GOACO GROUP LTD

Beta GDS Delivery

Goaco delivers GDS/CDDO compliant Beta services. Our expertise lies in user-centric agile development, collaborating closely with senior stakeholders onsite or remotely. Utilising distributed beta development, we design, build and support innovative beta digital services, ensuring alignment with GDS beta standards for successful outcomes.

Features

• User-centred methodology: Service, Visual, Interaction, Content Design
• Develop, test, iterate service or website based on prototypes
• Agile approach encourages frequent iteration from user testing
• Design, build, improve services & websites: Front/back-end development
• Quality assessment to coding, security standards
• Accessibility testing (WCAG 2.2 AA) for inclusive design solutions
• Product team augmentation, UCD/Agile training, coaching for stakeholders
• Agile delivery, GDS/CDDO Service Assessment preparation, panel support
• Measurement, continuous improvement: performance, satisfaction, user experience
• Inclusive research: vulnerable, hard-to-reach users, at-risk populations

Benefits

• Rapid feedback, service or website improvement
• Demonstrated viability, value-add, compliance with regulatory, technical requirements
• Robust service best fit to meet user needs
• Digital tools, websites designed to influence behaviour change
• Alignment to Technology Code of Practice, WCAG 2.2 AA, NCSC
• Alignment to Government Service Standard, GDS Service Manual
• Successful delivery within complex decision-making environments
• Upskilling stakeholders with varying UCD, digital awareness
• In-depth sector knowledge (Healthcare, central government)
• Transitioning into the Go Run service or Live Services

£395 to £1,550 a unit a day

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bidteam@goaco.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

297493444916115

Contact

Ammo Sunghera
0333 444 07 90
bidteam@goaco.com

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Goaco's helped multiple public sector clients plan and implement cloud and software services. Our approach to planning covers a full range of options, follows GDS guidelines and:; ; #Establishes your vision and objectives for each engagement.; #Understands the needs of the business and users, setting KPIs for success.; #Scopes the activities required to create a roadmap to achieve your objectives.; #Identifies and tackles challenges.; #Ensures legal, information security, and regulatory compliance.; #Defines success criteria i.e. an agreed definition of done.; ; Our consultants work as “One-Team” and use a full range of project management methodologies e.g. Waterfall and Agile. Our skills include tools such as Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Planning Meetings, Team reviews (show and tells), Retrospectives meetings, End-of-phase retrospectives, User stories, Backlog refinement and Team Walls. We ensure skills transfer on each assignment. ; ; Goaco provides up to date skills sets and experience of large, complex, and critical public sector projects. We align with the full GDS Lifecycle where needed and work to the Technology Code of Practice. We focus on ensuring your solution will integrate with (or start to replace) existing services and smoothly transition to live. Once live we support you to iterate and continuously improve throughout the solution’s lifetime.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: Goaco provide a full range training methods ranging from classroom/virtual training events, e-learning material for self-paced training; and documentation in the form of playbooks and Wikis. We have delivered training for clients and users across the UK public and private sectors, with defined approaches to meet their requirements and that of their teams, catering for specific user needs. We work with clients and their users to understand individual requirements and learning needs to ensure a smooth transition.; Throughout delivery and ongoing support phases, we nurture a positive knowledge management culture. We capture and categorise key knowledge in a central SKMS (Service Knowledge Management System). Categorisation and close management enable us to provide pertinent knowledge sharing to users (for self-service incident resolution and ongoing training). It also allows integration with a client's technical resource as part of a knowledge sharing and transition process. The SKMS will be available during any change as part of the ADKAR process to ensure successful and streamlined Change Management. To support sustained change, we can also provide specific training for Scrum Masters e.g. overview of Scrum theory and practice.
• Training is tied to specific services: No

