U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ADP Placement Section (3803F), 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460-0001

D -- AUTOMATED CARTRIDGE SYSTEM SOL Synopsis #96-01 DUE 051396 POC Contact Point, Bonnie L. Brandon, (202)260-3247 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a requirement to upgrade and expand its installed base of Automated Cartridge System (ACS) equipment. The installed base serves the automated tape storage requirements of its centralized IBM MVS, IBM OS/400, Cray UNICOS, DEC VMS and Unix platforms. EPA's existing ACS equipment was purchased over the last seven years through an Agency contract with Storage Technology Corporation (StorageTek or STK), and includes the STK 4400 and STK 9300 models. Presently, the installed base includes 12 (twelve) large library storage modules, 66 (sixty-six) 18-track transports, and 72 (seventy-two) 36-track transports. Throughout this announcement, the term ''ACS equipment'' shall include all hardware, software, and microcode components necessary to provide the required functionality. EPA requires the continued ability to concurrently support the tape storage requirements of EPA's centralized computing platforms listed above with a single ACS solution. EPA also requires the ACS equipment to be plug-compatible with EPA's existing ACS equipment. Specifically, the ACS equipment shall include subsystems (e.g. library storage subsystem, cartridge subsystem) that can, when required, be used to add to, replace, and upgrade subsystems on EPA's existing ACS equipment without further modifications to existing ACS equipment. EPA's requirement also includes preventive maintenance, on-call remedial maintenance, and per-call maintenance for its existing ACS equipment and all new ACS equipment procured. EPA requires on-call remedial maintenance and per-call maintenance 24 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays, with a response time not exceeding two hours. EPA also requires prompt implementation of all Engineering Changes proposed by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). These changes may involve, besides hardware features for enhanced safety and performance, modifications to OEM-proprietary microcode or firmware embedded in the equipment for maintaining compatibility with upgrades to other hardware and software that work in conjunction with the ACS equipment. EPA's research indicates that only StorageTek can meet these requirements. Therefore, EPA intends to award a contract to Storage Technology Corporation, Federal Systems Operation, 12200 Tech Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904, to meet EPA's ongoing ACS equipment and maintenance requirements over a five year period, October 1, 1996 through September 20, 2001, base period and four one-year option periods. Interested vendors must identify their interest and fully document their capability to meet the agency's requirements by forwarding a detailed written response within 15 days of this notice. All requests must include the company name, point of contact, telephone number, and sufficient technical documentation for the Government to determine the ability to meet the requirement. Written proof of OEM certification to maintain this equipment, including the application of OEM Engineering Changes, must be submitted with the response to this announcement to validate technical competency and currency. No telephone responses will be honored. The intent of this synopsis is to determine if any other sources exist. No formal solicitation document is available. If no affirmative written responses are received within 15 calendar days after the publication of this synopsis to the effect that any other vendor can provide these services, a contract will be awarded to Storage Technology Corporation. All responses should identify Synopsis Number 96-01.ACS and should be addressed to Bonnie L. Brandon, 401 M Street, SW, (3803F), Washington, DC 20460. FAX #202-260-9930. Telephone inquiries shall not be honored. See Note 22. (0116)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0043 19960426\D-0008.SOL)