REDSTONE SOFTWARE & RESEARCH LIMITED

Data Management, Networking and Quality Assurance Services

Our comprehensive range of Data Management services includes data collection, validation, verification and efficient global data distribution. We provide programme, project and technical support services for ICT and CIS, and on location compliance auditing. Our focus is on strategic advice and planning, resilience, efficiency improvement and policy development.

Features

• Support and configuration of technical infrastructure and bespoke applications
• Integration and assimilation of disparate data to standard formats
• Longstanding experience of successful delivery within maritime and military environment
• Provision of standard libraries, including context, semantics and publications
• Comprehensive understanding of customers’ needs for interoperability and delivery
• Support C4ISTAR across maritime, land and air domains
• Cyber assurance, compliance audits and Ops Centre support, iHub
• EW support to deployed assets; low-bandwidth/erratic effective communications
• Maintenance of secure portals e.g. for client data holdings
• Secure Backup, BC and DR planning, preparation and testing

Benefits

• Efficient dissemination across deployed assets and International Defence Partners
• Compliance with legislation, and MoD standards and policy including JSP440
• Fully integrated programme and project management governance
• Interoperability across library systems, data sharing and SVT
• SC and DV cleared teams or individuals as required
• Risk management, cyber and ICT security assurance
• The assurance of independent, confidential, impartial and trusted advice
• Internal Team Training, Support and Mentoring
• Quality of Service assured by ISO9001, TickIT+
• Customer focused, including world-wide travel

£400 to £1,320 a unit a day

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

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

889907403217963

Contact

J Gordon-Smith
07802 568036
HMGFindATender@redstonesystems.co.uk

Planning

• Planning service: Yes
• How the planning service works: Redstone's processes are defined in our TickIT+ ISO9001:2015 QMS (certified by LRQA). Our basic lifecycle is tailored towards formal requirements definition, review and baseline, with formal milestones used to establish attainment of goals and objectives.; ; Redstone works with stakeholders through workshops, inclusive review, consensus and rigorous comment, baseline and issue management. Redstone models benefit studies and other trade-offs.; ; Redstone expects to deliver very high availability, reliable services.; ; Redstone follows a standard risk and security management process. Redstone reviews progress at an appropriate TRL level. Redstone establishes, plans and tests both DR and BC processes. Redstone has qualified ethical hacker skills and is used to working at the very highest security domain levels.
• Planning service works with specific services: No

Training

• Training service provided: Yes
• How the training service works: Deployment of appropriately qualified staff – PRINCE2, ITIL;; Detailed assessment of infrastructure and service readiness;; Training Needs Analysis;; Internal (Customer) team training, support and mentoring;; Tailoring of services to the specific customer requirement;; Pro-active risk assessment and management;; Continuous improvement through review and updates
• Training is tied to specific services: Yes
• Services the training service works with: Our own

Setup and migration

• Setup or migration service available: Yes
• How the setup or migration service works: Deployment of appropriately qualified staff – PRINCE2, ITIL; TRL attainment assessment, maturity;; Detailed assessment of infrastructure and service readiness;; Training Needs Analysis; Full TTO planning and delivery with back-out.; Internal team training, support and mentoring;; Architecture monitoring, management and maintenance;; Tailoring of services to the specific customer requirement;; Pro-active risk assessment and management;; Continuous improvement through review and updates
• 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: Redstone has fully trained and chartered qualified (CIQA) staff. Redstone has been delivering qualification, test and acceptance services to the Crown for over 20 years. Redstone's approach is requirements led, using an in-house tool (Edward) to manage requirements, link requirements to tests, record test results, manage tests on different platforms (eg a progression from factory testing through integration into full operational capability on the production platform(s)), generating a Verification Cross Reference Index (VCRI) and other consistency reports. Further, Redstone models expected performance eg with discrete event simulation (stochastic), building a baselined environment to prove performance.

