Request for Information: Session Packet Capture

This is a Request for information (RFI) for the Social Security Administration (SSA), Division of Information Systems Security Administration and Operations (DISSAO). The Government is not committed to issue a solicitation or award a contract pursuant to this announcement or based on responses to this announcement. This RFI is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract as a result of this request. The RFI is issued for planning purposes only, in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. The Government will not entertain phone calls concerning this notice, and will not pay any costs incurred in the preparation of information for responding to this market research or the Government's use of the information. Proprietary information must be clearly identified as proprietary information. In accordance with FAR 15.201(E), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Objective SSA is seeking a solution to upgrade its session packet capture. The current solution is Netwitness series two (2). Proposed solution should include all the necessary installation, maintenance and support. Proposed solution may be software only, hardware only or a combination of both. A software only solution would be acceptable provided it meets the parameters of SSA hardware. The scope of the information sought covers the requirements for network integration, storage, analysis and reporting. Solutions must be 508 Compliant. Reference attachment for background information and statement of work (SOW). The objective of this RFI is to identify commercial sources with the capability to: deploy/upgrade a session packet capture and storage solution that will enable the agency to analyze user and system sessions in an effort to better protect network services available to its users. Solution shall be an upgrade from the current one Provide ongoing technical support for suggested solution Provide conversions from the current series to the suggested solution. Through this RFI, DISSAO is seeking to identify potential sources, best practices information, and commercially available software and or hardware solution that fulfills the SSA's requirement in attached SOW. Scope of Service Please reference SOW. Submission Interested firms with the capability of providing the requirement shall submit the following, and answer below questions: Sample solutions to requirement outlined in SOW Is a software only or hardware only solution possible? Explain each approach and what will be needed for each. Are there commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) solutions readily available for requested upgrade? If yes, do they vary greatly in their approach to provide requested solution or are the approaches similar? Please explain. After reviewing the SOW, do you believe it provides enough information to enable an interested vendor provide a quote? If no, what other information/detail does DISSAO need to provide? In addition to above, please provide organization name, address, email address, website address, and telephone number. The Government also requests interested parties to submit a brief description of their business size (i.e. small business, 8(a), HUB Zone, woman owned, etc.), anticipated teaming agreements, whether services are available on GSA Federal Supply Schedules or any other Government-wide Agency Contracts (GWACs). Other information of potential interest that vendors could include: current and investigational applications of the solution, future commercial developments, references that document efficiency of the solution etc. Respondents should reference RFI Number SSA-RFI-13-0040 in their response. Submittal of information ELECTRONICALLY is required and faxed information will not be accepted. Limit the number of pages to ten (10) total (Times New Roman, Font 12, one inch margins) excluding cover and photos which can be included separately. The SSA is under no obligation to select any solution. NO FORMAL SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED AT THIS TIME and the Government does not intend to award a contract solely on the basis of this notice, or pay for the information submitted. This information will be used in SSA's assessment of capable sources. SSA will not provide acknowledgement of responses received nor will respondents be notified of any evaluated results from the information received. Vendors should refrain from submissions of simple marketing materials or brochures, references to vendor websites or incomplete responses that do not conform to the elements of this RFI. All responses/questions shall be submitted via e-mail only by noon, est., August 12, 2013 (no phone calls please), to Ursula Nkwantabisa, Contract Specialist at contact@example.gov.