HMRC Integration Platform Delivery and Support 2021-23

Description

Summary of the work EIS are seeking a supplier to partner build, transform and provide on-going support (24/7, 365) to our internal and external Integration Platforms. 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 with us to build, transform and provide on-going support L1 to L3 (24/7, 365) to our internal and external Integration Platforms. Our internal integration services are built on AWS, using a mixture of both Infrastructure as a Service and Platform as a Service offerings. Our API Gateways are based around KONG and AWS API Gateway. Our internal routing predominantly runs on java and is written in apache camel and we also have some scala services on our external API. 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. 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 Work of programmes / projects are at various stages in the development lifecycle e.g. our External API Platform is a Live, stable service that is being evergreened, our Secure Data Exchange Service is a private Beta service currently undergoing major development to replace a legacy file transfer service on our estate. 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. Current Phase Live Skills & Experience • Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using APIs and API Platforms including REST, SOAP, XML, JSON. • Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using API gateway products (ideally including AWS serverless API Gateway, and Kong). • Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using File Transfer technologies. • Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using Microservices. • Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using Infrastructure as code. • 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. • Prior experience in competently handling 24/7, 365 live support on high profile services, and developing robust live service support arrangements using a DevOps approach. • Experience in driving efficiencies in cloud hosting costs through taking advantage of modern containerisation and scaling technologies. • Expertise in iteratively, prototyping, designing and building services which meet both user needs and the GOV.UK guidelines for content design, service design and accessibility. • Strong background in collaborative working with a client's ‘in-house’ teams, including coaching and mentoring, and knowledge sharing. • Expertise in Agile and DevOps methodologies and using these to drive Digital Transformation in large organisations. • Capability / capacity to mobilise resource with the required levels of skills and expertise; at scale ( e.g. current team size approx 20 Platform engineers) within 4 weeks of request. • Experience of successful service transition from incumbent supplier and management of exit handover activities. • Please provide evidence that supports your financial capability to deliver a contract of this size. Nice to Haves • Prior successes in implementing CI/CD and frequent deployments in an organisation operating tightly controlled ITIL (or similar ITSM) practices. • Large scale platform implementations using industry leading containerisation solutions (e.g. Kubernetes). • Security architecture - in particular, convincing example(s) of implementing a ‘DevSecOps’ way of working within teams. • Evidenced example of using serverless technology in the context of API development. 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. Standard working hours are 8am to 6pm. Out of Hours support i.e. 24/7, 365 will be required for our platforms. 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's Mandatory Terms will also apply. 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 how you would consider a) the toolchain and b) interoperability, when developing a new API Platform that’s going to be consumed by many public and private sector organisations. • What blend of skills and experience would you require to ensure that security is considered ‘by design’ in a new Digital service, that forms part of UK critical national infrastructure? • How would you ensure value for money is achieved when developing a new deployment platform on public cloud? • What technologies would you consider and why, when developing a new File Transfer service? The service will share data with organisations of all sizes across public and private sector. • Describe how you would ensure user needs are considered at every stage of the development cycle of a service. • Describe how you would approach a Digital Transformation in a large organisation. Consider how you would influence the culture, bring new skills, measure success and give clients lasting capability. • Describe how you would get a service ready to be supported 24/7, 365 days a year, and maintain the same level of responsiveness during working hours. • 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. • 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. What would be the procurement time table ? Timelines are subject to change. Following the deadline for applications (26/07/2021), evaluations will take place and it is anticipated that all suppliers who submitted applications will be contacted W/C 16th August with further details. Contract award anticipated early October. 2. In the Q ‘Experience of successful service transition from incumbent supplier and management of exit handover activities.’ the...management of exit handover activities relates to managing the exit formalities from the incumbent. Is this understanding correct? The first part relates to successfully transitioning from an incumbent where you are the incoming supplier and the second part relates to where you are the incumbent handing over to an incoming supplier. 3. Have the delivery and technical workstreams been fully appointed and are they the same teams that have delivered the 48% of the of the migration/decommission/converge events? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 4. How many of the services need discovery still to be completed, and is that a responsibility under this piece of work? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 5. With the constraint of June 2022 for the Fujitsu Data Centres and a proposed contract that extends for 12-18 months, what are the expectations as to exactly what will be possible in the period September 2021 to June 2022? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 6. Who has undertaken the due diligence and capacity planning for the services that need to migrate into Crown Hosting facilities? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 7. Who has undertaken the due diligence and capacity planning for Crown Hosting facilities itself? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 8. How has the resilience and continuity of services in a split cloud/co-location model been architected? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 9. For each of the services that need to migrate, is there a documented technical architecture, support matrix and dependency (software version, performance/capacity characteristics, interfaces/messaging etc) map in place? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 10. Are the Technical Project Managers and the Architects distinct roles or can some be combined? This question does not appear to apply to this opportunity. 11. 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. 12. 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. 13. What is the breakdown of in-scope services – does this cover hosting infrastructure, business and supporting infrastructure applications, security and monitoring tools? Your question may not relate to this opportunity. The scope of services being developed will depend on the statement of works that follow post contract award. The proposal gives more details as to what skills and experience we are seeking. 14. What additional services have been introduced to manage the hybrid cloud/co-location management of the IT estate? Your question may not relate to this opportunity. It would not be appropriate to give that level of detail on our IT estate at this point in the process. 15. Is the primary focus on transition into the cloud with as few changes to service architecture, or are HMRC taking the opportunity to transform services now or at a later stage after transition? Your question may not relate to this opportunity. The Platforms are already in the Cloud. 16. Are HMRC planning on multi-cloud solutions across both AWS and Azure? HMRC develop solutions using more than one cloud vendor. How these will be architected depend on the specific service being developed in future via statements of work. 17. Are the cloud cost control models already in place for the predicted charges under various cloud providers? Yes 18. Are any services going to consume both cloud and on-premise resources? – if so please elaborate. No, should all be in the cloud 19. 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. 20. With regards to procurement, the latest start date is stated as the 30th August, however in a clarification response it is stated as starting in early October. Can you confirm the start date is the start of October? The earliest estimated date was 30th August. However, following review of availabilities, early October is a more realistic anticipated Start date.