Provision of Website Design & Development, Data Visualization Development, and Process Automatio ...

PURPOSE, BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT ESCAP seeks IT companies to provide design, development and maintenance services in any of the following service areas: 1) Drupal website development and website UX & UI creation. 2) Data visualization development in Microsoft Power BI with supported data management techniques. 3) Workflow and Robotic Process Automation and Data collection/entry online forms/applications in 0365platform The required services will vary in scope and effort and technology. Examples of potential projects/services within each lot include but are not limited to: Service Area 1: Drupal website development and website UX & UI creation: 1) Provide Information Architecture (IA), User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) designs for templates and/or components for ESCAP websites. 2) Develop new Drupal websites, enhance existing Drupal websites and provide website maintenance and support services. Service Area 2: Data visualization development in Microsoft Power BI with supported data management techniques: 1) Develop data cleansing methodology, ETL processes, and data aggregation logics and workflows against multiple data sources which can optimize the performance of the visualization outputs. 2) Provide advisory and/or development support services for both existing and new MS Power BI dashboards for ESCAP. 3) Creation on visualization layouts, KPI icons, background graphics, etc. for data visualization projects. Service Area 3: Process Automation and Data collection/entry online forms/applications in MS 0365 platform: 1) Automation of ESCAP’s business processes using the 0365 workflow automation capabilities (API based approach). 2) Automation of manual tasks which do not support API automation using 0365 robotic process automation capabilities. 3) Using MS Forms and/or MS PowerApps to create online forms/apps to collect data entries with workflow processes. Technical/functional parameters and more detailed specifications and deliverables will be determined on a per-project basis. Please note that the most common type of service engagement will be based on turn-key project(s). These are considered services provided in the form of deliverable-based fixed-price projects where the contractor directs, manages and administers the accomplishment of agreed-upon services. RESPONSIBILITIES The roles and responsibilities of representatives from the selected vendor(s) and ESCAP are outlined below. Roles and responsibilities may be defined in more detail in purchase orders/contracts created for specific projects on the basis of the long-term arrangements for Services (LTAS). However, at a minimum the following shall apply. Vendor Responsibilities Vendor shall be responsible for complying with ESCAP technology standards, processes and guidelines, including: • Information Security Requirements. • Web/online application Accessibility. • Search engine Optimization SEO standards. • Technology, tools and platform standards. • ESCAP Brand guidance – This will be provided to vendor at time of engagement when applicable. • Providing a single point of contact for overall long-term arrangement (LTAS) management. • Providing a single point of contact for each specific project (based on the type of services required). • Submitting the project plan and timeline for each particular project. • Ensuring that each project remains within the agreed budget and notify ESCAP’s project team if there is a need for any scope adjustment. Requesting approval from ESCAP for any changes in the team during the execution of a project. • Hosting weekly project meetings and sending weekly written reports to ESCAP on the progress against the agreed objectives. • When applicable, documenting and informing ESCAP on key decisions related to business and technical requirements that may impact on technical architecture, content architecture, module selection, DB architecture, performance, etc. • Submitting outputs in the format specified for the relevant service and/or project • Overall quality control (bugs, typos, design etc.). • When applicable, testing all products to verify compliance with key specifications and functionality including: - Functional Testing (to test the scripts are working as per the requirement without errors). - Usability Testing (User testing of the site functionalities). - Interface Testing (Check how the site handles errors). - Compatibility Testing (Browser, OS and Mobile compatibility). - Performance Testing (Load testing and other performance indicators). - Security Testing (test security of the site and its modules). • When applicable, providing documentation on testing approach, exact test cases and results, for each project. • When applicable, submitting all application design documentation, specifications, source code, application deployment files, user manuals, admin manuals and all other applicable deliverables identified for each project. • Ensuring that functionality offered and/or built into ESCAP systems and websites allows ESCAP to apply standards that are consistent with the principles set out in pertinent data regulations including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). ESCAP Responsibilities ESCAP is responsible for: • Providing a single point of contact for overall long-term arrangement management. • Providing a single point of contact for each specific project. • Providing clarifications of requirements, as needed. • Providing feedback on deliverables to the vendor such as project documentation quality and completeness. • Facilitating a reasonable amount of interaction between the vendor and the ESCAP’s Subject Matter Expert (SME) to have a clear understanding of each project’s content and for other inputs, as deemed necessary. • Reviewing and if acceptable signing off on agreed deliverables of each project. • When applicable, providing access to ESCAP’s systems as needed (e.g. Gitlab, Acquia, Servers). REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING QUALIFICATIONS OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED • The selected vendor(s) is expected to provide trained and knowledgeable technical resources according to the requirements of this RFP and specific projects initiated during the term of the agreement.. Vendor(s)’ resources shall demonstrate the minimum requirements specified for each particular Service Area. • All Contractor(s) project managers and other resources that interface with ESCAP management and technical consultants must have excellent oral and written communication skills, which herebyis defined as the capability to converse fluently, communicate effectively, and write intelligibly in the English language. Knowledge of one other official United Nations language is highly desirable. The other official 5 official United Nations languages are: French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Arabic. • The vendor(s) will provide not only the necessary skilled consultants, but also any tools (i.e. software, equipment etc.), and other resources necessary to provide the Services, outlined in the relevant Service Categories. In particular, the vendor(s) shall be responsible and bear all costs associated to providing office space and desktop/laptop environment with the necessary software as well as remote connectivity and any software licenses / tools necessary to perform the services requested for resources/consultants working from offsite/offshore locations. • All Contractor’s resources shall be compliant with immigration/labor regulations and/or applicable regulations of the host country, and have passed background checks, medical clearance and reference checks, as applicable. ESCAP will not sponsor visas for any Contractor resources required onsite or offsite. Work Hours For the majority of projects, vendor(s) is/are expected to work during Regular Working hours: Regular working hours includes: • UTC+07:00 working hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm) (40 hours/week), and/or equivalent standard working hours of the host country where the vendor’s resources/consultants will conduct on-site work in ESCAP’s premises and/or in off-site premises. • 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. However, for some Projects, services will be required outside the “Regular Working” hours up to and including weekends to meet ESCAP project timelines. These requirements will be addressed by and agreed to by ESCAP and the vendor prior to contract issuance. Outside Office hours includes work required by ESCAP to be performed: • before/after regular working hours as defined above • on weekends and holidays Requirements for Services Minimum requirements • The company must have completed at least 3 projects/websites/web applications in one of the ICT service areas listed • At least 10% of the staff in the company are technical experts with more than 5 years of experience in one of the ICT service areas. • At least 10% of the staff in the company are UX/UI experts with more than 5 years of experience. • Experience with hosting the solution/web application/web site on cloud hosted solutions. • Experience with actual maintenance of the websites/ web applications in one of the ICT service areas. Note: Vendors shall describe in their proposals the proposed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that would apply to each Service Category they elect to bid for, listing both, the service levels and available remedies in case of non-compliance/breach of the SLA. ESCAP expects vendors to proposed combination of monetary remedies, termination rights and others.