expect the contract to operate? Shortly after the deadline, suppliers who have submitted an application will be invited to a briefing session via MS Teams at 14:00-14:30 on Wednesday 28 July. During the session, HMRC will explain EIS's ways of working and how they expect the contract to operate. 5. Is TUPE applicable to this opportunity? The current contract was awarded under DOS3 which contained the clause:28. Staff Transfer28.1 The Parties agree that nothing in the Call-Off Contract or the provision of the Services is expected to give rise to a transfer of employment to which the Employment Regulations apply. 28.2 The Supplier will fully indemnify the Buyer against all Supplier Staff Liabilities which arise as a result of any claims brought against the Buyer due to any act or omission of the Supplier or any Supplier Staff.28.3 The indemnity given in Clause 28.2 will be uncapped. 6. Please can you tell us how long with the winning supplier have for transition of work from the incumbent’s teams to their teams and what level of knowledge transfer support can be expected ? We are planning for a transition period of up to 3 months. 7. We are interested in bidding for this project which appears to align with our capabilities.However, we have our own best-in-class middleware platform. This is an enterprise scale distributed systems integration platform, accompanied by a managed service wrapper to ensure that outcomes are delivered on time and on budget. We would use the capabilities of this platform to augment and support HMRC’s technology stack and build upon the key outcomes that have been achieved to date.Please clarify if this approach would be suitable or if HMRC are only considering bids from integration consultants to support the existing middleware platforms? We are looking for a supplier to build on our existing platforms.