70 -- IBM Mainframes

The Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to acquire mainframe hardware, required to meet the SSA's infrastructure capacity needs, from a vendor of IBM Mainframe equipment. The SSA will pursue acquiring z990 model 2084 Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon (CMOS) processors with sufficient processing capacity to meet the Agency's requirements. Additionally, the processors must be capable of operating in 31-bit mode and 64-bit mode, and capable of running OS/390 and z/OS operating systems. The processor must support z/Architecture, as the Agency's operating system is z/OS. The z/OS operating system can only run in 64-bit real support mode on a processor that supports z/Architecture. The 64-bit real support is essential at SSA to improve operating system and application performance by eliminating page movement between central and expanded storage and increasing the 31-bit real storage size restriction. Running z/OS in 64-bit mode, which is only possible on a z/Architecture processor, is essential to SSA's future VSAM, DB2 and WebSphere application growth and performance. IBM Corporation is the only source known with a product capable of meeting these requirements. Any firm that feels they have the capability of providing an equivalent product must respond, in writing, within 15 days of this notice. Responses must be specific as to the alternate product proposed and must include detailed specifications to support claims of equivalency to the IBM Processors. Vendors may submit pricing data. This is not a request for proposal and the Government does not intend to pay for information submitted. The Government will not award a contract based on responses received; however, SSA will use this information to assess capable sources. SSA will not provide acknowledgement of responses received. SSA will issue a delivery order against vendors of IBM z990 model 2084 mainframes through a GSA schedule contract if the agency receives no acceptable responses. When responding to this announcement, respondents should refer to IBM2006. Responses should be emailed to Kathleen.Cooney@ssa.gov OR addressed to the Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, Attn: Katie Cooney; 6401 Security Blvd, G-C-7 EHR; Baltimore, MD, 21235. FAXED RESPONSES WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Requests for copies of a solicitation in response hereto will not be honored or acknowledged.