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HMRC Integration Platform Delivery and Support 2021-23

Published

Value

15,000,000 GBP

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. This engagement will be within the scope of 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 and 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 with us to build, transform and provide on-going support (potentially 24/7, 365) to our internal and external Integration Platforms. 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 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 on-board Inside IR35 resources 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. 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: 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 Manager. 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 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's Mandatory Terms will also apply. 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 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. • 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. • 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. We notice that Enterprise Integration Services has recently been competed under the TS2 framework, could you please elaborate on how this procurement relates to the TS2 one. As part of our overall strategy for EIS we are putting a range of contracts in place to satisfy requirements via the most appropriate framework– this requirement relates to a specific requirement for Platform Delivery, Development and Support, this sits alongside the scope of requirements under the TS2 contract. 2. Can Authority please confirm which technologies they are seeking for the following question? Design, develop, transform and day to day operation of large scale integration platforms using File Transfer technologies. 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. 3. We would like to understand how the cultural fitment will be assessed? Cultural Fit will not be assessed within stage 1 applications. Further details will be released to shortlisted suppliers within the proposal invitation. 4. Does TUPE applies to the opportunity? No. 5. Are multiple examples allowed per question? Yes 6. To understand the responses you require: you have 17 essential and nice to have questions where the supplier must provide a 100 word (max) response to each. However, you then have a Proposal Criteria with another set of questions. Are these to be answered as part of the initial response or are these for the second stage? Proposal Criteria responses are required at the second stage. 7. Please share the procurement time table? Following the deadline for applications (8/07/2021), evaluations will take place and it is anticipated that suppliers who submitted applications will be contacted within 4 weeks of the deadline with further details of Stage 2. 8. 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. 9. 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. 10. 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. 11. 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. 12. Will HMRC consider SMEs providing an outcomes/services-based solution outside IR35? No, the opportunity is within IR35. 13. 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.

Timeline

Publish date

3 years ago

Close date

3 years ago

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