SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- Notice of intent to negotiate a sole-source acquisition for services related to the development of a disaster recovery infrastructure for the Federal and State Disability Determination Services
- Notice Date
- 12/30/2003
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Social Security Administration, Deputy Commissioner for Finance, Assessment and Management, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21207-5279
- ZIP Code
- 21207-5279
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-SSA-Versa-011404
- Response Due
- 1/14/2004
- Archive Date
- 1/29/2004
- Point of Contact
- Leslie Hyman, Contract Specialist, Phone 4109659476, Fax 4109659560,
- E-Mail Address
-
leslie.hyman@ssa.gov
- Description
- NOTICE OF GOVERNMENT INTENT TO NEGOTIATE ON A SOLE-SOURCE BASIS This posting provides notice that the Social Security Administration (SSA) intends to negotiate a sole-source acquisition pursuant to FAR 12 with Versa Management Systems Inc. (Versa). This notice is neither a request for quotation nor an announcement of a forthcoming solicitation. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not be honored or acknowledged. Under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (42 USC 402 and 416), SSA mandates the State Disability Determination Services (DDS) in each state to perform determinations of disability for the residents of that state who file for Social Security disability benefits. In addition to each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territorial governments of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands have established DDS entities. SSA has also established a Federal DDS, which, among other functions, serves as a test-bed of policy and procedure for the disability program. Virtually every DDS currently uses, or is migrating toward the use of an IBM AS/400 (now known as IBM iSeries) mid-range processor for case processing. Many of the state DDS?s use licensed proprietary software developed by Versa Management Systems Inc (Versa). Over the last few years, SSA and the DDS?s have been engaged in major initiatives to improve and safeguard the administration of the disability programs. One such initiative is the development of comprehensive disaster recovery for DDS operations. This sole source acquisition will be for services related to the development of a disaster recovery infrastructure for the Federal and State Disability Determination Services (DDS) that utilize IBM AS/400 (now known as IBM iSeries) mid-range processors and Versa licensed proprietary software. Specific services to be procured from Versa include: 1) assistance in conducting exercises with the State DDS?s and SSA to simulate disaster and implementation of disaster recovery plans, 2) expert technical troubleshooting support to the State DDS?s and SSA during disaster recovery, 3) assistance in the restoration of the affected DDS?s production environment, and, 4) assistance in ensuring that DDS production data is not corrupted during simulation exercises. At this time the Government believes Versa Management Systems to be the only source capable of providing the required services, as Versa is the only known source that can provide, modify and maintain its own software and source code. SSA will not provide the Versa proprietary source code to any third-party, nor will SSA assist any third-party in obtaining access to Versa?s proprietary source code. Vendors having the capability and experience to provide such services are invited to submit complete details regarding their technical capabilities and expertise. Vendor capability statements MUST include the following: 1) demonstrated success in supporting the IBM AS/400 platform, and, 2) a detailed explanation of the strategy that will be used in dealing with the Versa proprietary source code and data structures. The Government will consider all responses to this notice, but a determination by the Government to conduct a sole source acquisition remains at the discretion of the Government. Information submitted in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining the feasibility of conducting a competitive procurement, and the Government will not pay for any information submitted. Interested sources that believe they have the ability to perform the services required should submit a detailed statement of their capabilities in writing to Leslie Hyman, Contract Specialist, via email at Leslie.Hyman@ssa.gov. Responses must be received by 3:00 p.m. EST on January 14, 2004. If no viable responses are received by January 14, 2004, the Government will issue a Purchase Order to Versa Management Systems, Inc.
- Record
- SN00497097-W 20040101/031230212145 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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