Enterprise Disk Storage Infrastructure and Services

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently performing market research to fulfill its requirements for Enterprise Disk Storage Infrastructure and Services. SSA is seeking information in the form of documentation and a physical presentation from interested sources regarding the below requirements. - Support for all Agency Computers, and Operating Systems - The Agency's enterprise applications are spread across four computer operating systems, IBM's MVS, ZOS (Mainframe), Solaris, HP-UX, and Microsoft Windows. Solaris, HP-UX and Microsoft Windows are considered Open Systems Computers. All four types of computer operating systems require large amounts of storage. Please provide channel data speeds for both Main Frame (FICON), and Open System (Fiber). - High Performance Enterprise and Departmental Storage Subsystems - For the Social Security Administration Offices, in various geographical locations within the United States. SSA will cumulatively need at least 4.6 raw Petabytes (PB) of Mainframe and Open System Enterprise Storage Data equipment, software, installation, and upgrades during the next three years. - Virtual Tape Libraries - including Data Deduplication - Storage Area Networks (SAN), Directors, and Switches - An Open Systems product to move data between heterogeneous subsystems - Storage Design For Inactive Data - Storage should support persistent, inactive data (i.e. data kept online and accessible but not kept on expensive, high-performance storage devices). - Thin provisioning - Thin provisioning should allow space to be easily allocated to servers, on a just-enough and just-in-time basis. - Support for Operating System Data - This feature would be used to boot a computer system from the subsystem. This option allows the Operating System benefit from all the other features of the Storage Subsystem. - Support for Clustered Servers - Two or more a computer systems that are a grouped together with other resources that act like a single system and enable high availability, load balancing and parallel processing. - Scaleable - The ability to support large number of computer systems and large amounts of storage so that storage can be directed to the applications as required. - Performance - The speed of the disk data storage platforms enables the Agency to access large amounts of data in shorter periods. As the speed of the storage equipment increases the Agency will reduce end-user response times, and reduce backup windows for online software applications. - Flexible Management Software - Management software should be the focal point for storage allocation, performance management and error reporting. - Full Data Replication - The ability to make a nearly immediate copy of selected data on the storage subsystem that can then be used for minimizing or eliminating downtime for backups. - Incremental Data Replication - The ability to make a nearly immediate copy of just the changed data since the last backup. - Remote Data Replication - The process of copying data to a second storage subsystem, often housed in a separate location from the originating storage subsystem. Once the second data center is established, the Agency will implement Remote Data Replication for critical applications. - Redundant components - One or more spare components are incorporated into a storage platform by the manufacturer that will continue operating in the event of a hardware failure in the primary part. These backup components can function in one of two ways. They may sit idle, waiting for a failure to occur before being activated or they may operate alongside the primary part to improve performance under normal operating conditions while at the same time possessing the capability to take over completely, and keep the system up and running if the primary part fails. - Redundant Data Paths - Each computer system should have at least two independent paths. This feature improves performance and reduces down time. - Hot-spare standby drives - Extra drives must be installed in the storage subsystem that automatically comes online and copies the data to the spare drive in the event of a disk failure. - Battery backed-up cache - Battery power that protects any data that is in write cache at the time of a power interruption to be written to disk prior to emergency shutdown. - Phone-home capability - The ability to detect a failed component or to detect when a component within the Storage Subsystem exceeds certain preset thresholds and alert the storage administrator so that reparative action can be taken. The Agency also configures the Storage Subsystems to contact the subsystems manufacturer automatically when a failure occurs. - Non-disruptive microcode updates or replacements - The ability to update or replace the controller microcode without having to shut down the Storage Subsystem. This is a sources sought announcement, a market survey for a scheduled presentation and written documentation only. This is not a solicitation announcement for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. No telephone calls will be accepted requesting a bid package or solicitation. There is no bid package or solicitation. This synopsis is for planning purposes only and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses to this sources sought/market research notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Interested sources that believe they have the ability to perform the services required should submit a detailed statement of their capabilities in writing and schedule a presentation with Joan Smith, Contract Specialist, Division of Information Technology and Maintenance, 7111 Security Boulevard, 1st Floor Rear Entrance, Baltimore, MD 21244. Responses must be sent electronically via email at Joan.M.Smith@ssa.gov . Please reference SSA-RFI-JS09-001 in the e-mail subject line. No telephone responses will be accepted. Responses must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST on November 17, 2008.