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: Goaco has an end-to-end process for set up and migration proven in multiple client assignments. Our team’s skillsets and expertise are fully up to date, ensuring cloud solutions capable of meeting current and emerging opportunities/risks including Artificial Intelligence (AI); Machine Learning (ML); Data Engineering; Low Code/No Code; Integration with internal and 3rd Party Apps; Interoperability; Cyber Security and FinOps for best value.; ; In set up we work with as “One-Team”, understanding needs, ensuring solutions meet goals and creating robust plans for delivery to time and budget.; ; Our end-to end migration processes ensure secure transfer and hosting, from business case and planning through to validation, testing, execution, and optimising performance/value. We provide four cloud migration approaches:; #Refactoring - transforming digital services to take advantage of the features of the cloud (the cloud native approach).; #Replatforming - making targeted changes to your applications & data to leverage benefits of moving to the cloud.; #Rehosting - Lift-and-Shift your applications & data, to accelerate the decommissioning of legacy infrastructure. ; #Re-engineering - re-design your services to provide a ground-up transformation.
• Setup or migration service is for specific cloud services: No

Quality assurance and performance testing

• Quality assurance and performance testing service: Yes
• How the quality assurance and performance testing works: Goaco will work as a collaborative partner to conduct QA and performance testing. Our Quality Assurance Testing (QAT) processes are proven in multiple, large scale and complex projects for public, local government and private sector clients. Goaco’s professionally certified (e.g. ISTQB) Agile QA practitioners will plan and deliver a full range of testing covering;; #Assurance; #Security testing; #Cloud performance; #Automation/functional; ; Goaco testers possess expertise across various Technology Stacks and leverage an extensive array of tools, regularly updated to adapt to evolving needs, along with diverse methodologies such as Agile Test Strategy, Test Driven Development (TDD), Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD), and Behaviour Driven Development (BDD).; ; Goaco is a cyber security expert provider and offers a full range of tests to ensure security of your system, including pre-release and in-operation Penetration Testing.; ; Goaco specialises in cybersecurity solutions, providing a comprehensive suite of tests performed by CREST/CHECK accredited personnel, to find weakness into your systems, and then offer tailored solutions to strengthen your organisation’s security posture. Testing is done on pre-release, in-operation, and post-operation phases to ensure robust security measures.; ; Our testing approach means that documentation is accurate, usable and informs the security and operation of your system throughout its life.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
  • Security incident management
  • Security audit services
  • Other
• Other security services:
  • Cyber Security training
  • Cyber Security improvement
• Certified security testers: Yes
• Security testing certifications:
  • CHECK
  • CREST

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported:
  • Buyer hosting or software
  • Hosting or software provided by your organisation
  • Hosting or software provided by a third-party organisation
• How the support service works: Goaco offers a full, ITIL Certified, support service across all 4 levels (P1 – 4). We offer 3 options to suit all needs and budgets. We currently achieve above 99.99% availability, and support a full range of website, e-commerce, and application stacks.; ; The 3 levels of service allow you to select the best option for your business and needs.; ; 1. Break-fix: customers contact Goaco support via phone, email, and portal when incidents occur. Qualified and expert staff will resolve issues. This is ideal for low use customers. ; 2. Bank hours: Customers agree a number of support hours and Goaco provides full support during those periods. We can flex around need making this an ideal option for customers with predictable patterns of use or going through a limited busy period e.g. launch of a new platform. ; 3. Full Managed Service (FMS): Under this option we provide 24/7 support, including a full Security Operations Centre (SOC), covering 24/7 alert monitoring and incident response and a proactive strategy focused on cyber security.; ; Support is provided remotely with onsite by agreement if required. Break Fix and Bank Hours customers can select 24/7 or office hours options to suit needs and budget.

Service scope

• Service constraints: Constraints might include support only being available remotely.; Goaco provide a fully flexible support service operating 24/7*365 . The only constraint to cover is set by the service level customers select.; ; The team can operate remotely and on site (by agreement).; ; The constraints we anticipate are reliance upon (customer selected) licensed tools, vendors, and 3rd parties. In set up we would identify and mitigate these risks.

