DATABASE FOR BUSINESS LTD

Connected Society Cloud Managed Network Service

The Database for Business Ltd "Cloud Managed Network Service" provides Public Sector organisations with the ability to procure Managed Network Services including for a range of deployment sites and scenarios.

Features

• Software Defined Networking
• SD-WAN and Local Internet Breakout
• Cloud Managed Security
• Remote Access VPN
• WiFi
• Failover and Redundancy
• Application Steering and Quality of Experience
• Comprehensive Network Visibility
• Next Generation Firewall as a Service
• Layer 1 to 7 DPI, IDP and Advanced Malware Protection

Benefits

• Zero-touch remote deployment to speed up deployment
• Single dashboard management of wired and wireless networks
• Cloud managed using a web dashboard to simplify operations
• Automatic firmware upgrades and security patches for peace of mind
• Real-time diagnostic and troubleshooting tools for visibility of your network
• Automated site-to-site (IPsec) VPN for hub-and-spo1ke or mesh topologies
• Single Security domain to simplify administration
• Cloud integration to protect key cloud resources
• Advanced security services to protect your user and data
• Flexible deployment options including fibre, 5G and broadband connection options

• Education pricing available
• Free trial available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  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 tenders@dbfb.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

469136809404819

Contact

dbfb Tenders
01604 673320
tenders@dbfb.co.uk

About the service

• Service categories:
  • Systems Infrastructure Software
    • Network
      • Network infrastructure software
        • Software-defined networking (SDN)
      • Network management
        • Network performance management (NPM)
• Multi cloud support: Yes

Service scope

• Software add-on or extension: No
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
• Service constraints: For cloud managed deployments of virtual appliances within a buyers own environment, the buyer must make available appropriate resources within the buyers cloud estate as per the specifications required for the size of service required. ; ; WiFi and network coverage is subject to survey and testing of the buyers cabling infrastructure.; ; Any associated connectivity service provided with this service is subject to availability, survey and approvals.
• System requirements:
  • For AWS deployments: Standard_F4s_V2, Standard_D2_v2 or Standard_D2_v3 required
  • For Azure deployments: M4.large or C5.large required
  • Hardware appliances require a minimum of 1U rack space

