Defence Equipment and Support, MOD

Senior Business Analyst for a MOD C4IS

21
Incomplete applications
19 SME, 2 large
49
Completed applications
43 SME, 6 large
Published Thursday 14 May 2020
Deadline for asking questions Thursday 21 May 2020 at 11:59pm GMT
Closing date for applications Thursday 28 May 2020 at 11:59pm GMT

Overview

Specialist role Business analyst
Summary of the work The MOD supports an operationally critical C4IS capability via in-sourced arrangements, owns the SI and Design Authority functions, but wants to move to a partially out-sourced service model. An experienced Business Analyst is required is to provide tactical and strategic re-design of ITSM processes and reports to support this change.
Latest start date Wednesday 1 July 2020
Expected contract length 13 months, followed by 11 month period (subject to financial approval), then 6 month option.
Location West Midlands
Organisation the work is for Defence Equipment and Support, MOD
Maximum day rate £700

About the work

Early market engagement
Who the specialist will work with An independent Service Designer, Microsoft contractors, MOD customer technical lead, DE&S project manager and Design Authority.
What the specialist will work on • Production of a revised service management (ITSM) process design for an in-service operational C4IS

• Production of test reports

• Management of a pilot event to test revised processes and reports
•
• Ad hoc assistance with cutover to the new processes

• Ad hoc tasks to support the ITSM project, including but not limited to:
- support to the wider team (both Delivery Team and customer) on ITSM related matters
- support to the development of the Business Change Management Plan
- regular progress reporting

Work setup

Address where the work will take place West Midlands and Bristol, but during the Covid-19 crisis the specialist can work from home with ad hoc meetings at either base as the situation allows. The project is a MOD Priority Project so key worker status is available.
Working arrangements Most of the work can be carried out remotely once initial induction has taken place. With the exception of collecting a MOD laptop and site passes, all meetings can be conducted via Skype (at home) or VTC (on site) until such time as the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted sufficiently to allow more F2F meetings. This fits with the team's new way of working in these circumstances.
Expenses limited to £1000/month
Similarly, and ideally, interviews may be F2F but will be virtual if necessary.
Security clearance Must be at least SC and a UK national only (no dual nationality)

Additional information

Additional terms and conditions DEFCON 76 (12/06) - Contractor's Personnel at Government Establishments
DEFCON 658 (10/17) - Cyber (In relation to this DEFCON, applicants must complete a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire here https://supplier-cyber-protection.service.gov.uk/ using the following code: RAR-8UG52BQS. The Cyber Risk Profile for this posting has been deemed 'Low')

Intellectual Property provisions will be specified at the time of contract award.

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
  • Business analysis - investigative work into problems and opportunities in existing and new services, create recommendations for service improvements, analyse large amounts of complex information to produce solutions.
  • Business improvement process - analyse current services and processes, identify and implement optimisations, help to evaluate and establish requirements using relevant techniques such as gap analysis.
  • Business modelling - model advanced and complex situations across more than one business function or programme, gather insight from senior stakeholders and communicate modelling results clearly to them.
  • Business process testing - take responsibility for the creation of test cases, create traceability records from test cases back to requirements.
  • Enterprise and business architecture - contribute to the creation and maintenance of the target operating model and identify the impact on operational service.
  • Innovation - lead others to innovate in their work as well as enabling them to innovate on their own.
  • Methods and tools - know how to ensure that teams are using the right tools and methodologies and promote their use.
  • Requirements definition and management - facilitate the setting of business priorities for highly complex change initiatives, lead on requirements analysis, investigation and implementation of changes to programme scope.
  • Stakeholder relationship management - influence stakeholders and manage relationships effectively, build long-term strategic relationships and communicate clearly and regularly with stakeholders.
  • Testing (business analysis) - define test condition requirements, design, interpret and execute them as per test plans, highlight reports and risks, analyse results based on tests and activities.
  • User focus - concentrate on user needs, collaborate with user researchers, understand user story, recommend best tools and methods
  • Experience of working in an environment that handles sensitive data
Nice-to-have skills and experience
  • Understanding of the MOD working environment
  • BCS Practitioner Certificate in Modelling Business Processes
  • Understanding of ITIL v3 Service Management Frameworks
  • Identify best processes including measuring, evaluating and providing visualisation of outcomes

