UK Export Finance - Node.JS Software Engineering

Description

Summary of the work The buyer (UKEF) is looking for NodeJS development skills, to augment its existing DDaT capability to support the delivery of an ambitious programme of work. Expected Contract Length 24 months with an optional extension of up to 6 months. Latest start date Monday 6 February 2023 Budget Range £1,600,000 - £2,000,000 excluding VAT and excluding an optional 6 month extension. The value of the optional 6 month extension period is up to £500,000 excluding VAT. Why the Work is Being Done The UKEF Digital, Data and Technology team (DDaT) works to build new services, and develop those already in existence, to enable UKEF to deliver its business plan objectives. The DDaT team is a new and growing function, with an aim of delivering key services to exporters over the next few years. Much of DDaT’s work is project based and suited to outcome-based teams. Problem to Be Solved The Buyer is looking for a supplier to help its Digital, Data and Technology team deliver against its full range of departmental priorities. The supplier will have expertise in the following areas: - Front End development using GovUK Design System and MOJ Design Patterns - Back End development using Node JS, Express JS and TypeScript; - Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases (MongoDB/CosmosDB or SQL) - Cloud based platforms (Azure) - Containerised Microservices architecture. The chosen supplier will be expected to undertake the work according to: - cross-government Service Standard and Service Manual - UKEF's approach to user needs and acceptance criteria - GOV.UK Design System and UKEF style guides - Accessibility WCAG 2.1 AA regulations - UKEF security policy and procedures. The supplier will be required to: - Support the delivery of new projects and transformation of existing services - Identify gaps and build additional capabilities in the DDaT Division to support the delivery of digital services - Ensure a successful transition of knowledge to the in house team. The portfolio of work includes: - Digital Trade Finance Service - Export Insurance Policy - Data and Analytics transformation - Reconciling payments - Transformation of other discrete products and applications. Who Are the Users The Buyer’s services include both staff-facing and public-facing products. The internal services enabling the buyers teams to support UK exporters. For example, Underwriters and Credit Analysts. The Buyer's public-facing digital services are used by the banking and financial community alongside exporters. Existing Team There are not any current contractual arrangements between UKEF and developers with NodeJS expertise under a contract awarded under the DOS Framework Agreement. Current Phase Not applicable Skills & Experience • Show how you developed Microservices (including UIs, RESTful and GraphQL APIs) using Node.JS, Express.JS and TypeScript.-3% • Show how you developed applications using SQL and NoSQL databases (MongoDB/CosmosDB), in combination with a Cloud Service Provider (i.e. MS Azure).-3% • Show how you developed Containerized Microservices using Docker and Azure Kubernetes Services.-3% • Show how you developed solutions using a source control system (i.e. GitHub).-2% • Show how you applied experience of testing applications, including Unit, E2E, API, Performance or Security tests.-2% • Show how you applied experience in implementing DevSecOps principles with previous customers, within the finance or public sector.-3% • Show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System and MOJ Design Patterns.-2% • Show how you applied experience of delivering services in MS Azure including but not exclusive to: Azure Containers, Azure Kubernetes Services, Azure API Management and Azure Cosmos-DB,-within-the-finance-or-public-sector.-3% Nice to Haves • Show how you applied experience of taking an iterative and explorative approach that meets user requirements.-2% • Show how you developed solutions using a headless CMS system (i.e. Strapi.io or KeystoneJS), based on Node.JS.-2% • Show how you applied experience working on Agile projects, following the Government Service Standard and Technology Code of Practice.-2% • Demonstrate experience in delivering central government digital services.-2% Work Location 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ or Remote working. Working Arrangments Some of the work will be performed on-site at the Buyer’s premises in Westminster, London, unless otherwise agreed, however a significant proportion of the work can be done remotely. Security Clearance All supplier staff will be required to have SC clearance before they start. A copy of the clearance from the supplier will be required. It is the responsibility of the Buyer’s contract manager to ensure clearance is received. No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria • Demonstrate by reference to a previous experience how you developed Containerised Microservices using NodeJS, TypeScript and Docker/Azure Kubernetes Services, in a cloud environment (MS Azure) and how lessons-learned-from-this-experience-will-be-used-to-support-UKEF-in-delivering-this-contract.-7% • Demonstrate by reference to a previous experience how you will implement DevSecOps principles under this contract.-6%. • Please provide role profiles of immediately available SC resources and SC eligible that you propose will deliver the contract detailing any experience in delivering complex-services,-to-GDS-standards-and-in-working-with-financial-products.-5% • PRESENTATION: question detailed below in the Q&A function.-15%. Cultural Fit Criteria • Explain your approach to transferring knowledge to permanent staff within a client organisation with stakeholders including those that may be reluctant to change.-2% • Demonstrate your ability to work with multiple teams on the same platform, sharing components, reviewing each other's work and promoting a collaborative working environment.