Security testing

• Security services: Yes
• Security services type:
  • Security strategy
  • Security risk management
  • Security design
  • Cyber security consultancy
  • Security testing
• Certified security testers: No

Ongoing support

• Ongoing support service: Yes
• Types of service supported: Hosting or software provided by your organisation
• How the support service works: We have an in-house ticketing system. We support our own products.

Service scope

• Service constraints: No constraints

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Email or online ticketing
• Support response times: During office hours: usually within 4 hours and often more quickly.
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: No
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support: Web chat
• Web chat support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), Monday to Friday
• Web chat support accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the web chat support is accessible: In the post C-19 situation we are trialling secure chat services.; Our support services are available by arrangement and require pre-enrolment (for reasons of security).
• Web chat accessibility testing: None
• Support levels: The established procedure for delivering these services described by Redstone’s TickIT Plus ISO9001:2015 certified (by LRQA) Quality Management System.; Our support services are provided at a single level.; We provide a technical account manager.

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Other security clearance
• Government security clearance: Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Standards and certifications

• ISO/IEC 27001 certification: No
• ISO 28000:2007 certification: No
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Cyber essentials: Yes
• Cyber essentials plus: Yes
• Other security certifications: Yes
• Any other security certifications: MOD

Social Value

• Social Value:

  Social Value

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

  Fighting climate change

  Redstone is an SME with a strong commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and minimising the impact of our operations on the environment. Internally we look to reduce our environmental impact through continuing training and awareness. This results in measurable impacts that are achieved through reduced travel (enabling working from home where this is a positive option for clients and staff), reduced waste (including reducing printing and the use of other consumables) and reduced energy use. Many of these goals are long standing and have been pursued since the incorporation of the company. We undertake regular energy audits that measure energy usage and where appropriate the use of clean energy. As a result of the analysis, we have taken a number of steps to minimise our corporate carbon footprint, this being the first objective of our longer-term goal to use entirely carbon neutral energy, including that which is used for transport, within the Redstone business. Redstone seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of our supply chain, achieving collaborative environmental benefits and ensuring higher environmental standards are achieved and maintained. For example, wherever appropriate we seek to arrange contracts with carbon responsible suppliers. We recognise that reductions in emissions can be achieved by offsetting through schemes operated by energy suppliers which are audited by third parties on their behalf. To reduce Redstone's carbon footprint further we have invested in energy efficient infrastructure, PV and battery storage and have replaced equipment with low energy alternatives. We constantly strive to minimise energy use in this way; for example, we have explored the potential of adopting all-electric vehicles. We are also exploring opportunities to apply our environmental policy with business partners beyond our immediate supply chain, for example our pensions provider, and have made positive adjustments wherever possible.

  Covid-19 recovery

  Redstone understands the importance of helping communities and individuals manage and recover from the impact of COVID-19. We actively support the physical and mental health of our employees and those we work with, and our commitment in this area is fully integrated into our policies and working practices. A recent example has included the undertaking of a practical team assessment of who is most likely to have been adversely impacted by COVID, with actions tailored to the needs of individuals. We have made improvements to workplace conditions to help manage COVID and also to help to reduce anxiety and increase confidence in our working environment. This included ensuring adequate ventilation. Throughout COVID we have continued fully to support remote working, providing a comprehensive IT infrastructure that enables the delivery of high-quality work and also ensures good communications between individuals. Redstone understood the likely impact of COVID from a very early stage and we have been providing a range of PPE free of charge from the onset of the pandemic, to help manage the spread of COVID but also to provide assurance to our colleagues and minimise costs to our clients. This includes equipment such as masks, alcoholic wipes and sanitiser. Our actions have at all times been in keeping with our normal corporate ethos, ensuring that we work in the best interests of colleagues and Customers. This includes our very active support of our supply chain. During the lock-down periods we paid invoices early, particularly if there were concerns about delays arising from the pandemic. We initiated weekly discussions with our whole team, following up positively with any team members who were unable to attend. Management also made sure that that remote interpersonal contact increased during this period and this was monitored at Board level.

