Request for Proposal for the development and maintenance of the Web Services of the Namibia Qualifications Authority s National Qualifications

Transcription

1 Request for Proposal for the development and maintenance of the Web Services of the Namibia Qualifications Authority s National Qualifications Framework Information Management System (NQFIMS) May 2017

2 Request for Proposal for the development and maintenance of the Web Services of the Namibia Qualifications Authority s National Qualifications Framework Information Management System (NQFIMS) A. Introduction The Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) is mandated by statute to administer the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), ensuring quality assured qualifications. The NQFIMS (the electronic information system of Namibia s NQF) holds information about qualifications and unit standards. This information should be made generally available by means of web-based searchable databases, via the NQA website ( Furthermore, a miniwebsite (a webpage) for data suppliers, containing templates and documentation that will assist them with the loading of learner records to the NQFIMS, should also be developed. The searchable databases and data suppliers website should be updated daily, thus ensuring the currency and relevance of this information. The searchable databases and data suppliers webpage must be constantly maintained and enhanced to ensure that the business rules of the NQF pertaining to qualifications and unit standards are reflected accurately. In addition, the NQFIMS must provide a secure FTP staging area for data loads, which must also be updated and maintained. B. Services Required The following services are required: 1. Develop and implement the searchable databases, data suppliers webpage and secure FTP staging area for data loads. Develop the searchable databases and data suppliers webpage, based on a specification from the NQA. Add the necessary tables, fields and queries. Develop the secure FTP staging area for data loads, based on a specification from the NQA. Conduct the necessary testing (including user acceptance testing) in a development environment. Implement the searchable databases and data suppliers webpage, ensuring access to these via the NQA website ( Implement the secure FTP staging area for data loads 2. Ensure the accurate and timeous daily updating of the relevant server with the information required for the searchable databases. Using suitable scripts, update the external NQA server from the NQFIMS s internal server once every 24 hours. Ensure that a copy of this extract is kept on the NQA s external server. Update the download scripts when structural changes are made to the NQFIMS. Have a dedicated server available (separate from the NQA servers) for the staging (live hosting) of the searchable databases. Copy the extract from the NQA s external 1

3 server to this hosting server. Allow for traffic of more than 100 GB per month, with expected peaks of up to 300 GB. Have dedicated servers available (separate from the NQA servers) for the secure FTP staging area for data loads to the NQFIMS and its related systems. Copy the extract from the NQA s external server to these hosting servers. Allow for traffic of more than 12 GB per month. Have a separate server available for user acceptance testing. 3. Host the searchable databases, data suppliers webpage and secure FTP staging area for data loads to ensure access to them, 24/7/365. Ensure the availability of the searchable databases, and their accessibility from the NQA website, at all times. Ensure the security and integrity of the searchable databases. Ensure ongoing search capabilities by means of user-defined SQL queries, generated via the standard search screen. Ensure the availability and security data suppliers webpage. Ensure the availability and security of the secure FTP staging area for data loads (especially of learner achievements) to the NQFIMS and its related systems. 4. Monitor the daily updates to the searchable databases, and report this daily to the NQA. Facilitate the sending of an automated daily report (in an format) to the relevant recipients at the NQA. This report must indicate the successful update of all tables from the internal NQA server to the external NQA server. Any issues that arise must be indicated in the report. Resolve any issues that arise with the daily updates, or any errors that occur, within an agreed number of hours. 5. Maintain, and further develop, the searchable databases and data suppliers webpage. Maintain and further develop the searchable databases and data suppliers webpage, based on requests and specifications from the NQA. Add tables, fields and queries, where indicated and required. 6. Provide pre-agreed datasets to other stakeholders. Extract data from the external NQA server for other stakeholders, where required. The detailed specifications for each requirement, as drawn up by the NQA, will be made available to the successful service provider. C. Invitation to submit a proposal and quotation The NQA requires proposals, as soon as possible but no later than the time and date specified below. The quotation that will be included in the proposals must formatted as per Section F of this document. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) for one year of service will be signed with the successful service provider. At the end of the SLA period, quotations for maintenance and further development will again be requested from interested service providers. 2

