Legacy Technology Estate Replacement - Early Market Engagement

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is looking to replace its legacy software with modern SAAS based applications. Section 5 of this notice provides information on the types of functionality that will likely be required. DBS is seeking application management, as well as technology estate service providers to support DBS's next generation technology estate. DBS intends to undertake market engagement to assess interest in the opportunity and to help inform the approach DBS will take to its procurement of the services. We anticipate stage 1 of market engagement, which will be a desk-based exercise, will be to share DBS's requirements and request information from suppliers that will help inform DBS's approach. Stage 2 will be for a reduced number of participants. During this stage we would like to: 1) see demonstrations of solutions that suppliers believe may be suitable to achieve DBS's required outcomes, 2) understand vendor roadmaps for proposed applications; 3) understand how suppliers ensure configuration of applications for DBS is done in line with vendor's expected best practice. We will explain the rules for participation in Stage 2 as part of Stage 1. We anticipate Stage 1 will commence on 27 September 23 and Stage 2 will take place during October and November 23. At this stage we believe Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Frameworks RM6194 Back Office Software (BOS) and/or RM6193 Software Design and Implementation (SDIS) may be the most appropriate frameworks to source the applications and associated application management services (implementation, ongoing improvements, support). We believe RM6100 Technology Services 3 may be appropriate for the estate wide services, such as the Security Operations Centre (SOC). However, more specific frameworks may be more suitable, such as RM3764.3 Cyber Security Services 3 for SOC. DBS welcomes feedback from suppliers on the use of such frameworks, including whether there are any particular advantages and/or disadvantages relating to their use. For the avoidance of doubt, DBS does not commit to using such frameworks (or indeed, any frameworks) to procure some or all of its requirements and remains flexible, at this stage, as to its potential route to market. We are also interested in hearing suppliers' views on the potential to have a contract term of up to 10 years under BOS / SDIS, both the opportunities and challenges this presents. More information about DBS and its operations can be found at: About us - Disclosure and Barring Service - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Please also see further detail in Section 5 of this notice.

Action for suppliers:

Suppliers wishing to participate in Stage 1 of the market engagement should register by emailing [email protected] by 23:59 on 22 September 2023 with confirmation that they are registered on Home Office Jaggaer. Suppliers who are not yet registered can do so here: https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html. Stage 1 will be conducted via Jaggaer.

Additional information: The applications will be required to support end to end operational processes such as: • managing customer relationships • DBS check from initial application to completion of certificate and DBS's receipt of payment • barring case inception to closure • legal case inception to closure • HR case inception to closure The main areas of functionality required across the suite of applications include: • managing individual and organisation details and interactions with DBS. This may include individuals who apply for a DBS check, organisations that manage applications for DBS checks, individuals referred for barring, organisations or individuals who have referred someone for barring, police forces who provide information to support DBS processes • managing complaints, FOI and SARS • 'order' processing for DBS check applications, including payment processing (individual payments and invoices for volume applications) • case management that can be configured to meet the different types of cases • document management with all of the features required for legal document management, such as a clear and detailed audit trail showing each time a document is accessed whether a quick view, or a download, print, email etc • legal grade document redaction • creation of court document bundles • reporting and dashboards to improve service delivery.

DBS is looking to build capability inhouse for managing simple application configuration in future. As part of market engagement, DBS will be interested in suppliers' views on the most appropriate split of responsibilities between inhouse and outsourced teams to manage ongoing development and improvements. DBS is currently implementing Mulesoft as its strategic data integration hub. Any selected application would be expected to integrate with Mulesoft. There are also some applications in the legacy estate which will continue to be used in the next generation estate. We will be looking for a supplier to provide ongoing development and support for these applications when DBS's current arrangements come to an end. In addition to application management, there are some services that will be required to look after the full technology estate. This includes security, where DBS is interested in hearing from suppliers with experience implementing and managing SOC as a service. There may also be some service management services that require third party support. Further details will be provided as part of the supplier engagement. DBS's current strategy is to disaggregate its technology services model. As such we are expecting to award multiple contracts to cover all of the required services rather than one contract to cover all services although DBS retains the right to change its strategy and intended approach as a result of this market engagement exercise or otherwise. As part of market engagement, we will be interested in hearing from suppliers about the most appropriate split of services into different contracts.