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: Goaco has an SLA matrix based upon an industry standard triage process. Response SLA times start from 1 hour within business hours and can be delivered 24/7/365, depending on the service level our customer has chosen.; ; Customers selecting Break Fix or Bank can select office hours or 24x7 cover. Weekend response times in a 24/7 service are the same as weekday.; .; Customers opting for a full managed service (FMS) have 24/7 cover as part of their service.; ; Weekend end responses for high priority tickets start from 1hr. We do however aim to respond faster than the SLA where possible.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.1 AAA
• Web chat accessibility testing: Goaco has undertaken web chat testing with users on behalf of clients. ; Level AAA: ; • Use of alternative input devices besides a mouse, provision for low vision users and clear view of the current point-of-focus.; Level AA: ; • Easily identify the point of focus, including Dragging, Pointer Target Spacing and easily accessible Hidden Controls. Users with disabilities can click or select any elements without activating adjacent elements. ; Level A: ; • Ensure that users with disabilities can find references to content based on printed versions of documents, to enable easier cross-referencing.; • Findable Help: Users can easily find help for carrying out any actions on a website. The help feature is prominently and consistently visible. ; • Accessible Authentication: Apart from passwords, accessible, easy-to-use, and secure method to log in and access content. ; • Redundant Entry: auto-fill or remove entries, to assist users with cognitive disabilities with form filling.
• Support levels: Goaco provides all customers with an ITIL Certified Delivery Manager and aligned Service Desk providing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Line support. Support is accessed via multiple channels (email, portal etc.) with response performance reported to customers. Each customer will have named resources for their support requirements. Services are provided across our UK offices (with optional nearshore/offshore) during office hours. Out of Hours support is delivered via an on-call rota of named resources. Support Levels and response times are:; ; • Critical (P1): up to 30 mins; • Standard (P2): up to 2hrs; • Low (P3): up to 4 hours; • Request (P4): up to 24hrs; ; We can also develop Business Continuity Plans with customers and provide resources to implement them.; ; Cost is determined by the level of support requested. ; ; You will be provided with a Service Delivery Manager and a Technical Lead. Cloud Support Engineers will be part of the Tier 3 and 4 response capability.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: Yes
• Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001: Peers Quality Assurance Ltd
• ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date: 24/02/2023
• What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover: Goaco's ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification covers the entirety of the Goaco business operations.
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: No

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Covid-19 recovery
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

  Fighting climate change

  Goaco recognises our responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We hold ISO14001 and publish our Carbon Reduction Plan on the Goaco website. ; ; We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and continually improving environmental performance as an integral part of our business strategy and operating methods. We therefore operate under a “Carbon reductions, environmental and sustainability policy” and embed sustainability into services and deliverables. Responsibility for delivering the policy is assigned to Head of Global Operations and Finance, however all employees have a responsibility in their area to ensure the aims and objectives of this policy are met. ; ; To embed sustainability we comply with all relevant regulatory requirements, continually improving and monitoring environmental performance. For example we operate in a modern office with movement sensors for lighting and track power consumption. To improve and reduce environmental impacts we incorporate environmental factors into business decisions, for example embracing remote working, rail travel and electric vehicle use. Staff minimise the use of paper in the office take energy consumption and efficiency of new products such as printers into account when purchasing them. Office staff reuse and recycle everything we are able to.; ; The policy and any related business issues are reviewed at monthly management meetings and we update the annually in consultation with staff and stakeholders.

