Provision of Interim Enterprise Server Infrastructure (1-3 Year Horizon)

Overview

Objectives • Ensure short- to medium-term continuity of business-critical applications (e.g., QL housing management, SQL databases, Active Directory, File Server, and local backup services). • Provide a secure and resilient on-premises server environment that supports premises-managed software such as QL, while complementing St Basil's longer-term hybrid/cloud strategy. • Avoid unnecessary over-investment in hardware that may be redundant once certain systems move fully to the cloud. • Reduce the risk of service disruption. • Ensure compliance with UK data protection, cyber security, and social housing regulatory requirements. Scope of Supply The supplier will be expected to: • Propose the most appropriate interim server solution (hardware, configuration, and licensing) that meets St Basils' 1-3 year needs. • Balance resilience and performance with cost-effectiveness, recognising this is not a permanent, large-scale data centre investment. • Ensure the solution can reliably host premises-managed applications such as QL housing management and other dependent SQL-based systems. • Include options for limited resilience (e.g., RAID storage, dual power, or simplified HA if cost-effective). • Provide all required operating system and database licences. • Deliver, install, and configure to industry best practice (performance, resilience, and security). • Provide knowledge transfer and documentation to the St Basils ICT team. • Offer 3- to 5-year support and maintenance, recognising hardware may be retired earlier. Reference Systems The interim server must support and/or integrate with St Basils current applications and core systems. Key Requirements Suppliers should explain how their solution will: • Performance: Run current workloads reliably for 1-3 years. • Resilience: Provide core redundancy (power, RAID storage) but without over-investment in complex clustering. • Security: Include TPM 2.0, encryption, secure boot, and baseline hardening (Desirable). • Networking: Work with current infrastructure (1/10 Gb copper switching). • Backup/DR: Integrate with Datto/Veeam, support immutable offsite copies (cloud or equivalent). • Compliance: Support GDPR, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO27001/27002 alignment. • Support: Provide warranty/support cover even if hardware is retired early. • Sustainability: Be energy efficient and align with St Basil's' Net Zero and sustainability strategy. Deliverables • Fully commissioned and documented interim server solution. • Licensing, warranty, and support agreements. • Handover to ICT staff with training/knowledge transfer. • Backup/restore test to evidence capability. Supplier Response Suppliers should include: • Proposed interim solution and rationale (with options, if available). • How the design balances performance, resilience, and cost for a 1-3 year horizon. • Implementation plan and timescales. • Total cost of ownership (hardware, software, licensing, support). • Warranty/support proposals that allow early retirement. • Evidence of similar work with housing associations/charities. • Social value commitments Implementation & Costing Requirements The supplier must ensure that their tendered price is fully inclusive of all costs required to deliver a fully operational server environment. This includes, but is not limited to: • Supply, delivery, and installation of all hardware and components. • Installation and configuration of all required software, licences, and security features. • Loading of existing backups/data into the new environment. • Testing to confirm full restoration of services, including user acceptance testing (UAT) with St Basils ICT team. • Verification that all core applications and integrations (see Section 4) are operating correctly. • Provision and configuration of any required network cabling, racks, rails, or accessories. • All engineer and professional services costs (installation, testing, documentation, knowledge transfer). • All travel, subsistence, and associated expen