HMRC Enterprise Integration Service - CDS: Single Customs Platform Delivery

Description

Summary of the work EIS are seeking a supplier partner to support the delivery of integration components for the CDS:Single Customs Platform. 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 £30 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 the Customs Declaration Service (CDS): Single Customs Platform. CDS: Single Cusroms Platform is a strategically important programme for HMRC and is driven by the principal need to first dual run with, then replace and decommission the CHIEF (Customs Handling of Import/Export Freight) system. It is a key component in HM Government's delivery of the Northern Ireland Protocol. 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 A significant amount of CDS functionality has already been delivered. The service is live but future releases are in progess. 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 large scale & complex integration services using APIs and API Platforms including REST, SOAP, XML, JSON, Java 8+. • Experience with large scale & complex 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. • Experience of developing large scale, complex integration services with high availability and transaction throughput (i.e. 1,800 transactions/second). • 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 10+ 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 wil 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 • Describe 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. • Describe your experience of working in large scale, highly complex, multi-supplier projects. • 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/project; the transition process and artefacts/documentation you would expect to be provided. • Explain your Technical capability including your engineering, performance and scaling expertise plus awareness of our preferred technology and tooling. • 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. Is there an incumbent supplier for this assignment? Yes, an incumbent supplier has been engaged in this work. 2. Can the authority please confirm who undertook the work to deliver the CDS to its current state? The existing elements were delivered by a range of Suppliers but People Source were responsible for the bulk of the delivery. 3. You state the budget range is £30 million over two years. Is the contract that results from this competitive procurement for the entire 24 month period, or is there likely to be a shorter initial contract term followed by an optional extension? The contract will be for 2 years. We are not expecting any extensions at this point but if we were they would be within the bounds of the DOS Framework 4. What are the specific technologies/tools used in HMRC CDS with which bidders should be proficient? Technologies potentially including but not limited to: SFTP, FTPS, REST and SOAP APIs (in the event APIs are used to initiate transfers), more recent cloud based services like AWS S3 or Azure Blob, Kafka, SOS Berlin JobScheduler, Unix Transfer Manager. 5. Which roles (position only without straying into GDPR) from your team will be scoring applications for this opportunity? The applications will be scored by a panel with the appropriate skills and knowledge of the subject matter. 6. Who is the incumbent and how long they have been the incumbent? The existing elements were delivered by a range of Suppliers, but People Source were responsible for the bulk of the delivery. 7. Have any third parties been involved with the project so far? If yes could you name the supplier(s)? CDS is a complex project delivery and the winning supplier will need to collaborate / interact with a wide range of other delivery teams and suppliers. The bulk of the EIS Integration components have been been delivered by People Source. 8. Have any third parties been involved with the project so far? CDS is a complex project delivery and the winning supplier will need to collaborate / interact with a wide range of other delivery teams and suppliers. The bulk of the EIS Integration components have been been delivered by People Source. 9. Are you intending to carry forward the stage 1 scoring for the final evaluation? if yes what scoring % will be carried forward? Yes, the stage 1 scoring will be carried over to the final evaluation. The stage 1 scoring will equate to a 10% slot of the 50% allocated for technical (eg: 10% Stage 1, 40% Stage 2). 10. You state that CDS is live and that HMRC is seeking a supplier that will partner with you to deliver the integration components. Are you able to state what those integration components are; or share the target environments with which CDS is to integrate that we may better understand the scope to be delivered? The Integration components are APIs and File Transfers which will be delivered to our containerised integration platform. 11. You state that ‘the partnership will extend our technical resource capacity and capability’. Does the Authority have a fixed view on the quantity and skills of typical resources required for this CDS assignment? We are looking for a range of DDaT roles to replace approx 10 existing scrum teams (approx 70 resources). 12. You state that ‘the service is live but future releases are in progress’. Can the Authority share a roadmap of future releases in order that Suppliers may more accurately gauge the nature and scale of the CDS integration activities? We are unable to provide a roadmap of future releases. The Programme is heavily involved in replanning activity as a consequence of a number of policy changes / clarifications relating to Northern Ireland Protocol. 13. You state that ‘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. Can the Authority please share details of the skills/professions in the existing team so that gaps may be identified and addressed in any resulting resourcing plan? We are looking for a range of DDaT roles to replace approx 10 existing scrum teams (approx 70 resources). 14. Has the Authority a view on whether some of the contingent labour in HMRC’s existing team might transfer to work as part of (or alongside) the incoming supplier’s team to provide key skills and/or continuity? The numbers of Contingent Labour working on CDS are low and we think it unlikely that any would transfer to a new supplier. 15. Can the Authority describe details regarding the documentation describing the existing service and the tools used for config management and knowledge management? The key source of documentation is Confluence. Source Code is held on GITLab 16. Can the Authority please confirm what general toolsets are in use that the incoming supplier will be expected to adopt and use in the CDS integration assignment? Technologies potentially including but not limited to: SFTP, FTPS, REST and SOAP APIs (in the event APIs are used to initiate transfers), more recent cloud based services like AWS S3 or Azure Blob, Kafka, SOS Berlin JobScheduler, Unix Transfer Manager. 17. What test tools are currently in use and does the Authority have sufficient licences, or is the Supplier expected to bring their own? EIS would expect to provide all tooling including test tools. A number of different test tools are currently in use depending on the tests needed, for example Cucumber, JMeter, SoapUI, Groovy, Postman. 18. You state that ‘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 10+ teams).’ Can the Authority please confirm why they have chosen T&M over Fixed Price for this assignment? EIS are building a range of sourcing options which will give us flexibility to deliver and support our projects and services. 19. Are the cultural fit criteria to be evaluated at this stage of procurement and – if so – how are they to be assessed? No. Cultural fit will not be evaluated at stage 1 applications. 20. Hello team who is the incumbent The existing elements were delivered by a range of Suppliers, but People Source were responsible for the bulk of the delivery. 21. Can you please advise the key drivers as to why HMRC are coming to market? The key drivers are that we are looking for a partner to: provide resources with the skills and expertise to support EIS in the delivery of CDS requirements. 22. 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. 23. What common integration design standards are current in use by the Authority that the incoming supplier will be expected to adopt and use? The Authority holds a number of agreed design patterns that will be expected to be adopted and used, aligned to file transfer, synchronous and asynchronous messaging. 24. Accessibility testing is more commonly associated with customer facing user interface projects. How does this relate to an integration delivery and who do HMRC consider to be the users? EIS supports an External API Platform which is utilised by external customers including 3rd Party Software Developers. 25. Can you please advise the timelines of this procurement (e.g. shortlisted companies notified, anticipated contract award)? Also, can you confirm if shortlisted suppliers will have the opportunity to present? Following the 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 with further details of Stage 2 and what is included at this stage. The intention is for shortlisted suppliers to provide a presentation. 26. 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 the 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 with further details of Stage 2. 27. 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 W/C 9th August. Contract award anticipated early October. 28. 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. 29. Will HMRC consider SMEs providing an outcomes/services-based solution outside IR35? No, the opportunity is within IR35. 30. 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. 31. 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. 32. Given the guidance on using a single example for each criterion, can you please confirm whether you seek a single or multiple examples in response to this criterion ‘Proven track record of working with large organisations to implement digital transformation’? 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.