EOI - Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program
| Agency: | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority |
|---|---|
| State: | Pennsylvania |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| NAICS Category: |
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| Posted Date: | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Due Date: | Feb 16, 2026 |
| Original Source: | Please Login to View Page |
| Contact information: | Please Login to View Page |
| Bid Documents: | Please Login to View Page |
EOI – Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program
Item EOI Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program
Documents
SEPTA is conducting an industry review to gain market insight with the potential for a future procurement solicitation the Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program.
SEPTA requests that interested parties submit an EOI response document containing responses to the Authority’s questions and technical specification comments no later than 4:00 PM Friday February 16,
2026.
SEPTA does not intend to hold discussions at this time; however, SEPTA may contact interested parties to schedule individual meetings with SEPTA’s staff either at our headquarters in Philadelphia or virtually via video conference.
Contact: Jim Coombs
Email:
jcoombs@septa.org
Phone: 215-580-7190
Category: ePS Bids/RFPs
Status: Open
Attachment Preview
January 22, 2026
To Whom It May Concern:
Subject: Expression of Interest – Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program
SEPTA is conducting an industry review to gain market insight with the potential for a future
procurement solicitation the Mainframe Platform DR Modernization Program. See attached EOI
document for the information/comments being sought.
SEPTA requests that interested parties submit an EOI response document containing responses to the
Authority’s questions and technical specification comments no later than 4:00 PM Friday February 16,
2026.
SEPTA does not intend to hold discussions at this time; however, SEPTA may contact interested parties
to schedule individual meetings with SEPTA’s staff either at our headquarters in Philadelphia or virtually
via video conference.
If your organization is interested in this project, please submit all documentation to me at
jcoombs@septa.org.
By participating in this EOI the Proposer is unconditionally agreeing to the following: (i) SEPTA will be
authorized to use any information submitted, referenced, or presented during this EOI including, but not
limited to a potential Scope of Services; (ii) SEPTA shall be authorized to reproduce, distribute, display,
and create derivative works from any information received during this EOI; and (iii) SEPTA shall not be
obligated to engage or otherwise compensate Proposer in any manner or for any reason for SEPTA’s use
of any information and/or material submitted by Proposer during this EOI or information contained
therein, or any other right granted hereunder.
Please note that this is not a vendor selection process. This letter must not be interpreted as an award of a
contract or as a commitment to reimburse for any costs incurred in the preparation or participation of this
EOI.
Thank you for your interest in the Authority.
Sincerely,
James Coombs
Director, Contract Administration
SEPTA’s Procurement and Supply Chain Management
SEPTA – Mainframe Hardware Disaster Recovery Modernization
Expression of Interest (EOI)
1. Purpose
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is seeking Expressions of Interest from qualified
firms with demonstrated expertise in IBM mainframe disaster recovery, physical resiliency, and business continuity
planning. SEPTA operate a mission-critical IBM Z mainframe environment that supports core Finance, Payroll, and
Procurement functions.
The purpose of this EOI is to identify firms capable of delivering an end-to-end disaster recovery modernization
program, including sourcing a like-for-like secondary mainframe, identifying and onboarding a qualified off-site data
center facility, implementing the solution, and aligning technical recovery capabilities with SEPTA’s business
continuity requirements.
This EOI is issued for information-gathering purposes and will inform SEPTA’s development of a future competitive
solicitation.
2. Current Environment Overview (As-Is)
SEPTA’s current mainframe environment includes the following characteristics:
• Platform: IBM z14 ZR1 (Model 3097) with two LPARs (one general-purpose processor and one specialty
processor).
• Capacity & Utilization: Rated at approximately 1200 MIPS, with an effective soft cap of approximately 88
MIPS; average workload utilization of approximately 35% CPU busy.
• Physical Footprint & Power: Approximately 500 square feet including frame and power distribution units;
maximum power draw of approximately 11 kW for a single frame.
• Memory & Storage: 52 GB installed memory with no observed paging; approximately 7.6 TB of DASD
storage with low utilization; Luminex virtual tape system supporting backup and archival.
