EOI – Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a Mainframe Platform Disaster Recovery Modernization Program, representing an information-gathering procurement designed to identify qualified vendors for future competitive solicitation. SEPTA seeks end-to-end disaster recovery modernization services encompassing four integrated workstreams: (1) sourcing a like-for-like secondary IBM Z mainframe platform, (2) identifying and onboarding an off-site data center facility within the greater Philadelphia tri-state area, (3) implementing the solution including procurement, installation, network integration, and operational runbook development, and (4) aligning technical recovery capabilities with business continuity requirements by defining Recovery Time Objectives (RTO), Recovery Point Objectives (RPO), and application recovery requirements. The current environment consists of an IBM z14 ZR1 (Model 3097) mainframe supporting mission-critical Finance, Payroll, and Procurement functions, with specifications including approximately 1200 MIPS capacity, 52 GB installed memory, 7.6 TB of DASD storage, a Luminex virtual tape system for backup and archival, and maximum power draw of 11 kW per frame requiring approximately 500 square feet of space. Required vendor qualifications include proven experience delivering IBM mainframe disaster recovery solutions with physical DR environments, expertise in IBM Z platform implementation, data center facility evaluation capabilities, and experience integrating business continuity planning with technical disaster recovery solutions in large regulated public-sector or enterprise environments. Interested parties must submit EOI response documents not exceeding 15 pages in PDF or Word format to James Coombs at jcoombs@septa.org by 4:00 PM on February 16, 2026. This EOI is for information-gathering purposes only and does not constitute a commitment to award a contract or reimburse costs; SEPTA retains authorization to use all submitted information without obligation or compensation to proposers, and selected firms may be invited for individual meetings to inform development of a future competitive solicitation.

The EOI document does not specify set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or limitations on organizational types eligible to respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the EOI materials. The procurement requires integration with SEPTA's existing IBM z14 ZR1 mainframe infrastructure, the Luminex virtual tape backup and archival system, and the organization's current network connectivity and operational environment. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the EOI documentation, as this is a preliminary information-gathering phase intended to inform the development of a future competitive solicitation rather than an immediate procurement with established funding parameters.