NHS Improvement. NHS Trust Development Authority will be the Contracting Authority.

NHS Improvement Junior Technology Talent

18

Incomplete applications

13 SME, 5 large

1

Completed application

1 SME, 0 large

Published	Friday 8 February 2019
Deadline for asking questions	Friday 15 February 2019 at 11:59pm GMT
Closing date for applications	Friday 22 February 2019 at 11:59pm GMT

Overview

Summary of the work	Supplier Briefing Teleconference: 11/02/19 @ 16:30. Provision of Junior Consultants to deliver digital outcomes for national projects to improve productivity and patient care. Contributing to Data&Analytical product and services delivery, covering full product development lifecycle. Disciplines include; BA, development, data analytics, technical infrastructure, operations. Option to transfer to permanent required.
Latest start date	Monday 8 April 2019
Expected contract length	Up to 2 years
Location	London
Organisation the work is for	NHS Improvement. NHS Trust Development Authority will be the Contracting Authority.
Budget range	Up to £900,000 including all rates, fees and expenses, excluding VAT.

About the work

Why the work is being done	To address the dual challenges of ongoing need for cost effective technology talent and the lack of a formal Technology Graduate Programme in the NHS, NHS Improvement’s Technology & Data function requires a delivery partner to provide high calibre Junior Technology Talent at affordable rates to meet the immediate digital outcome needs of the organisation and provide NHS Improvement with the option to transition these resources to permanent employees in the future. The consultants are anticipated to undergo digital & soft skill training via a supplier academy / post-graduate programme, in advance of delivering for NHSI.
Problem to be solved	The provision of high calibre, cost effective junior technology resource to contribute to delivery of Technical & Data digital priorities, in the absence of a Technology Graduate Program in NHS. With NHS Improvement permission, the pursuant contract may be used by wider NHS bodies. As part of the shortlisting process, Suppliers need to demonstrate a proven track record in the provision of high quality Junior staff trained and proficient in several/all of the following areas; Tech operations management, Agile Project Management, DevOps Engineering, Agile Business Analysis, Software Engineering, Quality Assurance, Tech Operational Support, Information Governance, User Experience.
Who the users are and what they need to do	As a technology delivery team manager, in need of both short-term and medium/long-term resource to develop and support digital products built and delivered by NHS Improvement, we need access to cost effective junior technology resource, to deliver and develop for NHS Improvement. The option to transition high performing junior consultants to permanent staff will help tackle recruitment challenges in the digital space.
Early market engagement	Supplier Briefing Teleconference on Wednesday 11 February at 16:30 (please login for further details).
Any work that’s already been done	N/A
Existing team	The Technology Talent will work as part of blended groups consisting of both permanent and third-party Supplier resource staff - working on agile projects across the full product development lifecycle, as part of cross-functional teams.
Current phase	Not applicable

Work setup

Address where the work will take place	Primarily London: Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, potentially with work in NHS offices across England.
Working arrangements	Members of the supplier team should be on-site (London, Wellington House, SE1 and other locations) as required, to support an agile delivery. Junior consultants shall contribute specific outcomes, under the Supplier's responsibility. Through a Supplier provided account manager, the consultants will be deployed across a variety of projects with substitution and swap-out available. When SOWs conclude, we may offer high performing consultants the option to apply for permanent positions. Permanent appointments will be to separate, substantive roles.
Security clearance	Resources may be required to undergo DBS checks.

Additional information

Additional terms and conditions	All IPR created in the course of contract and SOW delivery shall be retained by NHS Improvement. Additional special terms may be required to administer transition of junior consultant resource to permanent NHS employment (where required). These shall be discussed at proposal stage, following shortlisting.

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 a track record in provision of high quality Junior staff trained and proficient in several/all of the areas referenced in the 'Problem to be solved' field above. (30 Points) Demonstrate a breadth and depth of technical training undertaken by consultants, in advance of joining the client. (20 Points) Demonstrate a breadth and depth of soft skill training for business environments, undertaken by consultants, in advance of joining the client. (20 Points) Demonstrate how the training is continuously improved and kept up to date. (10 Points) Demonstrate an ability to tailor training to the needs of clients, including client specific technologies & disciplines, in advance of joining the client (20 Points) Demonstrate an ability to react to client requirements and changes in the level of demand at short notice, e.g. a need to ramp up resources. (20 Points) Demonstrate suitable training facilities (academy/programme) to develop consultants in line with our summary requirements. (20 Points)
Nice-to-have skills and experience

How suppliers will be evaluated

How many suppliers to evaluate	4
Proposal criteria	What is your approach and methodology to meeting our requirements and challenges. (30 points). What is your team structure and resources to support your solution. (20 points) Consultant assessment and selection on to your development programme/academy. (20 points) Consultant training processes and facilities to develop and make available high calibre candidates, to meet client requirements. (20 points) Your approach to transitioning consultants to NHS employment post/during placements, where required. (20 points) Established processes and systems to positively resolve issues that may arise with the junior consultants provided to clients. (10 Points) Identification of risks and dependencies and proposed mitigations to manage them. (10 points) What lessons have been learned from similar engagements and how will you apply these to this requirement and setting. (10 points)
Cultural fit criteria	Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers. (10 points). Have a no-blame culture and encourage people to learn from their mistakes. (10 points).
Payment approach	Time and materials
Assessment methods	Written proposal Case study Work history Reference Presentation
Evaluation weighting	Technical competence 55% Cultural fit 5% Price 40%

Questions asked by suppliers

1. BUSINESS CASE STATUS:	The business case is pending external approval from DHSC. Any contract award is subject to approval being received.
2. 2. SUPPLIERS' BRIEFING MEETING DATE AND TIME:	Please note the Suppliers' briefing meeting will take place on Wednesday 13 February at 16:30 and NOT 11 February. The 11 February date was published in error.

The deadline for asking questions about this opportunity was Friday 15 February 2019.