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: Our engineer staffed service desk's standard operating times are 8am till 6pm weekdays excluding bank holidays. Out of hours and 24 x 7 services are available.; ; Helpdesk calls are answered within 10 seconds during standard service desk hours.; ; Email enquiries are responded to in person within 30 minutes during standard service desk hours.; ; Web chat enquiries are responded to in person within 2 minutes during standard service desk hours.; ; Incident response and target fix times are P1: 30 minutes / 5 hours, P2: 1 hour / 10 hours, P3: 8 hours / 24 hours, P4: 24 hours / 48 hours.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 24 hours, 7 days a week
• Web chat support: Yes
• Web chat support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• AI chatbot: No
• Web chat support accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Web chat accessibility testing: Please see web accessibility conformance and testing reports for our service desk which uses Microsoft Dynamics 365: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/conformance-reports
• Onsite support: Yes
• Support levels: On site engineering is provided as standard between 8am and 6pm weekdays excluding bank holidays. 24 x 7 services can be purchased at an additional rate.; Our standard response times are:; P1 Incident (total loss of services) - 30 minute response and 5 hour target fix.; P2 Incident (loss of some services or a single site) - 1 hour response 10 hour target fix.; P3 Incident (loss of some services or a single user) - 8 hour response 24 hour target fix.; P4 Incident (non urgent changes) - 24 hour response 48 hour target fix.; ; An assigned technical account manager is provided as standard with all services. An assigned service manager is included as standard with all services. Monthly service reporting and services reviews are included as standard with all services.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: Our approach to service onboarding consists of five stages: Consult, Design, Build, Operate, and Maintain. Each stage of this approach is meticulously planned and executed, ensuring users are engaged and supported whilst our services are designed, deployed and supported.; ; In the 'Consult' stage, we utilise user workshops, audits, surveys and version-controlled templates to ensure services are commissioned using a consistent set of documents and workflows and users are fully engaged.; ; During the 'Design' phase, all project documentation is systematically organised, ensuring information captured is reflecting in high level and low level designs, and shared with project stakeholders.; ; Our Quality Gate process is rigorously followed, especially during the 'Build' and 'Operate' stages. Milestones and quality checks are tracked to ensure alignment with user expectations.; ; Our transition into live service includes the following :; ; Early Life Support plan, detailing implementation timelines, support arrangements, remote or onsite training provision, user guides and documentation.; ; Communication plan, maintained and executed throughout the transition to live service, including information and process for updating users in the event of any issues.; ; Service Delivery plan, detailing scope of services, RACI matrices, escalation patterns, details of operating procedures, service design packages, ITSM/ITIL process workflows.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• Documentation accessibility standard: WCAG 2.2 AA
• End-of-contract data extraction: Overview; Cisco Meraki is a powerful cloud managed network solution. This node is a wrapper based off the Meraki Dashboard API. It leverages the OpenAPI specification to generate the methods and parameters. ; ; Features; Over 260 Meraki operations; Create services to support multiple API keys; Configure API parameters in the node or dynamically through msg object; Parameters and sample responses are documented in-line; Several example flows provided; ; To make use of the node, it's expected that you have a Cisco Meraki account with API access. See the Meraki Dashboard API section for more details.; ; Working with Output Data; Use the debug tab to see the output of your data.; You can then view the JSON data and expand the nested properties.; ; Export to CSV; Using Built-in CSV Node; You may want to save your payload data to a CSV file for use with a spreadsheet. To do this, we can take advantage of the csv node and save the formatted data with the file node.; ; It then sends the data to the csv node, which defines the columns based on the expected parameters to be returned from the Meraki operation.
• End-of-contract process: The provisions of the contract include hardware, software licensing and managed network support included within the price of the contract. At the end of the contract any services would need to be extended in order for the managed network service to continue operation.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: Yes
• Supported browsers:
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
  • Other
• Application to install: No
• Designed for use on mobile devices: Yes
• Differences between the mobile and desktop service: Users are able to access the same connectivity services via WiFi on mobile devices, and via wifi and ethernet (subject to availability of ethernet ports) on laptop and desktop devices.
• Service interface: Yes
• Description of service interface: The Cisco Meraki Dashboard is the industry’s only 100% cloud-managed solution for unified threat management (UTM) and SD-WAN in a single appliance. MX appliances self-provision, automatically pulling policies and configuration settings from the cloud. Powerful remote management tools provide network-wide visibility and control and administration without the need for on-site networking expertise.; ; Cloud services deliver seamless firmware and security updates, automatically establish site-to-site VPN tunnels, and provide 24x7 network monitoring. Moreover, the MX’s intuitive browser-based management interface removes the need for expensive and time-consuming training.; ; For public cloud services, Meraki offers a virtual MX for use in AWS and Azure.
• Accessibility standards: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Accessibility testing: Cisco’s Office of Accessibility brings companywide coordination and collaboration to our digital accessibility strategy and focuses on the following objectives:; ; Increase awareness and understanding of disabilities and accessibility within Cisco through training, campaigns, and events.; Provide employees with the technical training needed to design, produce, market, and deliver accessible products, websites, and documentation.; Develop and implement policies and guidelines to evaluate accessibility and usability of applicable digital assets.; Integrate accessibility best practices into the design process of our products, services, and websites so that accessibility and usability are considered from the outset and maintained throughout development.; We recognize international standards when assessing and documenting the accessibility of our products, services, and websites:; ; Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Level A and AA published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C); Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Accessibility 508 Standards issued by the U.S. Access Board; EN 301 549, developed by ETSI, CEN, and CENELEC; Our Accessibility Statement outlines our objectives for company business processes and activities and helps ensure that Cisco products and services benefit people with disabilities. ; ; Further details are available here: https://www.cisco.com/c/m/en_us/about/purpose/reporting-hub/responsible-innovation/accessibility.html
• User support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• API: Yes
• What users can and can't do using the API: The Meraki Dashboard API (referred to as Meraki API) is a RESTful API interface that allows you to programmatically manage and monitor Meraki networks at scale.; ; Resources; A resource is an entity or component within the Meraki ecosystem such as organisations, administrators, networks, devices, VLANs and SSID's. ; ; Services; A service is a functionality or a set of API operations that interact with the resources of a Meraki product. (These operations are specific actions performed on a resource, such as GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE.) Services perform specific actions on resources such as:; ; CONFIGURE service: Manage cloud configurations.; MONITOR service: Return status and history information.; LIVE TOOL service: Directly interact with devices.; ; Resource URLs; The resource URL or path contains the name of the Meraki product to reduce ambiguity when working with similar yet unique functionality.; ; Base URI; A base URI is the root address or endpoint that serves as the starting point for accessing the API's resources. The base URI includes the protocol, domain, and base path. All API requests append specific resource paths to this base URI.; ; For most regions, the base URI for API requests is https://api.meraki.com/api/v1.
• API documentation: Yes
• API documentation formats:
  • Open API (also known as Swagger)
  • HTML
  • ODF
  • PDF
  • Other
• API sandbox or test environment: Yes
• Customisation available: Yes
• Description of customisation: There are a range of customisation options for the Cisco Meraki Managed Network Service. This includes:; ; Custom Dashboard App for Network Admins and Technicians; ; The Meraki Dashboard API allows you to build your own interface to the network. Developers are able to then tailor the experience to their own requirements. ; ; Customisation of captive portal 'splash page' branding and log on message.; ; Customising status messages to administrators and users.; ; Customising dashboard status components based upon Roles Based Access Control (RBAC) to enable different elements of the network to be viewed and edited by specific users based upon role, team or site.

