ID03 Redacted LSJ - W9124D26FA268.pdf
PDF 2 MB Posted
- Attached to
- IBM Mainframe Software Renewal
- Solicitation number
- GS35F110DA-W9124D26FA68
About this file
Justification Review Document for IBM Mainframe Operating Software Maintenance Renewal
This document is a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Limited Source Justification prepared by the U.S. Army Human Resource Command (HRC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for a noncompetitive 8-month firm-fixed-price task order against GSA Schedule GS-35F-110DA with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). The procurement, controlled under number Knox 2026-32, seeks approval to renew maintenance support services for HRC's IBM mainframe operating software, with performance scheduled from the date of contract award through March 31, 2027. The justification cites Title 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by GSA Manual 538.7104-3(b)(1)(ii), establishing that only one source is capable of providing the required supplies and services. The procuring activity is the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command Center at Fort Knox.
The supplies and services include mandatory commercial software reinstatement fees and Monthly License Charge (MLC) products comprising z/OS operating system components (z/OS V2 Base, DFSMS, DFSORT, HCM, RMF, SDSF, XL C/C++), Enterprise COBOL products, WebSphere MQ Advanced, and various support and maintenance products totaling 75 Maintenance Service Units (MSUs) across multiple product lines. The requirement encompasses System Services & Support (S&S) products including IBM MQ Advanced, federated systems, directory maintenance, performance toolkit, and resource access control features. The justification establishes that IBM mainframe software is proprietary, no viable short-term alternatives exist without replacing the entire hardware architecture, and operating unlicensed software would create unacceptable cybersecurity and compliance risks. The document demonstrates an extensive procurement history with IBM spanning from 2019 through 2025 under the same authority, with Contracting Officer Samara Johnson approving the limited source justification based on HRC's receipt of an approved Statement of Non-Availability (SONA number 216824490) confirming no alternative enterprise contract vehicle or vendor can provide these capabilities.
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CUI//PROCURE//FEDCON
Control Number: Knox 2026-32
CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON
Justification Review Document Federal Supply Schedule Limited Source Justification
Program/Equipment: IBM Main Frame Operating Software Maintenance Renewal
Authority: Title 41 U.S.C. 4106(c)(2) as implemented by GSA Manual 538.7104- 3(b)(1)(ii) – Only one source is capable
Amount:
Prepared by:
Contracting Officer: Samara Johnson Contracting Officer
Technical:
Requirements:
CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON
mainframe, and no other software product or third-party vendor is capable of fulfilling this operational role.
c. Alternatives: There are no viable short-term alternatives. Utilizing different software would require replacing the entire mainframe hardware architecture. Operating the mainframe with unlicensed software, or without an authorized maintenance arrangement to obtain updates and patches, is not a viable alternative as it would expose the organization to elevated cybersecurity risks and non-compliance with established security standards, including STIG requirements.
d. Impact if not approved: Failure to approve the required support will place both Army and HRC missions at significant operational risk. If the mainframe experiences an outage, it may not be recoverable due to the absence of an active software maintenance contract. The mainframe hosts multiple mission-essential applications including the Reserve Database Maintenance System (RDMS), Army Reserve Transaction Management System (ARTRAMS), and Army Reserve Personnel Information Middleware System (ARPIMS). Loss of vendor support substantially increases the likelihood of an unrecoverable system failure, corruption or loss of mission-critical data, and prolonged disruption of Army-wide human resources operations.
7. Efforts to Obtain Competition: a. Effective competition: Effective competition is not anticipated. HRC submitted a request to CHESS and received an approved Statement of Non-Availability (SoNA), confirming no alternative enterprise contract vehicle or vendor can provide these proprietary capabilities.
b. Subcontracting competition: Due to the proprietary nature of the software code, updates must be provided directly by the OEM (IBM). Subcontracting opportunities are negligible for this specific software maintenance requirement.
8. Actions to Increase Competition: As HRC continues transitioning applications off the IBM mainframe (scheduled to sunset), HRC continues to conduct market research and monitor commercially available technology solutions, including offerings under the Army CHESS Program and DOD ESI agreements, to eventually replace the mainframe architecture with a competitive enterprise solution.
9. Market Research: Research conducted by the HRC Personnel Information Systems Directorate included review of the Army Digital Marketplace Information Technology Enterprise Solutions - 4 Hardware (ITES-4H) contracts and the DoD ESI agreements.
HRC will continue to research the Army Small Computer Blanket Purchase Agreements, ITES-4H contracts, commercial product advertisement, and Gartner, Inc., to find the best solution for the requirement. A Statement of Non-Availability (SONA) number 216824490 was approved on 14 May 2026.
CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON
10. Other Facts:
Procurement history.
Contract: W9124D25FA231 Contractor: IBM Award Amount:
Period of Coverage: 29 July 2025 – 31 March 2026, with reinstatement from 1 April Competitive Status: Only one source is capable of providing the supplies/services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D24F0433 Contractor: IBM Award Amount:
Period of Coverage: 30 September 2024 – 31 March 2025, with reinstatement from 1 April 2024 Competitive Status: Only one source is capable of providing the supplies/services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D24F0061 Contractor: IBM Award Amount Period of Coverage: 29 December 2023 – 31 March 2024, with reinstatement from 1 April 2023 Competitive Status: Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D22F0152 Contractor: IBM Award Amount:
Period of Coverage: 1 April 2022 – 31 March 2023 Competitive Status: Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D21F0486 Contractor: IBM Award Amount:
Period of Coverage: Base Year: 1 September 2021 – 31 December 2021; OY1: 1 January 2022 – 31 March 2022 Competitive Status: Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D20F0314 Contractor: IBM Award Amount
CUI//SP-PROCURE//FEDCON
Period of Coverage: 1 Jan 2020 – 31 December 2020 Competitive Status: Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
Contract: W9124D19F0072 Contractor: IBM Award Amount Period of Coverage: 1 Jan 2019 – 31 December 2019 Competitive Status: Only one source capable of providing the supplies or services Authority: FAR 8.405-6(a)(1)(i)(B)
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