IBM Mainframe Hardware Upgrade

This is a notice of IRS's intent to award a delivery order containing a Brand Name description under an existing contract. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operates the Enterprise Computing Center - Martinsburg (ECC-MTB), where two IBM z196 mainframe systems, running in Parallel Sysplex mode, are employed for tax return processing. The Enterprise Computing Center - Memphis (ECC-MEM) is the primary Disaster Recovery data center for IRS and also performs some tax return processing. The IRS anticipates a need for additional IBM z196 General Purpose Central Processor (GPCP) capacity on the ECC-MTB systems to support growth. z196 processor Real Memory and Coupling Facility Real Memory will need to be added to support the additional processing needed for the next tax filing season. The equivalent CBU (Capacity Backup) MIPS and memory will need to be provisioned on the ECC-MEM mainframe to accommodate a full recovery in the event of a disaster. It is anticipated that the following equipment will be purchased: Activation of General Purpose Central Processor (GPCPs) at ECC-MTB, corresponding CBU MIPS increases at ECC-MEM, and Real Memory increases at both sites. IRS's existing hardware configuration(s) will be upgraded to meet the required processing capacity as defined below: - In one current model z196 2817-M32-710 at ECC-MTB, add two additional GPCPs and 128 Gigabytes (GB) Real Memory - In one current model z196 2817-M32-710 at ECC-MTB, add one additional GPCP and 128 GB Real Memory - In two current model z114 2810-M10s at ECC-MTB (deployed as Parallel Sysplex Coupling Facilities), add 64 GB Real memory to each. - In one current model z196 2817-M49 at ECC-MEM, add 6 CBU-CPs, 2 CBU-IFLs(Integrated Facility for Linux) and add 976 GB of Real Memory. Brand Name Justification The use of a Brand name description is essential to the Government's requirements, thereby precluding consideration of a product manufactured by another company. Because the infrastructure expansion is to the existing IBM z196 mainframes the hardware is of a proprietary design. IBM is the only known manufacturer of the General Purpose Central Processors and memory which can be installed and operate in IRS current environment. There are no known alternative manufacturers. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.