Scaling

• Independence of resources: The Cisco Meraki service is colocated in fully redundant, highly available, globally distributed datacentres and select public cloud service providers (together, “datacentres”). These facilities feature state of the art physical and cyber security, and maintain certifications such as PCI, SOC 2 and ISO 27001. ; ; The service comes with a 99.99% uptime service level agreement, 24×7 automated failure detection, rapid escalation procedures across multiple operations teams, independent outage alert system with 3x redundancy and no common point of failure, real-time replication of data between datacentres (within 60 seconds) and rapid failover to hot spare in event of hardware failure or disaster.

Analytics

• Service usage metrics: Yes
• Metrics types: Summary reports are available within the Cisco Meraki Dashboard and can be accessed via one-off and scheduled email reports and include the following as standard:; ; Common report sections; Product-specific report sections; Emailing and scheduling reports; High-level overview of total traffic across all devices on the network; Upload/download over the course of the time period; Device reports and usage per device; Application usage, traffic analytics and metrics; Operating system usage; WiFi usage and performance; Switchport utilisation ; Power usage; ; Monthly reports will also be collated via our Service team ; as part of monthly service management to include incidents raised and resolution times.
• Reporting types:
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: Yes
• FOCUS resource tagging: Yes

Supplier type

• Supplier type: Reseller providing extra features and support
• Organisation whose services are being resold: Cisco

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations:
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Other locations
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least every 6 months
• Penetration testing approach: Another external penetration testing organisation
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Data sanitisation type: Data Erasure
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

• Data export approach: Administrators are able to export key managed network and user information using the Cisco Meraki Developer Hub API capability, which includes the ability to explore using OpenAPI, JSON and CSV formats.
• Data export formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data export formats:
  • JSON
  • Open API
• Data import formats:
  • CSV
  • Other
• Other data import formats:
  • JSON
  • Open API

