This opportunity is closed for applications

The deadline was Friday 15 November 2019

National Crime Agency

D134 Developer Team

21 Incomplete applications

20 SME, 1 large

19 Completed applications

14 SME, 5 large

• Published: Friday 1 November 2019
• Deadline for asking questions: Friday 8 November 2019 at 11:59pm GMT
• Closing date for applications: Friday 15 November 2019 at 11:59pm GMT

Overview

• Summary of the work: To supply software developers to work on a backlog of development tasks on two NCCU priority projects.
• Latest start date: Monday 2 December 2019
• Expected contract length: Initial period to 31 March 2020 (Until end of Financial Year.)
• Location: London
• Organisation the work is for: National Crime Agency
• Budget range: Around £300,000 (max daily rate budget per developer = £600-750)

About the work

• Why the work is being done: In order to deliver to National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), the NCCU is developing a number of capabilities to exploit data and provide value to our user community; ; The NCCU have moved a significant amount of capability into the AWS cloud and have worked with a number of partners to develop our data exploitation capabilities. The NCCU operate in a DevSecOps fashion and have made significant progress in a short space of time.
• Problem to be solved: A partner is required to develop NCCU capabilities..
• Who the users are and what they need to do: The team would report to a number of senior NCA developers. ; ; All projects are run in an agile fashion and work will be tasked from the backlog of tasks.
• Any work that’s already been done: Several different projects are in flight.; ; The approach is well defined and understood. The team operate in a DevOps way. The work has resulted in a number of systems being migrated into AWS and our data exploitation capabilities have increased as a result.
• Existing team: The team consists of NCCU employees and contract resource. The mix is about 40/60 respectively.
• Current phase: Not applicable

Work setup

• Address where the work will take place: Spring Gardens, London
• Working arrangements: Standard office hours.
• Security clearance: SC clearance with the ability to pass NCA top up.

Additional information

• Additional terms and conditions: Additional terms will be sent to shortlisted suppliers including Security and FOIA terms as NCA is not subject to FOI requests.; Shortlisted suppliers will be required to utilise Bravo after shortlisting. ; This outcome is outside the scope of IR35.; Evaluation will be on a scale of 0 to 5: with a minimum score of 3 to pass. ; Score Description; 0 poor standard, no confidence; 1 little confidence; 2 clear strengths but giving some concern; 3 degree of weakness outweighed by strengths; 4 strengths clearly outweigh any minor weakness; 5 Robust and fully comprehensive proposal

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:
  • Demonstrate experience of working within Agile environment – understanding of agile practices and ability to integrate with existing team - 20 Points
  • Demonstrate experience of developing User Interfaces (experience of using JavaScript, Vue.js or similar JavaScript framework) - 20 Points
  • Demonstrate experience of developing with Python (Python 3 (Including knowledge of Flask), expertise in use of Git, Continuous Integration experience, Terraform, Docker) - 20 Points
  • Demonstrate full stack development on AWS (ideally AWS associate developer or higher). Especially experience with AWS Lambda, API Gateway, EC2, Step functions, EMR - 20 Points
  • Demonstrate experience of MySQL/ MariaDB, writing SQL queries and Data ingest techniques and data migration between relational databases - 20 Points
• Nice-to-have skills and experience:
  • Demonstrate experience of data analytics and recent cloud developments related to data analytics - 10 Points.
  • Demonstrated experience of software development using C# - 10 Points
  • Experience of previous projects and ability to work with existing code bases - 10 Points
  • Experience of supporting users of data analytic systems - 10 Points

How suppliers will be evaluated

All suppliers will be asked to provide a written proposal.

