The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) invites firms to submit a Proposal for the following: to provide a native mobile application for both iOS and Android devices, which can be branded by the WCB, to allow the WCB to deliver mobile services to Manitoba workers and employers with worker compensation coverage.
Description of Services
The WCB has determined that offering the App is a critical component of its digital strategy and wants to leverage a Contractor that has a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product that can be launched in the shortest feasible time.
The WCB requires a WCB-branded App with the following features:
a) Native applications for both Android and iOS mobile application systems;
b) Leverages best of breed security protocols for both Android and iOS systems;
c) Can be maintained and enhanced using a parameter driven configuration;
d) Has an economically scalable licencing model that can support up to thirty thousand (30,000) employers, forty thousand (40,000) workers, and one hundred thousand (100,000) anonymous public users; and
e) Can integrate with its existing legacy applications for both workers and employers.
The WCB intends to release the App iteratively by building capabilities over time. Initial internal planning has identified the following use cases:
a) Worker- register a claim: As an injured worker, I can create a claim so that the WCB can review it and adjudicate my claim. While creating the claim as an injured worker, the system will prompt me to input information so that I only provide information necessary to adjudicate and process my claim.
b) Worker- review status of a claim: As an injured worker, I will be able to review the status of my claim so that I can understand the details of my entitlements including claim acceptance, wage loss, and medical goods and services expenses.
c) Worker- notifications: As an injured worker, I will be notified when any information, relevant to me, changes on my claim and I am able to access it from my mobile device.
d) Worker- submit expenses: As an injured worker, I can submit expenses to the WCB as I incur them using the camera feature on my mobile device and/or by uploading files so that the WCB has the necessary information to pay me in a timely manner.
e) Worker- submit information: As an injured worker, I can send required information to the WCB, when required, using my mobile device camera and/or by uploading files.
f) Public- clearances: As a member of the general public, I can see the 'clearance status' of WCB-insured employers, such as a contractor and its subcontractors, so that I have the necessary information in order to work safely with them.
g) Employer- clearances: As an employer I can maintain a list of WCB-insured employers, such as a contractor and its subcontractors, and have their respective WCB clearance status. If their respective WCB clearance status changes, I will be notified of the change. I can add and remove employers from the list based on my preferences. I can provide real time clearance status information in consumable format to anyone requiring that information.
h) Employer- notifications: As an employer I will be notified when any WCB correspondence is sent to my business and I will be able to access it from my mobile device.
The goal is to have a COTS solution for the App in which functionality can be added incrementally using primarily configuration. High level WCB requirements for the App solution are outlined in Schedule "E"- Product and IT Security Requirements.
Vendors may be requested to demonstrate their product to the WCB's evaluation committee.
Vendors are expected to include the following information in their Proposal:
a) Pricing model: Describe the pricing model for the solution including what options are available and their related costs (for example, if cost is based on each registered user).
b) Product support model: Describe what options are available to support the App after it goes live on both the iOS and Android platforms.
c) Accelerators and application program interface (API): List available APIs, accelerators, and/or tools native to the App framework that will support/help future extensibility and operability, allowing the WCB to leverage the App and its framework for other business and technical applications. The Vendor must describe any App features that allow secure connectivity to other systems and/or reduce the amount of coding required for configuration and customization.
d) Plan architecture and approach: Provide a detailed approach of how the Vendor will deliver the App that complies with the Schedule "E"- Product and IT Security Requirements. The Proposal should include, but not be limited to:
(i) A conceptual system architecture and list of high-level design deliverables;
(ii) Methodology and approach for product configuration;
(iii) Detailed approach for quality assurance; and
(iv) Approach for IT operational readiness support.
e) Baseline environment: Provide a detailed approach describing how the Vendor will support the build, configuration, and deployment of cloud environments for the App and connectivity to existing WCB in-scope applications. The Proposal should include, but not be limited to:
(i) Activities to support the WCB in the deployment and configuration of the App;
(ii) Instances or tenants in production and lower non-production landscapes;
(iii) Approach for integration with boundary systems in production and lower non-production landscapes;
(iv) Activities to support the WCB for the upgrade of each environment throughout the project; and
(v) Activities to support patching by performing pre and post-validation during patching windows.
The initial release of the App will need to have enough functionality for the WCB's customers to extract meaningful value. To that end, the WCB will require the Contractor to first conduct an analysis and design (the "Discovery Phase"). The purpose of this Discovery Phase is for the Contractor to:
a) Understand the WCB's legacy systems and their integration requirements;
b) Understand the WCB's needs from a branding, privacy, and security perspective;
c) Agree on the scope of the first iteration of the App jointly with the WCB (this will be based on the use cases described in section 7 above);
d) Put forward a roadmap for the different iterations of the App; and
e) Understand the required design of the App, considering the scope of the first iteration and the expected functionality to be added later;
f) Describe the security monitoring and incident management policies/procedures for the proposed Services, to ensure that any unauthorized access or attacks from internal or external parties are appropriately logged and responded to; and
g) Provide a quote for full cost of implementing the first iteration of the App.
The Services shall normally be performed during Business Hours. However, the WCB may request some of the Services to be performed outside Business Hours from time to time, as deemed necessary, in the unfettered discretion of the WCB. The Contractor shall not be entitled to charge overtime rates unless specified in the Fee Schedule.
The Vendor must have experience and knowledge with the implementation of a similar solution with at least two (2) clients where within the last four (4) years there has been in live production for a minimum of twelve (12) months. Ideally the examples should be from the workers compensation industry sector. At a minimum, the Proposal should include client name/industry and description of services provided, including a description of the operational support provide.
The Proposal should include an overview of the proposed key resource(s) being offered, including profiles of work which highlight their experience with similar solutions.
The Contractor will not be required to have and maintain workers compensation coverage for its workers who will be providing the Services, unless required pursuant to The Workers Compensation Act.
The Services shall normally be provided remotely from the Contractor's facilities located in Canada, with onsite meetings at the WCB's facilities, as necessary for the Discovery Phase, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
It is expected the Services will be required for an initial period of three (3) years with a preferred start date of May 1, 2023. The WCB shall have an irrevocable option to further extend the Services for an additional period of up to two (2) additional years.
The Services will be structured with an Agreement that will require the parties to enter into subsequent Statements of Work (collectively the "SOWs").
Following completion of the Discovery Phase, the WCB will enter into individual statements of work (SOWs) for the implementation of the iterative releases of the App, based on the hourly rates for the resources included in the Fee Schedule. The parties shall mutually agree upon the distinct scopes of work for the Services, including the total fees, deliverables, and completion dates for same, in writing, via the SOWs, prior to commencing work on such new components.