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: This Service Level Agreement (“SLA”) applies to the Cisco Meraki Cloud Services as set out in the Offer Description. ; ; 1. Service Level; ; Cisco will use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver the Cloud Service so that the Core Services meet or exceed the performance standards described below (“Service Level”). Subject to the terms of this SLA, You are eligible for Service Credits if Cisco fails to meet the Service Level.; ; Service Level; ; During each Measurement Period, the Availability of the Core Services will be 99.99% or greater; ; Measurement Period: One calendar month; ; 2. Service Credits; ; 2.1 Service Credits. If Cisco fails to meet the Service Level for a given Measurement Period, Cisco will issue You a Service Credit consistent with the table below.; ; Availability Percentage Amount Credited and Type; < 99.99% – ≥ 99.9% 3 Service Days; < 99.9% – ≥ 99.0% 7 Service Days; < 99.0% 15 Service Days; ; 2.2 Service Credit Limitations; ; The aggregate maximum Service Credit for any Measurement Period will be 15 days of additional Cloud Service for that Measurement Period.
• Approach to resilience: The Cisco Meraki service is colocated in fully redundant, highly available data centres and select public cloud service providers (together, “datacentres”). ; ; All Cisco Meraki services are replicated across these multiple independent datacentres, so that customer-facing services remain highly available in the event of a catastrophic data center failure.; ; Connectivity Resilience; ; Database for Business Ltd are able to provide multiple layers of connectivity resilience including fibre, broadband, satellite and mobile 4G/5G services.; ; Availability Monitoring; ; 99.99% uptime service level agreement (that’s under one hour per year); 24×7 automated failure detection — all servers are tested every five minutes from multiple locations; ; Rapid escalation procedures across multiple operations teams; Independent outage alert system with 3x redundancy; ; Redundancy; ; Globally distributed datacentres ; ; Customer network configuration data and statistical data replicated across independent datacentres with no common point of failure; Real-time replication of data between datacentres (within 60 seconds); Nightly archival backups for customer network configuration data and statistical data; ; Disaster Recovery; ; Rapid failover to hot spare in event of hardware failure or natural disaster; Out of band architecture preserves end-user network functionality, even if connectivity to the Cisco Meraki cloud services is interrupted; ; Failover procedures drilled weekly
• Outage reporting: Cisco provide a "Meraki Dashboard Service Status" public dashbooard which is designed to communicate incidents that impact many customers, an entire service, device type, or region. It does not reflect scheduled maintenance or service outages that fall below the threshold mentioned above.; ; Service Status is also shown within the Meraki Dashboard itself and can be integrated via API.; ; Database for Business Ltd are able to provide remote monitoring of any Cisco Meraki devices, and associated connectivity services and can provide automated ticket alerts via email in the event of an outage or issue.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: The Custom Roles feature enables administrators to define tailored access levels that align with organizational needs. Instead of assigning broad, pre-defined roles, customers can fine-tune access by selecting Read-only, Read & write, or No access for each resource category. ; ; Typical use cases include: ; ; Granting a network engineer full write access to switching but only read access to security appliances ; ; Restricting wireless access for contractors or auditors ; ; Creating standardized persona-based roles (e.g., “Switching Manager”)
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Username or password

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: Between 6 months and 12 months
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users have access to real-time audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: Between 1 month and 6 months

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Software Security Code of Practice: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards: Other
• Other security governance standards: Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus.
• Information security policies and processes: Dbfb Communications holds ISO9001 and Cyber Essentials Plus Certification in addition to an IT Security Policy and Information Security Management System (ISMS) that is aligned to ISO27001. We also have a roadmap towards full ISO27001 certification, Our service components within are fully accredited to ISO27001 including the Cisco Meraki Cloud Managed Network Platform. The IT policy is established and enforced by the company's Senior Leadership team. The Head of Technology is responsible for the implementation, interpretation, and enforcement of this policy. The Head of Technology is authorised to create and modify procedures and guidelines as needed to ensure compliance with the policy. All individuals who access or use the company's technology resources are responsible for complying with this policy. This includes all employees, contractors, vendors, partners, and other third parties who have access to the company's technology resources. The IT department is responsible for the implementation, maintenance, and support of the company's technology resources, including hardware, software, networks, data, and information systems and for ensuring compliance with this policy alongside Human Resources. We operate a full security reporting function and a documented IT Security Risk Register which is reviewed by our Governance and Risk Committee.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: The primary method for tracking devices, configurations and components of the service are via the Cisco Meraki Dashboard, which provides full Roles Based Access Control (RBAC) with an audit log of changes and multiples layers of security including 2FA. Changes can be made by dbfb engineers and approved customer contacts as agree with the contract. ; ; Any change requests will be handled through the service desk using ITIL-defined processes for change review and approval, in accordance with customer requirements. ; ; All changes will be assessed for potential security impact in accordance with agreed change process, in particular changes to firewall rules.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: Cisco Meraki datacentres undergo thorough quarterly scans and daily penetration testing by Qualys, an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV).; ; Cisco invests heavily in tools, processes, and technologies to keep users and their networks safe. This includes third-party audits, threat modelling and penetration testing.; ; The Cisco Meraki Vulnerability Reporting Program enables reporting of potential threats, promoting active collaboration among our customers, external researchers, and the public with a shared goal of enhancing the safety and security of our customers.; ; Firmware upgrades are released periodically to licensed organisations in a manner that is minimally disruptive to administrators and users.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: The Cisco Meraki Security Center provides a centralized view of security filtering events. This includes both IDS/IPS and Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) events (subject to licensing). Information and insights to a network administrator are provided through a variety of different components within the Meraki dashboard, each focusing on different analytics and uses. Within a managed service environment our team are able to monitor alerts and respond to potential threats in alignment to incident classifications and priority. Further threat monitoring is available through the Cisco Talos Threat Management Platform and our DDoS Protection Service (where available and specified).
• Incident management type: Supplier-defined controls
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No
• Incident management approach: Dbfb will investigate, manage, and support any faults or issues on the managed network infrastructure from our ITIL aligned service desk. Once identified and logged, the service desk will provide you with remote assistance to rectify the issue or advise and implement remediation actions to reduce the likelihood of the issue recurring. ; ; Where on site hands are required, these will be provided by dbfb on site engineers. Additionally, dbfb will manage the provision and support of transmission circuits or 5G sim cards where appropriate.; ; Incidents can be raised by phone, email, webchat or via automated remote monitoring.