How suppliers will be evaluated

All suppliers will be asked to provide a work history.
How many specialists to evaluate 7
Cultural fit criteria
  • Respectful, loyal, disciplined and professional
  • Focuses on quality outputs
  • An effective communicator (in written work, in meetings and in presentations)
  • Logical and methodical approach to problem solving
  • Creative thinker and challenger
  • Work as a team within our high pressure organisation
  • Can work with customers with both low and high technical expertise
Additional assessment methods Interview
Evaluation weighting

Technical competence

60%

Cultural fit

20%

Price

20%

Questions asked by suppliers

1. Is there an incumbent? There is no incumbent.
2. What is the IR35 status? This post is outside scope of IR35.
3. Please confirm if this role is inside or outside IR35 This post is outside scope of IR35
4. Where in the West Midlands will this be based? This will be released to the candidates invited to interview.
5. You state "West Midlands" and "Bristol" as the location. Can you be clear as to which is the main location or at least the preferred one? - During COVID lockdown this will be approx. 4 days WFH and 1 day in Bristol until the task is understood and working practices established
- Until lockdown restrictions are fully lifted it is expected that the whole team will WFH with very occasional meetings in Bristol (approx. 1 per month)
- Once lockdown restrictions fully lift, time will be split 2-3 days in West Midlands, 2 days WFH with approx. 1 day in Bristol per month
- The post holder will need to be flexible and able to work between locations as both COVID-19 and work output situations demand.
6. Is the candidate likely to spend more time working in West Midlands, Bristol, or from Home? What is the rough split? - During COVID lockdown this will be approx. 4 days WFH and 1 day in Bristol until the task is understood and working practices established
- Until lockdown restrictions are fully lifted it is expected that the whole team will WFH with very occasional meetings in Bristol (approx. 1 per month)
- Once lockdown restrictions fully lift, time will be split 2-3 days in West Midlands, 2 days WFH with approx. 1 day in Bristol per month
- The post holder will need to be flexible and able to work between locations as both COVID-19 and work output situations demand.
7. When do you plan on holding interviews? Interviews will be no earlier than 4 June, date TBC. They will be virtual, either via Zoom or WhatsApp video.
8. Would you accept a specialist with lapsed MOD SC clearance? The clearance is still in date but hasn't been used for 14 months. A lapsed clearance is not valid, even though it still exists. We cannot accept lapsed clearance for this role.
9. Is there a current person/supplier in this role? There is no incumbent
10. Will the MOD sponsor security clearance for this role? The candidate must have SC clearance on day 1 of appointment, we will not sponsor clearance.
11. Does this role require a current SC clearance or can MOD sponsor someone through clearance? The candidate must have SC clearance on day 1 of appointment, we will not sponsor clearance.
12. Given the Senior BA is to provide tactical and strategic re-design of ITSM processes and reports, why is no skills/experience of ITSM required as essential criteria? They will be guided by an expert Service Designer.
13. Once COVID-19 restructions are lifted, is it expected the BA will be onsite at West Midlands and Bristol or can remote working continue for the duration of the contract, whether full-time or part-time? - During COVID lockdown this will be approx. 4 days WFH and 1 day in Bristol until the task is understood and working practices established
- Until lockdown restrictions are fully lifted it is expected that the whole team will WFH with very occasional meetings in Bristol (approx. 1 per month)
- Once lockdown restrictions fully lift, time will be split 2-3 days in West Midlands, 2 days WFH with approx. 1 day in Bristol per month
- The post holder will need to be flexible and able to work between locations as both COVID-19 and work output situations demand.
14. Will the MoD sponsor SC if the specialist does not currently have? The candidate must have SC clearance on day 1 of appointment, we will not sponsor clearance.
15. Is there any security clearance required for this job? As stated in the advert, the candidate must have SC clearance.
16. Is MOD understanding and BA certification weighed highly vs experience within public sector? Experience in the generic public sector is not a criteria and will therefore not be factored into evaluation. All other criteria are listed and are weighted equally.
17. Where will the primary working location be? Does contractor have a choice? - During COVID lockdown this will be approx. 4 days WFH and 1 day in Bristol until the task is understood and working practices established
- Until lockdown restrictions are fully lifted it is expected that the whole team will WFH with very occasional meetings in Bristol (approx. 1 per month)
- Once lockdown restrictions fully lift, time will be split 2-3 days in West Midlands, 2 days WFH with approx. 1 day in Bristol per month
- The post holder will need to be flexible and able to work between locations as both COVID-19 and work output situations demand.
18. Is the maximum day rate provide (£700 per day) exclusive of VAT Yes, the day rate is exclusive of VAT.