• How many suppliers to evaluate: 4
• Proposal criteria:
  • The whole team must be able to demonstrate experience of working alongside clients in co-located teams utilising Agile Software Development - 10 Points
  • The whole team must be able to demonstrate technical competence in delivering using the identified technologies utilising DevOps processes - 10 Points
  • The whole team must be able to demonstrate awareness of building within the Cloud and implementing automation in everything that you do - 10 Points
  • The whole team must be able to demonstrate a fair and transparent pricing structure that allows the right resources to be brought into the projects - 10 Points
  • To show success in delivery of all the Requirements published here - 10 Points
• Cultural fit criteria:
  • The whole team must be able to demonstrate how they would share knowledge and experience with other team members - 5 Points
  • The whole team must be able to have the desire to innovate at pace and focus on delivering value to users - 5 Points
  • The team must be able to collaboratively work as a team within our organisation and with our suppliers and so be transparent and open when making decisions - 5 Points
• Payment approach: Time and materials
• Additional assessment methods:
  • Work history
  • Reference
• Evaluation weighting:

  Technical competence

  60%

  Cultural fit

  15%

  Price

  25%

Questions asked by suppliers

• 1. Are the NCA able to support SC clearance applications, or do the developers need to have existing SC clearance in place?: Existing clearance must be in place. Clearance check to be conducted by NCA
• 2. Is there a current incumbent?: No
• 3. Is there an incumbent in the role: No
• 4. What kind of development you are looking here, as per the spec the team needs a Phython Dev, C Sharp, DevOps and Java/Scala/JS developer. Can you please elaborate the team as it got mixed skill set.: As per the requirement, we required a number of people who collectively can cover the mentioned skills. Full stack developers most appropriate.
• 5. Can you confirm, would each developer required all the same skill sets, or are the skills broken down across two or more role specifications?: Skills can be split across a number of people
• 6. How long is this work likely to last? Is the budget for the entire duration and per developer?: Ideally until the end of the financial year
• 7. How many developers are likely to be working on this? Is there an existing team supplier would required to collaborate with?: Ideally 4 developers. The individual will be required to work with a number of teams.
• 8. Would remote overseas developers be suitable for this assignment with key supplier (myself) available for on-site engagements?: No
• 9. Can I please ask if there is an incumbent?: No incumbent
• 10. What team size are you expecting suppliers to offer?: Ideally 4 individuals, although this can be fewer, providing the skills required are covered
• 11. Can I please ask if there is an incumbent?: No incumbent
• 12. Will NCA sponsor candidates for SC clearance?: No
• 13. Hello – is it a requirement for the team to be co-located, or is it ok for most of the work to be done remotely? thank you!: Co-located
• 14. Are you looking for a team to co-locate with you on site, and how many days per week?: Co-located
• 15. Will the NCA provide SC sponsorship?: No
• 16. Are you looking for SC cleared resources from day one?: Yes
• 17. You mentioned that you have a mix NCCU employees and contract resource, 40/60 respectively. Is there any incumbent supplier ? If yes, could you let us now who the incumbent is ? Do we have to work on a multi-supplier environment as part of the delivery?: No incumbent
• 18. You mentioned that shortlisted suppliers will be notified through Bravo portal, which bravo portal are you referring to?: If you go through to the written proposal stage full details of the portal will be provided.
• 19. Will you be sharing backlog of development tasks at this stage?: Yes
• 20. Would you accept a blended team rate which on average was within your £600 – 750 per developer rate?: Yes
• 21. Can you please provide a rough estimation about how many developers are needed?: up to 4
• 22. How many software developers are you expecting from a supplier for each of the project?: up to 4
• 23. Are you open to supporting SC clearance for candidates that fulfill other criteria but are not SC cleared?: SC required
• 24. With regard to the clearance element, would you be satisfied for the supplier to agree to have SC clearance in place prior to contract commencement or is it a pre requisite to being considered ?: To be in place
• 25. Is there an incumbent supplier providing development activities for this work already?: No
• 26. Hi NCA, Will you consider a proposal of a development team away from London or working from another NCA Location, but with regular on-site presence of key resource?: Required to be co-located
• 27. Is there an incumbent partner/supplier?: No
• 28. What is the resource profile of the team required?: Please see skills requirement
• 29. Hello - is it a requirement for the team to be col-located, or is it ok for most of the work to be done remotely: Co-Located
• 30. What SFIA levels are you looking for this project?: 3 or 4