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Public sector networks

• Connection to public sector networks: No

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: Yes
• Description of free trial: A free demonstration is available for the Cisco Meraki platform and this can be requested in three ways:; ; A free demo is available using the web link below.; ; A free trial including hardware can be requested from the same website.; ; A proof of concept pilot can be requested from dbfb.
• Link to free trial: https://meraki.cisco.com/free-demo/

Discount percentage by annual call-off contract value (excluding VAT)

• Less than £250,000: 0%
• Between £250,000 and £500,000: 1%
• Between £500,001 and £1,000,000: 2%
• Between £1,000,001 and £2,500,000: 3%
• Between £2,500,001 and £5,000,000: 4%
• Over £5,000,001: 5%

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• ISO 9001 certification: Yes
• ISO 9001 certification accredited by: Auva
• ISO 9001 accreditation date: Monday 20 October 2025
• What the ISO 9001 doesn’t cover: Specific sales processes and internal procedures are not subject to ISO9001 and have their own policies and controls.
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Certificate Number: Fabf3df8-1ea1-4564-b9a4-cabc3a00e6fb
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Cyber Essentials Plus Certificate Number: C3ce637d-411e-485f-8a20-e5725c54058c
• Other security certifications: No

Social value

• Mission: Kick start economic growth:

  To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

  Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

  • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
  • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
  • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
  • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
  • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
  • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
  • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
  • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
  • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
  • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
  • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
  • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
  • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
  • Volunteering opportunities for staff
  • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
  • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
  • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
  • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.
  • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain
  • How the supplier will work with NGOs, trade unions or other businesses to address modern slavery risk
  • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract

  Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

  • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
  • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
  • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
  • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

  • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
  • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
  • Plans for engaging a diverse range of businesses in engagement activities prior to appointing subcontractors (including activities prior to award of the main contract and during the contract term)
  • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
  • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
  • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
  • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
  • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
  • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
  • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
  • Measures for making facilities used in the delivery of the contract available for community groups, education or training
  • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
  • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
  • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds
  • Collaborating with anchor institutions and community groups to make facilities available for education, training or community events
• Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower:

  To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

  Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

  • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
  • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
  • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
  • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
  • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it
• Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity:

  By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

  Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

  • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
  • Creation of employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment, such as prison leavers, care leavers and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors
  • Delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and under-representation in the workforce for the contract (e.g. prison leavers, care leavers, kinship carers, disabled people)
  • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
  • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
  • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
  • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
  • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
  • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
  • Other measures to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions into employment, including becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain
  • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
  • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

  • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
  • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
  • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
  • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
  • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
  • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
  • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
  • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
• Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future:

  That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

  Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

  • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
  • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
  • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
  • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  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 tenders@dbfb.co.uk. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.