This is a Prior Information Notice.
Following a strategic review of ICT requirements for the period 2021 to 2026, Met Éireann intend to seek a partner who will help Met Éireann on their journey to create a more flexible, responsive, geo resilient ICT Infrastructure. As part of this journey Met Éireann, along with their chosen partner, will:
• Design, procure, configure, integrate, test and deploy new ICT infrastructure in 2 Government Data Centres. This will include replacing the existing ICT infrastructure which will largely be end of life by Q4 2022.
• Migrate all data, applications, and physical and virtual machines from the current Met Éireann ICT infrastructure to the new infrastructure.
• Build the ICT network to support all migration to new infrastructure.
• Provide a phased Managed Service for both infrastructure and Desk Side support services with on-site level 2 support and escalation to level 3.
• The support will include Business Continuity and DR planning, backup service, routine administration and the housekeeping tasks to monitor and maintain the new infrastructure including putting the geo-resilience in place and ongoing management of services.
• The entire service will be in keeping with Government ICT Strategy.
• Over the lifetime of the contract Met Éireann will be looking to move to a more responsive method of delivering application upgrades and support so the vendor will be required to be familiar with a transition to Agile and DevOps methodologies.
Met Éireann requires that it’s systems are available on a 24*7*365 basis and it will be a requirement of the new service that systems will be continuously available. In addition, Met Éireann will seek to Continuously Improve service levels throughout the lifetime of this, and subsequent, service requirements.
In line with government policy and the ICT strategy for the public sector, "Delivering better outcomes and efficiency through innovation and excellence in ICT", it is envisaged that this infrastructure will be physically housed in the government data centre provided by the Revenue Commissioners at St. John’s Road, Dublin 8 and a data centre facility located at Met Éireann HQ in Glasnevin. At this time Met Éireann do not envisage using a public cloud facility, but a private cloud solution may be considered.
The requirements may include:
• New infrastructure with Disaster Recovery resulting in ICT Geo-Resilience.
• All systems upgraded & migrated.
• All data and applications migrated.
• Managed service in place
• Support and Security monitoring 24*7*365.
• System cover 24*7*365
• Rapid support for critical delivery of services (Operational Forecasters, aviation services and other critical operational users)
• Fully documented systems and procedures
• Fully Documented Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans
Tenderers should note that the Contracting Authority fully supports the Public Service ICT strategy which can be accessed at http://ictstrategy.per.gov.ie/ .
There is no guarantee that contracts will arise, but interested parties should note that as and when contracts arise they will be advertised on the Irish government procurement portal ww.etenders.gov.ie and the Official Journal of the EU (where applicable). It is intended that this migration and commencement of a Managed Service will be completed in 2021. Calls for competition may issue in due course.