-2% • How you will apply experience of working with an internal team that operates in an agile way and requires liaison and alignment with an organization who are transitioning-into-a-DDAT-structure.-2% • How you will apply experience of working with clients and stakeholders with lower levels of technical expertise.-2% • SOCIAL VALUE: Theme 4: Equal Opportunity. Policy Outcome: Tackle workforce inequality. Model-Award-Criteria 6.2. Describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver-the-policy-outcome-and-award-criteria.-5% • SOCIAL VALUE: Theme 5: Well-being. Policy Outcome: Improve Health and Well-being. Model Award Criteria. 7.1 and 7.2. Describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the-contract-deliver-the-policy-outcome-and-award-criteria.-5% Payment Approach Capped time and materials Assessment Method Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 62% Cultural fit 18% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Presentation Criteria: 15% With reference to three previous client engagements, including one example of where you operated independently and one where you were part of an in-house team, demonstrate how you have implemented Containerized Microservices using Node.JS, Express.JS and TypeScript and how you will use the case study to deliver under this contract?By reference to one of the engagements, described in the first presentation question, demonstrate how the solution was deployed and managed using a Cloud Service Provider (Azure)? 2. Is there an incumbent? No, there is no current incumbent. The existing applications/APIs are managed by permanent staff members 3. Clarification on the question “show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System and MOJ Design Patterns” implies only suppliers who have been previously engaged with MoJ will be considered. Please confirm if MOJ Design Pattern experience and therefore previous MoJ engagement is mandatory? Previous MoJ engagement is not mandatory. If experience with MoJ/GDS components is not available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience. Please note this edit to the Essential Criteria: Show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System as a minimum, and MoJ Design Patterns. If MOJ/GDS components are not available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience. -2%" 4. Front End development using GovUK Design System and MOJ Design Patterns. GOV.UK Design System and UKEF style guides. Is a combination of all of the above required to demonstrate experience or either of GOV.UK and UKEF or GOV.UK and MOJ Design patterns? Either GOV.UK and UKEF or GOV.UK and MOJ Design patterns. If neither of these are available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience.Please note this edit to the Essential Criteria: Show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System as a minimum, and MoJ Design Patterns. If MOJ/GDS components are not available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience. -2% 5. Can you provide some background on how UKEF are using the MOJ Design System? Is this being used for internal user facing systems? The MOJ Design system is used both for internal users but also for public facing applications. See below an example of a public facing application that was developed by UKEF using NodeJS, MOJ Design System and GDS components.- https://get-a-guarantee-for-export-finance.service.gov.uk/And a link to the Github repo for this service -> https://github.com/UK-Export-Finance/dtfs2 6. The guidance on work location seems contradictory, what is the split of on site to remote work? 1 Day/week in the office, remainder off-site. 7. In relation to security clearance for supplier staff, we would consider utilising part from our offshore development capability, for example India. Is this an acceptable approach subject to satisfying the UK Export Finance Offshoring Policy or is there a security stipulation that all supplier resources must be located in the UK? If an Offshoring model is an acceptable approach, could you kindly provide a copy of the UK Export Finance Offshoring Policy and advise which elements of this need to be completed by the supplier as part of the initial application process. Offshore staff will be unable to get SC and therefore is not an acceptable approach. 8. Hello, I realise you state “All supplier staff will be required to have SC clearance before they start”, but is there an option for you to sponsor our engineers who have the skills you require, but not the SC clearance. We are all UK based. Please let me know. Thanks. UKEF will sponsor, however it should be noted that this will take up to 3 months to gain, so suppliers must be clear which resources have SC and will be able to start on contract signing and which will require sponsorship.To note, SC will generally require 5 years resident and no criminal convictions. 9. For question “Show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System and MOJ Design Patterns”, please could you elaborate on the relevance of MOJ Design Patterns? Would design patterns from another Government Department (i.e. not Ministry of Justice) be equally acceptable? The-MOJ-Design-system-is-used-both-for-internal-users-but-also-for-public-facing-applications. See-below-an-example-of-a-public-facing-application-that-was-developed-by-UKEF-using-NodeJS, MOJ Design System and GDS components. - https://get-a-guarantee-for-export-finance.service.gov.uk/And a link to the Github repo for this service -> https://github.com/UK-Export-Finance/dtfs2Previous MoJ engagement is not mandatory. If experience with MoJ/GDS components is not available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience.Please note this edit to the Essential Criteria: Show how you developed solutions using the GovUK Design System as a minimum, and MoJ Design Patterns. If MOJ/GDS components are not available, then experience with similar components should be provided, with a minimum of GOV.UK design system experience. -2%