Overview

Background

This new in-year project is required as ALBACS expires at the end of July-15. However Bottomline have confirmed that they will continue to support ALBACS for the University provided the project ito replace it is in progress.

Scope

Replace end-of-life payment utility (ALBACS) with the new supported product (C-Series)

Objectives

To replace ALBACS with C-series both of which are supplied by Bottomline Technology

Deliverables

The replacement of ALBACS with C-series is to deliver:

1. Mechanism for approving and authorising outgoing BACS payments (like-for-like)
2. Mechanism for authorising and sending Direct Debit instructions and collections (like-for-like)
3. New infrastructure - Test and Live servers
4. Installation of code for outgoing International payments (new)
5. Documented process for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
6. Decomission ALBACS after completion of successful payment runs

Out of Scope

1. The launching of international payments. This project will install the module to be able to make international payments via C-Series. This project will not configure and implement any changes to the current internation payment process.
2. Urgent and one-off payments made via Bankline.
3. Outgoing cheque payments.
4. Hardware security module (HSM). This is an electronic replacement of the card readers. The HSM feature has not been purchased in this procurement exercise.
5. Single Sign On (SSO)/Launchpad. C-Series will be a stand alone application that requires a separate user name and password, along with card readers.
6. Integration with eAuthorisations. C-Series will be a stand alone application that requires a separate user name and password, along with card readers.
7. Bank Wizard. There will be no required changes to Bank Wizard, which is used to validate UK bank details.
8. Resilience - the service is not required to be resilient. There is no current resilience in place for ALBACS.
9. Load Testing - there is a small user base and regular/stable traffic therefore load testing is not required.

Benefits

• The C-series application will be supported by Bottomline (and will be able to continue having outgoing payments supported)
• International payments will be possible at a later date, under a future project. These are currently paid manually via Santander and reconciled manually. Having the international module installed allows for a future review on how these payments are dealt with.
• Having a new test site for C-Series means that future upgrades and patching can be fully tested before deploying to the Live service.
• Having a new test site for C-Series means that any future changes to the Bank used by UoE can be tested before deploying to the Live service.
• There is no current Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity processes documented. This project will provide this so that DR procedures are formally set in place.

Success Criteria

1. Outgoing BACS payments are issued via C-Series
2. Direct Debit instructions and collections are requested via C-Series
3. Servers are purchased and installed on Test and Live (including equivalent DR servers, if necessary)
4. International Payments module is installed onto Test and Live applications
5. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity processes are documented and stored within IS/Finance