Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Network Specialist (SD-WAN)

20 Incomplete applications

18 SME, 2 large

7 Completed applications

7 SME, 0 large

• Published: Wednesday 2 June 2021
• Deadline for asking questions: Wednesday 9 June 2021 at 11:59pm GMT
• Closing date for applications: Wednesday 16 June 2021 at 11:59pm GMT

Overview

• Specialist role: Technical Architect
• Summary of the work: Design and document the Fire & Rescue Service's future SD-WAN capabilities.
• Latest start date: Monday 12 July 2021
• Expected contract length: 3 months
• Location: East of England
• Organisation the work is for: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

About the work

• Who the specialist will work with: You will be working with the ICT Enterprise Architect and the ICT Technical and Network Architect as part of our Digital and Data Programme. You will collaborate with the Programme Director and Project Manager.
• What the specialist will work on: 1. Understand objectives, gather high level requirements and propose a design that meets the Service's needs for wide area network across 50 fire stations, headquarters and several service delivery points.; 2. Create a specification to procure an SD-WAN and associated services and components (including firewalls).; 3. Prepare technical documentation as part of an Invitation To Tender or framework arrangement, including evaluation criteria.

Work setup

• Address where the work will take place: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters; Kelvedon Park; London Road; Rivenhall; Witham; Essex CM8 3HB; ; Most of the delivery can be conducted remotely but some site visits within Essex will be required.
• Working arrangements: You will be able to work remotely, collaborating with team members via Microsoft Teams. You will use your own devices to facilitate this. We will provide a M365 account and email address if required.; ; We may ask that you attend Headquarters for a number of face to face meetings throughout this assignment, and that you attend Service sites (e.g. fire stations) when required.; ; Be clear in your proposal about expected expenses reimbursement. We respectfully request you consider that we are a public sector employer.

Additional information

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:
  • Have demonstrable knowledge of software defined WAN options currently on the market
  • Have evidenced experience of deploying and managing wide area networks
  • Be able to produce extensive network architecture diagrams including associated components such as firewalls
  • Be competent and experienced in creating technical specifications
  • Be an effective communicator and collaborator
  • Be able to assess strategic objectives and align proposed technical solutions
  • Have experience balancing objectives/design with budgets
• Nice-to-have skills and experience:
  • Have experience implementing local and wireless networks
  • Have experience leading on WAN procurement
  • Provide evidence of delivering similar sized WAN deployments
  • Be qualified or certified in a relevant discipline
  • Have experience working with an emergency service or local government

How suppliers will be evaluated

All suppliers will be asked to provide a work history.

• How many specialists to evaluate: 5
• Cultural fit criteria:
  • Work collaboratively with members of ICT and programme team
  • Explain reasoning for recommendations, including benefits and disbenefits
  • Take responsibility for the quality and timeliness of their work
  • Willingly share knowledge and experience with others
  • Be open, honest and trustworthy
  • Value the contribution and direction of others
• Additional assessment methods:
  • Reference
  • Interview
• Evaluation weighting:

  Technical competence

  50%

  Cultural fit

  15%

  Price

  35%

Questions asked by suppliers

• 1. Can we get a budget for the specialist role?: We have approved funding and therefore a budget, however we are not publishing that at the moment.
• 2. is this role onshore or offshore: We have not specified but respectfully draw your attention to the fact that we are seeking a specialist (i.e. a named individual) and that they would need to be willing to attend various sites in Essex, UK.
• 3. inside or outside IR35: That is for you to identify in your proposal, and obviously depends on how you propose to offer a specialist.
• 4. Is there an incumbent in the role?: No.
• 5. Is there a current incumbent or preferred supplier?: No. For clarity, if a specialist is provided by an SD WAN supplier, it may exclude them from future related procurement opportunities.
• 6. With regard to your answer to ‘5. Is there a current incumbent or preferred supplier?’, when you say “SD WAN Supplier” do you mean a vendor or a value-add reseller?: A direct vendor and value-add reseller with a particular commercial allegiance to a vendor, i.e. potentially not objective.
• 7. Please can you confirm the level of security clearance the chosen specialist will require (if any)?: None is required because the specialist will not be given elevated admin/domain privileges and will not come into contact with Official-Sensitive, Official-Commercial or Secret information.
• 8. Is this inside or outside IR35?: Please refer to Q3 above.
• 9. As the end-client, will you not be providing an IR35 SDS determination as required by the new Off-payroll working rules which apply to all public authorities and medium and large-sized clients?: We will take advice from HMRC and our payroll specialists, following all public procurement obligations and legislative requirements.
• 10. Is there a specific vendor you would like the specialist to have experience with, particularly in regards to firewalls?: No specific vendor. Experience with more than one vendor, and awareness of the current marketplace, will be advantageous.
• 11. Will you also be reviewing CV’s?If so, where should they be sent to for review?: Not CVs specifically. Relevant experience and knowledge should be mentioned in your proposal.

The deadline for asking questions about this opportunity was Wednesday 9 June 2021.