Social Security Administration, Office of Acquisition and Grants, 1710 Gwynn Oak Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21207-0696 Attn:1-E-4 GWNO/Ms. Joanne Tarr

70 -- ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) SOFTWARE POC Ms. Joanne Tarr tel: (410) 965-9474 Refer to JT-EDI. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is seeking vendors who can provide a total integrated solution for Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). This EDI requires a communications gateway to support multiple protocols that will interface with SSA's current file transfer management system (FTMS). SSA plans to build a mainframe-based architecture capable of receiving and transmitting ANSI X12 data-formatted files, without any manual intervention, to a large user community and trading partners. SSA's existing FTMS is based upon Sterling Software's Connect:Direct (C:D) product. C:D supports all file transfer activities within SSA's data processing environment, as well as file transfers to external users, such as other government agencies and State agencies. SSA plans to augment its' current FTMS with EDI capabilities. The proposed EDI solution and communications gateway must provide a seamless interface to SSA's FTMS. SSA requires that the EDI solution be mainframe-based to integrate with the current FTMS, in addition to SSA's thousands of mainframe-based applications. Specific requirements include: 1) The solution must be a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) product which provides a seamless, integrated (transparent to the user) and automated pass-through of C:D files to the EDI gateway without any additional custom coding or additional products. 2) The solution must provide protocol support for bisynchronous, asynchronous (X, Y, and Z modems, as well as KERMIT) and X.25 on a non-mainframe platform using a software-based protocol converter. 3) The solution must support and be able to run under TSO/ISPF Version 4.1.0. 4) The solution must provide an integrated, seamless COTS EDI translation/data mapping component that is IBM-compatible mainframe-based and will provide a single point of control through communications between the translator, C:D and mainframe applications. The translation/data mapping component must also provide internal security to different functions to enable multiple department access. Interested schedule and nonschedule vendors who can furnish the required software are invited to submit, in writing, a substantial statement clearly demonstrating comparable quality of software offered, substantiated by technical data brochures, product specifications and GSA contract numbers (if applicable). Interested parties must respond to this notice, in writing, within 15 calendar days after publication of this notice. RESPONDENTS SHOULD REFER TO JT-EDI. This is a request for vendor product information and not a Request for Proposal (RFP). No contract award will be made on the basis of responses received; however, this information will be used in SSA's assessment of capable sources. No cost or pricing data is required or requested. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided. REQUESTS FOR COPIES OF A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE HONORED OR ACKNOWLEDGED. (0171)

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