Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom

1. Title: BASE 029-FUTURE SECURE DISCOVERY PHASE
2. Awarding Authority: Ministry of Defence, Defence Digital,MOD Corsham, Service Delivery and Operation, GB. Web:
3. Contract type: Service contract
4. Description: Discovery of user needs working securely within awarding authority is needed to shape the next generation of secure computing consisting of: Identifying personas, interviewing users, producing set of user needs, user stories, analysing usage data. Supplier will show and tell findings back to project, will align, exploit other user on-going research
5. CPV Code(s): 72000000, 72200000, 72212000, 7224000
6. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK15
7. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: Location South West England
Address where the work will take place MoD Corsham, Westwells Rd, Corsham SN13 9RA – Please see below statement on scope.
8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.
9. Estimated value of requirement: Budget range £350K – £450k Monthly extension option (if taken up) will be subject to separate financial approvals
10. Closing date for applications 5.2.2021 (23:59).
11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit
12. Other information: Deadline for asking questions Friday 29 January 2021 at 11:59pm GMT
Latest start date Friday 26 February 2021
Expected contract length 3 months with additional 1 + 1+ 1 month options
Why the work is being done The Ministry of Defence has traditionally worked across all of the Government information classification levels, mapping its IT systems to a single classification (Official, Secret, Top Secret) and to various information enclaves. MOD is approaching a decision point about how and what it provides as its future secure computing capability. To ensure we deliver a modern, user-centered, accessible, secure computing system, we need to understand the needs of our users across MOD, industry, partners across government and allies.
Problem to be solved MOD is aware that our users have different needs based on their role, section of the department and information exchange requirements. We want to understand the needs of users so that we can deliver a secure computing system to meet their needs, reducing shadow IT and improving our ability to manage information risk.
Who the users are and what they need to do The users are current secure end user compute users, MOD suppliers (defence contractors, etc), Civilian staff, Service personnel and civil servants from other departments. They need to be able to collaborate with other users, provide support to operations, develop capability and deliver defence outcomes.
Early market engagement
Any work that’s already been done A series of user research interviews have been undertaken with users across MOD, a set of reports have been written about the requirements (CONEMP and CONUSE) and a series of endorsed requirements from the JROC (Joints Requirement Oversight Committee).
Existing team Project manager, SME and requirements manager
Current phase Discovery
Working arrangements We will need the work to take place across a variety of sites in the UK for the user researchers to observe and interview a variety of users. We will require regular visits to Corsham to work with the existing team and to hold regular finding feedback sessions for staff and suppliers working in MoD.
Security clearance All user researchers will need to be SC cleared to enable us to share the relevant information and to enable the correct conversations with users to the correct detail. There is NO requirement for suppliers to have list X status.
Additional terms and conditions Suppliers must use the Authorities Purchase to Payment Tool called CP&F or be prepared to sign up to the tool.
Travel and Subsistence must be included in the price.
The role is outside IR35
More detail will be provided at the tender stage, for suppliers that pass the shortlisting stage
Successful bidder will work to the Authority or Authority’s nominated representative.
The Cyber Risk Profile has been identified as Low reference -RAR-EPGX263C
Skills and experience
Buyers will use the essential and nice-to-have skills and experience to help them evaluate suppliers’ technical competence.
Essential skills and experience
Must have experience in user research creating clear user needs. (15%)
Must have experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, transferring knowledge to Civil servants and contractors unaware of user centred design methods (15%)
Be able to build relationships demonstrating the value of user research in environments of low awareness of user centred design (15%)
Knowledge and expertise in inclusive design, including accessibility (15%)
Be able to present and share findings at a senior level (15%)
Nice-to-have skills and experience
Nice to haves – Experience working on user research of how a physical environment alters users needs. (9%)
Experience working in Defence and Security on Digital projects (8%)
Experience working with users from a range of different organisations both private and public sector. (8%)
How suppliers will be evaluated
All suppliers will be asked to provide a written proposal.
How many suppliers to evaluate 5
Proposal criteria
How to approach research of user needs across a diverse set of user types – 20%
The proposed approach to conducting the discovery phase – 20%
How the skills your team will bring will help achieve our outcome – 20%
How to help us create a compelling case for change – 20%
How to create understanding and alignment with senior leaders and stakeholders – 20%
Cultural fit criteria
Work as one team with our project team – 25%
Be transparent, collaborative and honest – 25%
Share knowledge and experience with MOD team – 25%
Be comfortable in advocating for agile practises, user centred and inclusive design – 25%
Payment approach Fixed price
Additional assessment methods Presentation
Evaluation weighting
Technical competence
50%
Cultural fit
20%
Price
30%
TKR-2021122-EX-1541331