4 The work required is at the level of at least a senior web developer. The NQA will not pay a retainer for these services. The quotation should thus state the hourly rate of a senior developer. The NQA reserves the right to use the services of a specific service provider or not. A contract may be signed, concerning the agreed hourly rate. Proposals (including work plans, milestones and quotations) must be submitted to the NLRD Director (Ms Y Shapiro, yshapiro@saqa.org.za) as soon as possible, but no later than 16:00 on 5 June (The South African Qualifications Authority is managing the selection of the service provider on behalf of the NQA.) D. Evaluation criteria In terms of technical detail the following will be taken into consideration when evaluating the proposals: Criterion 1. Functionality Capacity and experience of the senior developer the CV of the senior developer must please be attached 1-2 years: 20 points 3-4 years: 35 points More than 5 years: 40 points Maximum Points to be Awarded Understanding of project methodology 20 Value added services 10 Availability of resources 30 Total 100 A Threshold of 80% is applicable (Bidders scoring a minimum of 80 points on functionality points will qualify to be evaluated further using price and B-BBEE status points) 2. Price 2.1 Points allocated for price B-BBEE Status Points 3.1 Level Level Level Level Level Level Level Level 8 2 Non-Compliant Contributor 0 Total for B-BBEE Preference Points

5 E. Evaluation process No. Conditions Confirmation Yes No Noted If no, indicate deviation 1. Compliance with Minimum Requirements 1.1 All quotations/proposals duly lodged will be examined to determine compliance with bidding requirements and conditions. Quotations/ proposals with obvious deviations from the requirements / conditions, may be eliminated from further adjudication. 2. Price, Functionality and B-BBEE Points 2.1 All remaining quotations/proposals will be evaluated as indicated on the terms of reference. 2.2 All quotations/proposals will be evaluated for functionality up to the total of 100 marks, and a further 80 marks for price, and 20 marks for BEE points will be awarded. 3. Determination of Percentage for Functionality 3.1 The evaluation criteria and weights for functionality as indicated in the terms of reference as per paragraph 1 will apply. After calculation of the percentage for functionality, the prices of all quotations/proposals that obtained the minimum score (80%) for functionality should be taken into consideration. 4. Elimination of Quotations/Proposals on Grounds of Functionality 4.1 Quotations/proposals that score less than 80% of the marks available for functionality will be eliminated from further consideration. Points will therefore not be awarded for their cost proposals or for preference. 4

6 No. Conditions Confirmation Yes No Noted If no, indicate deviation 5. Determination of Percentage for Price 5.1 The percentage scored for price shall be calculated as follows: The lowest acceptable quotation/proposal (adjusted or not), will obtain the maximum percentage allocated for price. The other quotations/proposals with higher prices (adjusted or not), will proportionately obtain lower percentages. 5.2 The points scored out of 80 shall be calculated according to the following formula. The 80/20 preference point system Ps = 80 (1 Hs Rs ) Rs Where Ps = Hs = Rs = points scored for functionality and price of the quotation/proposal under consideration highest percentage scored by any acceptable bidder for functionality and price percentage scored for functionality and price by quotation/proposal under consideration. 5

7 F. Quotation Format Quotation for the Development and Maintenance of the Web Services of the NQA's NQFIMS Are the Hosting Fees stated separately (in this section), or are they built in to the Development and Maintenance Fees? S = Separate, B = Built In: If you filled in "B", please only complete Section B. EITHER: (a) State one type of hosting per row, OR: (b) state "ALL" and then use just one row for the total Hosting Fee. What will be hosted Unit Monthly Rate Months Year Total Including VAT (if applicable) Hosting Total Section B: Development and Maintenance Fees Please fill in as many of these rows as are needed. Activity Job Title / Level Hourly Rate Estimated Hours/ Month Calculated Monthly Rate Months Year Total Including VAT (if applicable) Development and Maintenance Total * If you have filled in "Other", please indicate what this would include: 6