Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 GWYNN OAK AVENUE, BALTIMORE, MD, 21207-5279

70 -- SOFTWARE TOOL DUE 082498 POC MARY BIDDLE, 410-965-9588 WEB: Download Solicitation when/if available, http://www.ssa.gov/oag. E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, SSA/OAG, MARY.BIDDLE@ssa.gov. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is seeking to identify vendors who can provide a commercially available off-the-shelf software tool to support data collection at its internal Information Technology Help Desks. In addition to Help Desk functionality, the tool must support the integrated functions of call tracking, problem management, inventory management, financial management of IT assets (purchasing and maintaining), and change management. The internal help desks are staffed by more than 100 analysts and contractors supporting an end user population of over 100,000. Furthermore, the system will be accessed by more than 3,000 systems analysts, developers and programmers responsible for resolving and tracking problems through resolution. The software system must be client/server-based and must have a graphical user interface. The software must also have automation capabilities including automatic call notification, vendor dispatch and problem escalation. The modules within the system must be fully integrated. Entering data, for example, in the problem management module should trigger auto-fill of fields based on data stored in the inventory. SSA's current IT asset inventory numbers more than 750,000 pieces of equipment. This inventory is growing, and SSA anticipates that more than 1,000,000 pieces of IT equipment will be contained in the inventory by June, 1999. Problem and change records in the system bring the total records contained in the system to 1.5 million. Due to the great storage need brought about by this volume of data, SSA plans to house the data in a database on their OS/390 mainframes using IBM's DB2. The software tool must be designed to access and update this database in an interactive, online mode. The tool must include a web interface that provides full functionality to the end user and that does not require the TCP/IP protocol to be installed on the mainframe housing the database. SSA does not currently support TCP/IP on the mainframe. The web interface must, at a minimum, allow end users to access expert information, enter problem records directly into the system, query the system for problems, changes and inventory, and update records that they have access to. The tool must provide internal security control for log-on, record and field access. The software system must also provide a robust reporting capability that allows end users to create customized reports and allows users to obtain reports in real time. The tool must also provide a capability for multiple "views" into the database which will allow SSA to develop specific applications supporting different help desk environments, but storing the data in a consolidated store for query and reporting purposes. This is a request for vendor product information and not a Request for Proposal (RFP). Respondents should refer to MB- 98A. Interested FSS schedule and non-FSS schedule vendors who can furnish the required software are invited to submit in writing a substantial statement clearly demonstrating comparable features/capabilities of software offered, substantiated by technical data brochures, GSA Schedule Contract Numbers (if applicable). No cost or pricing data is required or requested. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided. Written responses must be received in this office 15 calendar days after publication of this notice. Posted 08/06/98 (D-SN233446). (0218)

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