  Tackling economic inequality

  Redstone has a strong and proven commitment to creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and helping small businesses grow. We recognise the importance of supporting economic growth and business creation and the role this plays in tackling economic inequality. Redstone believes passionately in being an equal opportunity employer and our policies and procedures in this area are fully integrated within our ISO quality system. This includes a commitment to pay suppliers on time (or early), and to operate at all times with respect for our staff and members of our business community. As a company we take into consideration geographic areas of lower income and in accordance with our company ethos we assist others in ways that help tackle economic inequality. Our role in this area often involves providing practical pointers, direction and support to individuals who are seeking to set up new businesses. This includes ex-service personnel who may be looking to establish a n entrepreneurial presence in the private sector for the first time. Support can include help in establishing limited companies, guidance regarding the novation of contracts, and other practical matters such as simply how to set up a business bank account. Redstone’s corporate policy is, wherever possible, to provide benefit to business partners and stakeholders in a mutually beneficial way, and this includes practical assistance to overcome issues that may cause economic inequality. One example of this is that Redstone is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and supports the Covenant’s principles and best practice, including supporting the employment of veterans and service spouses and partners. Further evidence of our commitment in this area is our longstanding membership of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) which seeks to empower its members to grow business and campaign for a fair business environment.

  Equal opportunity

  Redstone encourages equality, diversity and inclusion among our team and we are committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all and to ensuring that our team works within an environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. Redstone opposes and avoids all forms of discrimination. This includes discrimination in pay and benefits, terms and conditions of employment, dealing with grievances and discipline, dismissal, redundancy, leave for parents, requests for flexible working, and selection for employment, promotion, training or other developmental opportunities. We recognise that ‘disability’ is not always visible and that power imbalances also can create a discriminatory environment, requiring us to be proactive in eliminating barriers to advancement. Our approach is informed by the knowledge that encouragement of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace is sound practice, courteous and makes good business sense. Redstone is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and supports the Covenant’s principles and best practice, including supporting the employment of veterans and service spouses and partners. We are determinedly supportive of the rights and physical and mental wellbeing of injured and disabled personnel. We take affirmative action to ensure there are no barriers to disabled personnel joining and fully participating in our work environment to the best of their ability. This includes taking affirmative action to encourage employment applications from disabled individuals, such as making statements in adverts to encourage applicants with limited mobility and ensuring interviews for all disabled applicants. We also make special provisions for the disabled, including injured ex-service personnel, and take positive steps to check that client environments are as accessible as possible. This has included ensuring that offices are ramped, with powered doors throughout, and that all special equipment, as appropriate, is purchased. Visit https://www.redstonesystems.co.uk/why_redstone_more.html for an overview of Redstone’s supporting policies in this area.

  Wellbeing

  Redstone’s commitment to the wellbeing of our work force and the wider community is deeply ingrained in our culture and is driven by personal and professional beliefs held at Board level. This commitment is not seen as a commercial or procurement matter but runs through and supports all our corporate activity. Redstone provides support and expertise to the local community where it is well positioned to do so. This includes supporting positive health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce and wider community. One recent example of this was when, during COVID, a local organisation wished to ‘Zoom’ events to avoid isolation of its members. The organisation was located within an isolated, listed building which was not easy to connect to the internet, requiring approvals and considerable delay. Redstone was able to loan point-to-point radio equipment enabling a radio connection link between the building and internet services. We were also able to provide wi-fi services inside the building. This was configured to the full professional standard, with robust security. There was no charge for any of the services or use of equipment. The setup worked exceedingly well for over 12 months until BT OpenReach provided copper services to the building. Redstone is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and our commitment in this area runs throughout our approach to social value within our teams and across the broader community. Our culture fully supports the Covenant’s principles and best practice, including supporting the employment and wellbeing of veterans and service spouses and partners. We are proud that our working environment is one where people are supported and nurtured, and this is evidenced through the longevity of our staff’s service, and the feedback we receive informally and formally during reviews.

Pricing

• Price: £400 to £1,320 a unit a day
• Discount for educational organisations: No

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