Procurement details: RM1043.8-1-Defence Science and Technology Laboratory- Software tools for CB hazard prediction modelling

• Term or acronym:

  UDM

• Definition:

  Urban Dispersion Model

• Term or acronym:

  SPT

• Definition:

  Sensor Placement Tool

• Term or acronym:

  STE2

• Definition:

  Source Term Estimation

• Term or acronym:

  HPAC

• Definition:

  Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability

• Term or acronym:

  CBFac

• Definition:

  CB Facility

• Term or acronym:

  SLOPS

• Definition:

  Spills of Liquid On Porous Surfaces.

• Term or acronym:

  TOF

• Definition:

  Tasking Form

• Term or acronym:

  SoR

• Definition:

  Statement of Requirement

• Summary of work:

  The CBR Division at Dstl develop and use models to predict and understand the hazards posed by deliberate (malicious) or accidental release of CB material. Software support is required to update and enhance existing tools, and to develop new tools to provide additional functionality. This overarching requirement comprises a number of smaller, discrete software tasks. Dstl has a number of specific requirements broadly covering: • Updating existing tools/systems to take advantage of the modernisation of software systems and IT infrastructure within Dstl; • Developing tools/scripts to enable the automation of data handling along modelling chains; • The extension of existing tools to add functionality.

• Where the supplied staff will work:

  No specific location (for example they can work remotely)

• Why the work is being done:

  The CBR Division at Dstl develop and use models to predict and understand the hazards posed by deliberate (malicious) or accidental release of CB material. Software support is required to update and enhance existing tools, and to develop new tools to provide additional functionality. This overarching requirement comprises a number of smaller, discrete software tasks.

• The business problem:

  Over the last 20 years, Dstl has developed a suite of computer models relating to predicting the airborne dispersion of, and hazards generated by, chemical and biological (CB) materials. This includes the Urban Dispersion Model (UDM), Sensor Placement Tool (SPT), Source Term Estimation (STE2), as well as frameworks to integrate models. Dstl has a number of specific requirements broadly covering: • Updating existing tools/systems to take advantage of the modernisation of software systems and IT infrastructure within Dstl; • Developing tools/scripts to enable the automation of data handling along modelling chains; • The extension of existing tools to add functionality.

• User type:

  Dstl

• Definition:

  Need the software in order to conduct modelling simulation so that Dstl can carry out the required research and provide advice based off of the data

• Which phase the project is in:

  Discovery

• Existing team:

  The supplier will have access to the in-house statistical, mathematical, software and wider expertise within the CBR division at Dstl. Further details will be shared during the implementation phase.

• Address where the work will be done:

  DSTL Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ

• Working arrangements:

  An agile approach is suggested for each requested task to be able to explore any uncertainty on either side with regards to the requirements. There should be a kick-off meeting to agree the approach and discuss the work plan. A sprint kick-off and completion meeting are required, with additional sprint progress reviews as agreed during the kick-off meeting. Code should be made available at the end of each Sprint to allow Dstl to review and provide feedback.

• Security and vetting requirements:

  Security Check (SC)

• Latest start date:

  31 October 2023

• Contract length:

  2 years 0 months 0 days

• Indicative maximum:

  £600000

• Indicative minimum:

  The contract value is not specified by the buyer

• Contracted out service or supply of resource?:

  Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply

• How many suppliers to evaluate:

  5

• Technical Competence:

  50%

• Cultural fit:

  10%

• Social values:

  10%

• Price:

  30%

• Essential skills and experience:

  40%

• Nice-to-have skills and experience:

  10%

• Technical questions:

  50%

• Description:

  Experience of development of software systems combining multiple different components

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of developing extensible and modular software systems

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of producing high quality and robust Application Programmers Interfaces (APIs)

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of producing high quality and robust testing for software systems

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of producing high quality user experiences for software

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of producing high quality, succinct software documentation

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of communicating technical software information to non-software technical staff

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of working in complex scientific domains

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience in working with software and tools written in C++ and Java

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of using code control systems appropriately

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Experience of working using Agile methodologies

• Weighting:

  50%

• Description:

  Knowledge of Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) systems

• Weighting:

  20%

• Description:

  Experience of working with software and tools written in Fortran, Python, R, Matlab, Mathematica

• Weighting:

  20%

• Description:

  Experience of working with systems that use OSGi

• Weighting:

  10%

• Question:

  Please provide the technical approach for the requirement, including the work plan and anything else of relevance

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  What prior experience and technical expertise does your organisation have, please provide evidence

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Please outline your risks/dependencies for the requirement, how will these be monitored to ensure the project delivers to time, cost and quality

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  How does your organisation intend to deliver the requirement, please include a detailed breakdown of the deliverables and how they will be demonstrated on Dstl systems

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  How would you work as a team within our organisation and how have you previously worked with other suppliers? Please provide evidence (maximum of 150 words)

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Can your organisation show that they can be transparent and collaborative? Please provide evidence of any decision making processes (maximum of 150 words)

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Does your organisation have a fail-fast and no-blame culture that encourages people to learn from their mistakes. Have the issues been rapidly identified and remedied. Please provide evidence (maximum of 150 words)

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Is your organisation used to providing "government-source" software, with sufficient documentation such that others can enhance/maintain it. (maximum of 150 words)

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Policy Outcome: Create new businesses, new jobs and new skills. Using a maximum of 500 words describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Create employment and training opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors. (Award criteria) Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency ● how you will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support the Policy Outcome, e.g. engagement, co-design/creation, training and education, partnering/collaborating, volunteering

• Weighting:

  50%

• Question:

  Policy Outcome: Reduce the disability employment gap. Using a maximum of 500 words describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Demonstrate action to increase the representation of disabled people in the contract workforce. (Award criteria) Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency ● how you will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support the Policy Outcome, e.g. engagement, co-design/creation, training and education, partnering/collaborating, volunteering

• Weighting:

  25%

• Question:

  Policy Outcome: Effective stewardship of the environment. Using a maximum of 500 words describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support environmental protection and improvement. (Award criteria) Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency

• Weighting:

  25%

• Pricing model:

  Fixed price

• Additional assessment methods:

  Case study

  Work history

• Level:

  Exceeded

• Score:

  3

• Description:

  The response exceeds requirements, providing detail that minimises risks to delivery. The response is comprehensive and unambiguous, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the requirements and providing details of how the requirement will be met in full without additional support from the Contracting Authority, other than that outlined within the Statement of Requirements.

• Level:

  Met

• Score:

  2

• Description:

  The response is acceptable and meets all the basic requirements. However, the response is not sufficiently detailed to minimise risk and / or the proposed approach may require additional support (in addition to that outlined in the Statement of Requirements) from the Contracting Authority to meet its deliverables.

• Level:

  Partially met

• Score:

  1

• Description:

  The response has met some, but not all elements of the requirement, which poses risk that the proposal will not meet the deliverables required. The response does not demonstrate a full understanding of the requirement posing major concerns.

• Level:

  Not met

• Score:

  0

• Description:

  The response does not meet any of the requirements or no response has been provided. An unacceptable and / or non-compliant response with serious reservations, demonstrating no understanding of the requirement.

• Publication of stage 1:

  22/08/2023

• Clarification period closes:

  29/08/2023 16:00

• Deadline for suppliers to submit their stage 1 responses:

  11/09/2023 17:00

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