IRS to issue new mainframe support contracts

The IRS is seeking information from industry on how it can better maintain and manage its mainframe hardware and software as part of the tax agency's Modernization and Information Technology Services.

The agency is interested in finding out about new approaches, best practices, performance metrics, service level agreements and industry standards that could better meet its needs, the IRS said in its request for information posted yesterday on FedBizOpps.

The IRS intends to establish indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts for a mainframe hardware support contract and a mainframe software maintenance contract in 2005. The duration of contracts, the majority of which will be firm fixed price, will be five years, beginning next year to fiscal year 2010. The new vehicles will replace IRS' current Long-Term Maintenance of Computing Centers and Corporate System Modernization/Mirror Image Acquisition contracts, as well as incorporate mainframe hardware and software maintenance currently provided under other IRS contracts that expire next year.

Contract winners would support mainframes, other hardware and software at IRS' Detroit Computing Center and its Enterprise Computing Center at Martinsburg, W.Va.

Industry comments and capability statements are due Jan. 28.