D -- Software Module for Software Developers Beta Test 2008

Description The Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently performing market research to identify capable vendors who can provide wage reporting (Form W-2) off the shelf software applications to participate in the Electronic Wage Reporting (EWR) Software Module for Software Developers (SMSD) beta test that Business Services Online (BSO) will conduct in FYs 2008 and 2009. The SMSD is a new channel for uploading wage files and viewing the status of submitted wage reports and providing a registration option for users of this new service channel. SSA will test the services provided on BSO within a distributed, service-oriented architecture, for EWR. As a result of the above, SSA is interested in having vendors who provide wage reporting (Form W-2) off-the-shelf software applications participate in this EWR SMSD beta test. The beta test is structured to use a model where the participating vendors sell off-the-shelf software that creates wage reports (W-2s) for their customers to create and generate W-2 forms. The SMSD will allow the user of this software to access a special Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to register for a User ID and password and to seamlessly upload the wage report directly from the off-the-shelf software. The SMSD will provide a receipt to each user who uploads a wage report. In addition, the SMSD will allow the user to obtain status of the file (wage report) that they submitted to SSA. Technical Requirements The SMSD beta test is a J2EE application which plans to use Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Web Service Description Language (WSDL) specifications. The secure offerings adhere to Version 1.1 of the Web Services-Interoperability Organization (WS-I) Basic Profile. SOAP message integrity is ensured by following Web Services Security Version 1.0 standards. Because of this approach to standardization, participation companies can develop in their environment of choice (e.g., Java, Visual Studio.NET, Perl) to invoke the services and feel confident that their message payload is not compromised upon delivery to SSA. The wage file submission service will accept binary files in the Specifications for Filing Forms W-2 Electronically (EFW2) format as input, and these files may be optionally compressed. Files may be attached to the message using the SOAP Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism, or they may be transmitted inline as base64 encoded data. In FYs 2007 and 2008, SSA anticipates finalizing its SMSD offering and allowing vendors to participate in planned alpha tests tentatively scheduled for July 2008. The WSDL required to invoke the service will be made available to the beta test participants around early May with a developer's guide to follow shortly thereafter. A draft of the WSDL/s will be available upon request. If you would like a copy of the draft WSDL/s, email your request to SSNVS@ssa.gov Participating vendors will be required to sign a participation agreement with SSA and be prepared to support the following beta test periods. Tentative key dates for the SMSD pilot are: Beta Test Validation start: September 2008 Beta Testing release date: December 2008 Selection Criteria that will be used for Choosing Vendors to Participate in the Beta Test of the SMSD --The vendor must currently write their own wage reporting software; --The vendor must sell their wage reporting software to customers; --The vendor must have the ability to modify their wage reporting software environment so they can start alpha testing with SSA around late July 2008; and --A representative selection of small, medium and large businesses will be chosen. Instructions for Interested Parties Interested parties wishing to be included in the discussion pertaining to participation in this SMSD beta test shall send an email to melinda.lewis@ssa.gov on or before 3:00 p.m. eastern time (EST) Tuesday, December 18, 2007. Upon receipt of the email each vendor will be included on a list to participate in a teleconference that is tentatively scheduled for January 4, 2008. The purpose of the teleconference is to address/discuss any questions/concerns vendors may have pertaining to the stated requirements. SSA requests that respondents reference "SSA Software Module for Software Developers Beta Test 2008" in the "subject" field of their email and include the following information: --Contact name, mailing address, phone number and an email address; --Management name, mailing address, phone number and email address; --Company website address; --Name(s) of wage reporting software product(s); and --Number of software packages annually in use by your customers. Respondents should be aware that this Request for Information (RFI) is for marketing/informational purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or Request for Proposal. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government and responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by SSA to form a binding contract. SSA does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or pay for any information provided as a result of this RFI and will not recognize or reimburse any cost associated with any RFI submissions or follow up information that is requested. Any responses to the RFI will not be returned and requests for inclusion in the teleconference will not be accepted after the due date. All communications shall be by email. Respondents will not receive a synopsis of the discussion held during the teleconference. Information received will be considered solely to make informed decisions regarding a potential procurement. On behalf of the SSA, thank you for your interest.