70 -- IBM iSeries Hardware (AS/400)

The Social Security Administration (SSA) mandates the State Disability Determination Services (DDS) in each state to perform determinations of disability for the residents of that state who file for Social Security disability benefits. In addition to each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territorial governments of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have established DDS entities. SSA has also established a Federal DDS, which, among other functions, serves as a test-bed of policy and procedure for the disability program. SSA receives over two million initial disability claims each year. In fiscal year 2003, SSA awarded a FSS BPA with IBM for the purchase of IBM ?System i? (then known as AS/400) equipment, software, and related services in support of the state and federal DDS programs. As a result, virtually every state and the federal DDS site uses IBM ?System i? mid-range processors and associated software products for case processing. There are 52 IBM ?System i? systems in the SSA/DDS enterprise currently. The ?IBM ?System i? infrastructure has been proven to be robust, scalable, and the performance of these products and services have been satisfactory. SSA?s current BPA with IBM will expire in FY 2008. Given SSA?s substantial investment in and reliance upon the ?System i? infrastructure, SSA has determined that it is in SSA?s and public?s interest to maintain uninterrupted and continuous use of IBM?s ?System i? products and related services. Previous market research has indicated that only one source of supply/service (IBM) is capable of meeting all of the requirements related to SSA?s current and evolving DDS infrastructure. In accordance with the guidance at FAR 6.302-1 the SSA is seeking to determine if IBM is the only source capable of meeting SSA?s requirements, or if other sources exist that can satisfy these requirements. Specifically, the SSA is attempting to determine if another source can provide SSA with: 1) nationwide/ enterprise-wide support services for the current and evolving IBM ?System i? infrastructure at all state and federal DDS locations without any change or disruption to the current infrastructure; 2) products that can integrate into the current IBM ?System i? infrastructure at all state and federal DDS locations without substantial change or disruption to the current infrastructure; 3) IBM proprietary software products, licenses, and/or maintenance for those products at all state and federal DDS locations without any change or disruption to the current infrastructure; 4) training in Agency use of IBM ?System i? hardware, peripherals, and software at all state and federal DDS locations without any change or disruption to the current infrastructure; and, 5) associated additional services (such as expert trouble-shooting, PM/400, Alert and Account Advocate) at all state and federal DDS locations without any change or disruption to the current infrastructure. Vendors having the capability and experience to provide the supplies and services detailed herein are invited to submit complete details regarding their technical capabilities and expertise. Vendor capability statements MUST include the following: 1) Demonstrated success in supporting the IBM ?System i? platform, 2) demonstrated knowledge of, and familiarity with, the three major case-processing systems in use in the DDSs, and, 3) a detailed explanation of the strategy that will be used to support the large SSA and DDS enterprise, which must individually address the services outlined above. The Government will consider all responses to this notice, but a determination by the Government to conduct a sole source acquisition remains at the discretion of the Government. Information submitted in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining the feasibility of conducting a competitive procurement, and the Government will not pay for any information submitted. This notice is neither a request for quotation nor an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. Information must be submitted in writing to Wanda Owens, Contract Specialist, via email at contact@example.gov. Responses must be received by 3:00 p.m. EST on October 31, 2006. If no viable responses are received by October 31, 2006, the Government will establish a BPA with the IBM Corporation.