  Covid-19 recovery

  Goaco are actively contributing to Covid-19 recovery. We provide hybrid and remoter working options for staff, retained our full workforce during the pandemic period and supported retraining of people who lost employment during the lock-down period.; ; We recognise the contribution technology can make in this area and it is part of our mission to use our skills and digital to improve people's lives. We therefore work closely with “Business in the Community” providing digital assistance for charities, and small businesses across the nation and support community initiatives to provide retraining in digital skills.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Goaco’s actively supports tackling economic inequality by opening pathways to the tech sector. To do this we take a phased approach; raising awareness of opportunities, providing training placements and enabling access. We understand the real, financial commitment to tackling inequality, all our workforce is paid the Living Wage. We also offer a volunteer employee time allowance to support their local community. In our social value work we aim to disrupt traditional tech employment, opening paths for people not traditionally accessing tech careers. ; ; Phase 1: Raising Awareness. To create awareness Goaco sponsor young people’s sport (Ebbsfleet U15s football and Aylesford Bulls Girls rugby). We can make a localised plan and support staff to reach out to organisations in local to customers. Once relationships are in place, we offer Training initiatives e.g. ‘hackathons’, coding camps, “Confidence with Digital” workshops and young peoples work placements.7; ; Phase 2: New Pathways into Tech. To open access to the tech workforce, we promote awareness of opportunities in tech. We do this by active engagement with local educational organisations e.g. high schools, to promote digital education and demonstrate software production. We support opportunities in areas of skills shortages e.g. Cyber by offering a pathway into Goaco’s Cyber Apprentice Development Programme and provides opportunities for local apprentices to obtain valuable, recognised qualifications. ; ; Phase 3: Cyber Academy/Alternative Approaches to Employment. We offer Goaco apprentices “Earn and Learn”, opportunities. This prevents people from lower income backgrounds turning down, for financial reasons, opportunities offering longer-term benefits. We highly value people and opportunity and are signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and Police Suppliers Charter. We offered opportunities to those suffering unemployment during the pandemic and maximise local businesses/social enterprises in our supply chains. We can apply this philosophy and methodology in partnership with customers.

  Equal opportunity

  Goaco operates under a policy that sets out a company approach to Equality and Diversity. We have resolved to place inclusion at the heart of everything we do, and this is reflected in our policy objectives and company culture.; ; Standard 1. Goaco recognise staff and customers are central to our success and we work in a diverse society. We acknowledge our legal responsibility for equality of opportunity and are committed to ensuring equality and supporting diversity irrespective of Race/Ethnicity/Nationality; Sexual orientation; Disability; Religion/ Belief; Age; Marriage or Civil partnership; Gender; Pregnancy/Maternity or Gender identity. Eliminating discrimination, harassment and victimisation is therefore the responsibility of all our staff. ; ; Standard 2. Our policy acknowledges people are discriminated against for reasons other than the protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010. We therefore recognise our moral obligation to challenge discrimination and injustice where practical and appropriate. Our moral commitment to championing equality and diversity therefore covers socio-economic group, responsibility for dependants and any other matter which causes a person to be treated with injustice.; ; Standard 3. The policy states we will not treat anybody receiving services or working for us less or more favourably than anyone else. We are therefore committed to take positive action when we need to, to ensure everyone receives equality of opportunity in services and work. We will take effective action to tackle victimisation and harassment and we will always adopt a victim centred approach.; ; Our commitment to equal opportunity is evidenced in our membership of the Armed Forces Covenant and provision of a Cyber Academy, opening opportunities into digital careers for people from diverse backgrounds.

  Wellbeing

  Goaco understands the vital role staff wellbeing plays in successful business. Wellbeing is governed under our staffing policy and procedures e.g. we support all staff with flexible work to ensure they can meet family and caring responsibilities. ; ; In order to facilitate wellbeing and ensure a sustainable work environment we:; • Locate our staff in secure, modern offices.; • Support hybrid working to account for varied needs.; • Provide home-working office equipment to ensure ergonomically sound working environments.; ; We understand our duty of care and ensure safe working practices in customer locations e.g. lone worker and Covid safety during the pandemic. ; ; We have a diverse workforce and support needs related to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing e.g. fasting and time off. Our social value programmes are supported by staff and we provide an allowance of time for volunteer work. As well as social value volunteering is proven to benefit the wellbeing of the volunteers and we actively encourage staff to participate.

Pricing

• Price: £395 to £1,550 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: Yes

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Skills Framework for the Information Age rate card

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at bidteam@goaco.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.