D -- Application Performance Management

This Request for Information (RFI) seeks to identify and evaluate vendors that are capable of providing a product with the same capabilities as Compuware's Autostrobe. Autostrobe increases the flexibility of Compuware's Strobe and iStrobe, boosting productivity and enhancing Application Performance Management (APM) programs by making the measurement process predictable and repeatable. Necessary information to be received from vendors requires a clear and definitive description of the vendor's product and software support capabilities as well as the requirements that are needed to successfully operate the system within the Social Security Administration (SSA) environment. Background: The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates computer and network performance and monitors resource utilization to ensure that it's operational computer systems and network capacity is utilized effectively and efficiently. SSA provides advice and services in the use of computer interpretation of reports and data resulting from evaluation and utilization studies. The SSA evaluates mainframe computer performance, monitors resource utilization, and produces Outage/Availability Reporting with root cause determination to ensure it's operational computer systems are utilized effectively and efficiently. SSA uses the Strobe Monitor to aid in monitoring and evaluating mainframe computer performance. Strobe, measures OS/390 and z/OS online and batch processing activity in single and multiple system environments. Strobe captures critical application performance data regardless of where an application runs and creates a Performance Profile. This hierarchy of reports details where and how time is spent during application execution, so you can easily locate and eliminate sources of excessive resource demand. Autostrobe is an enhancement to this Strobe Monitor that will increase the flexibility of the Strobe. Requirements: Interested vendors must be able to demonstrate in sufficient detail their ability to meet the Agency's requirements (e.g., experience utilizing standards based technology and enterprise-wide web-based solutions). Vendors should provide the names and contact information of customers. We reserve the right to verify information with references. Vendors must be able to provide the following: reliable customer support, thorough documentation, and knowledgeable staff. Vendors must be financially stable and firmly established. Vendors submitting responses should indicate whether their products are available on the GSA schedule. Vendors are requested to provide responses that describe how the product will accommodate SSA's system needs as follows: Product Offering: Describe how the software fully encompasses the Autostrobe solution. Specific Requirements: Provide detailed descriptions of how the software meets the specific requirements for each of the following items: Mandatory Requirements: Must be able to set up a list of candidate jobs automatically generated that Strobe should watch or that should be measured. Be able to automatically add jobs that exceed defined thresholds, and monitor all job steps using SMF data. Schedule regular measurements of mission-critical online and batch processing applications. Track trends and compare application performance over time. Identify performance creep and capture data for DBRM's and Transactions. Initiate Auto Strobe based on thresholds and have "outwarning mode" capability to determine thresholds. Calculate cost savings from application performance improvements. Publish detected performance events to Abend-AID Fault Manager. Must be compatible with Federal Government Section 508 Standards. Information concerning Section 508 standards can be found at www.section508.gov. Format of Response: This is a request for information only, and is not intended as a request for proposal. The Government does not intend to reimburse for any information or materials submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. No contract award will be made on the basis of the responses received. Responses should be submitted, within 10 business days of the publication of this notice, to the Social Security Administration on or before 5:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Interested vendors must be able to provide verifiable proof by submitting information in sufficient detail to demonstrate clearly their ability to meet the Agency requirements, above. A detailed response to each of the above requirements (including substantiating documentation) as well as the following information is required: General Information about your firm Company Name, Address, Point of Contact Telephone Number and E-mail address, GSA Schedule Number (if applicable), and Tax ID Number; Discussion of your firm's ability to provide the software product and additional components, if necessary, and any necessary customization. SSA will not consider simple marketing information or incomplete responses. SSA will not consider reference to vendor web sites a valid response. Respondents should indicate whether their software is available on GSA Federal Supply Schedules, other Government-wide Agency Contract (GWAC), or Open Market. Vendors may submit pricing data. SSA will only accept electronic responses. Microsoft Word is SSA's standard word processing software. The size limitation for email attachments is 5 megabytes. SSA will not permit faxed information. SSA is not responsible for any failure to access information. This is not a request for proposal. A formal solicitation is not available at this time. Therefore, SSA will not honor or respond to written and/or verbal requests for copies of a solicitation or other information related to this announcement. SSA will use this information in the assessment of capable sources. SSA will not notify respondents of any evaluated results from the data received. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. This notice constitutes the entire Sources Sought announcement and is the only information provided by the SSA. Respondents should refer to SSA-RFI-07-1004. If you have any questions regarding this announcement, they should be submitted via EMAIL ONLY (no phone calls please) to the Contract Specialist at Jessica.Coombs@ssa.gov .