Home Group - Online Presence (external website) and Mobile Application Development Partner Framework

Descriptions

Background/Contract ScopeThis process seeks to appoint a single strategic partner for the long term provision of website / online presence and mobile application development in line with the recently approved IS Strategy These services will include but won't be limited to:- Web Design- Web Development- Web Consultancy- Web support- Smartphone / Mobile Application Design (external facing)- Smartphone / Mobile Application Development (external facing)- Smartphone / Mobile Application support (external facing)The framework will cover all home group and associated public facing websites as well as “smartphone” / mobile application development but will exclude both the intranet and extranet which will be subject to an additional procurement process.In the past Home group have used SharePoint to deliver external facing websites, this tender process seeks to appoint a partner who can use the best technology to deliver responsive / interactive websites. It is not limited to a SharePoint provision.The New IS strategy has a focus on self-service, whether that is a customer, client or a colleague, it is our belief that our online presence is a fundamental part of this initiative and therefore we need to ensure the correct partner is selected. In addition to this a large number of our customer / client base would be deemed digitally excluded in that they don't have fixed broadband in their homes; however a growing number of them do have access to internet via smartphones. This tender process aims to ensure that our website is mobile friendly and also ensure that we have the capacity to develop mobile applications for the most popular of mobile operating systems. (IOS, Windows and Android, Blackberry)Home Group has an existing team of IS professionals, this process is to provide complementary skills and resources and is to concentrate on the delivery of strategic projects in line with the IS Strategy. This process seeks to appoint a single partner to assist with the realisation of this strategic plan.Proposed contractHome Group is looking to appoint a single partner for a single contractor Framework Agreement. This will allow us to be able to make call-offs from this framework agreement without the need for any further bidding procedures as outlined within the EU procurement directive.Within the framework, specific call-offs will be agreed based on projects or work packages as mentioned in the background/contract scope section. Please note there may be additional requirements outside of the requirements listed.Proposed contract term and valueHome group is proposing to contract for a minimum of 3 years with an option to extend for a further 12 months. Contracts will include an optional 12 month break clause that home group can activate should the selected partner fail to deliverThe contract's value is forecast to be between 50,000 GBP and 500,000 GBP per annum.