Data Analytics Learning Laboratory (DALL) in the Cloud

The purpose of this notice is to inform the market operators of a Request for Information Exercise which the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is conducting in relation to the services described below.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) is a key part of the NHS and we are responsible for processing £30bn of health and related expenditure across a diverse range of services. Since 2014 the NHSBA has operated a Data Analytics Learning Laboratory (DALL) for the NHSBSA and wider NHS customers.

The DALL consists of:

i. Database - Copy of production systems around the NHSBSA, external data sets and data sets controlled by Data Sharing Agreements (DSA). ii. Visualisation - Application dashboards presenting both Advanced analytics and Management Information to internal NHSBSA staff. iii. Reports - Providing reports to wider NHS/ Department of Health (DH)H for policy decisions.

The DALL's existing technology is an on-premise, Oracle Exadata and Exalytics solution purchased in 2013. In order to meet current and emerging business requirements, the NHSBSA's strategy is to transition the DALL to a fully cloud based solution in 2018. Therefore, through this Request for Information process we are seeking to understand the following:

• What cloud based solutions exist in the market place that could provide the DALL service - this is not restricted to Oracle only solutions. • Knowledge of suppliers in the market • Indicative timescales to transition from the current on-premise solution to a cloud based one • Indicative costs of transition and on-going running costs • Benefits of cloud based solutions which may include monetary savings, increased functionality, improved interoperability etc

The DALL service is primarily operated based in by staff in Stella House, Newcastle, together with and secondary office in Eastbourne. This is subject to growth and a different operating model as the service evolves the new cloud solution must be scalable as we grow.

Providing a high quality, efficient and accurate insight is paramount to us and we work closely with customers to ensure that the business knowledge and requirements are central to all analytics produced. We are also looking to improve and enhance the user experience for delivery of analytics to the business. Currently analytics are delivered through static reports and some interactive R Shiny dashboards, running on the Exalytics server. We are looking to consolidate and refine this, including our ability to report effectively both internally and externally (wider NHS/DH).

Additional information: This is not a call for competition. The RFI is one of the NHSBSA's preliminary market consultation activities. Its purpose is to provide the market a broad indication of the potential future opportunity which the NHSBSA may offer and to receive feedback from the market to understand what Cloud based solutions can be provided to meet the business requirements for the DALL and as such inform the NHSBSA requirements and procurement strategy.

Interested parties are invited to express and interest in participating in the RFI by registering on the NHSBSA eSourcing portal (this is only required once) https://nhsbsa.bravosolution.co.uk. The RFI documents will be released on the eSourcing Portal on 24th August 2017 and RFI responses are required by the 12th September 2017. The NHSBSA will also be holding a supplier webex on the 25th August 2017 to run through our requirements and to allow interested parties to raise questions.