This opportunity is closed for applications

The deadline was Thursday 28 May 2020

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

• 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.