PBGC seeks e-records system

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., the nation's pension insurance provider, is seeking information to implement an electronic records management system. The government-owned corporation requires that the system be capable of legacy e-mail and electronic document archiving and database records management, as well as near-line hierarchical storage solutions.

PBGC has formulated certain draft specifications for the electronic records system in the request for information posted yesterday on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site.

When companies drop out of the insurance program because they can no longer pay their employees' promised pensions, PBGC picks up the tab. Several of its business units generate massive amounts of records when companies leave the program, and a large percentage of these records are produced and maintained electronically.

"Electronic records access and management, and continuity of computer and communications operations, have become critical concerns for the corporation," PBGC said in its document.

PBGC intends to acquire a DOD 5015.2-compliant electronic records management system or engine with a simplified interface to systems that contain case-related and pension plan records and user-specific case and plan records classification lists.

The new system must be able to integrate with database systems containing records, which will allow the records to remain in their database depositories but be controlled with 5015.2-compliant specifications by the electronic records management engine.

The goal is to create a records management system that will identify and lock down electronic records contained either within its own repository or disparate PBGC corporate systems. The system would enable cross-system retrieval of records related to a case or pension plan and ultimately lead to the destruction of paper and electronic records according to their retention schedules or after litigation holds are lifted. PBGC is aware that it may have to acquire services as well as a core records management system to achieve its goals.

Responses are due by May 2.