• Network Connectivity: IBM OSA 10 Gb network interface with relatively low average daily throughput.
3. Program Objectives
The objectives of the Mainframe Disaster Recovery Modernization Program are to:
• Establish a fully operational physical disaster recovery capability for SEPTA’s IBM mainframe
environment within the greater Philadelphia tri-state area.
• Source and deploy a like-for-like secondary IBM Z platform capable of restoring from existing Luminex
virtual tape backups.
• Identify and onboard a qualified off-site data center facility that meets SEPTA’s reliability, security, and
operational requirements.
• Define and integrate Recovery Time Objectives (RTO), Recovery Point Objectives (RPO), and business
continuity requirements for Payroll and Procurement.
• Implement a sustainable, testable, and auditable disaster recovery operating model.
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4. Scope of Interest / Workstreams
SEPTA seeks firms capable of delivering services across the following four integrated workstreams.
Workstream 1 – Mainframe Disaster Recovery Platform Sourcing
• Assess SEPTA’s current production mainframe environment, including processing capacity, LPAR
configuration, memory, storage, and backup architecture.
• Define requirements for a like-for-like IBM Z disaster recovery platform capable of supporting Finance,
Payroll, and Procurement operations during a disaster event.
• Recommend sourcing options (purchase or lease) aligned with SEPTA’s capacity profile, licensing
considerations, and long-term operational needs.
• Ensure compatibility with existing Luminex virtual tape backup and restore processes.
Workstream 2 – Off-Site Facility Identification & Readiness Planning
SEPTA does not intend to remediate previously identified secondary facilities. This workstream will focus on
identifying, evaluating, and onboarding an off-site facility suitable for hosting a secondary IBM Z platform.
Vendors shall:
• Define detailed facility requirements informed by SEPTA’s as-is environment, including:
o Space and floor loading requirements (minimum ~500 sq. ft., appropriate floor load ratings,
service clearances).
o Power requirements (redundant utility feeds, UPS, generator capacity sufficient to support ~11
kW per frame).
o Cooling and environmental controls are appropriate for IBM Z platforms.
o Physical security and access controls.
o Network connectivity requirements, including redundant, low-latency connectivity back to
SEPTA’s primary site.
• Identify and evaluate candidate commercial data centers, colocation providers, or managed disaster
recovery facilities.
• Perform site due diligence and produce a comparative assessment of candidate facilities, including risks,
constraints, and cost considerations.
• Recommend a preferred off-site facility and develop a site readiness and implementation plan.
Workstream 3 – Implementation & Enablement
• Execute the approved disaster recovery solution, including:
o Procurement and installation of the secondary mainframe platform.
o Coordination with the selected off-site facility for space, power, cooling, and security readiness.
o Network integration and validation of backup and restore processes.
• Develop operational runbooks, access procedures, and disaster recovery activation workflows.
• Support initial and periodic disaster recovery testing to validate operational readiness.
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Workstream 4 – Business Continuity & Recovery Alignment
• Engage SEPTA’s Finance, Payroll, and Procurement stakeholders to define and document:
o Recovery Time Objectives (RTO)
o Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)
o Application recovery sequencing and dependencies
• Align business recovery requirements with the physical and technical disaster recovery design.
• Ensure business continuity requirements are embedded into the final disaster recovery architecture,
testing strategy, and operating model.
5. Vendor Qualifications
Interested firms must demonstrate:
• Proven experience delivering IBM mainframe disaster recovery solutions, including physical DR
environments.
• Experience sourcing, implementing, and operating IBM Z platforms in primary/secondary or DR
configurations.
• Expertise in data center and facility evaluation, including power, cooling, and network requirements for
mainframe workloads.
• Experience integrating business continuity planning with technical disaster recovery solutions.
• Ability to deliver structured programs in large, regulated public-sector or enterprise environments.
6. Submission Details
• Deadline: February 15, 2026
• Format: PDF or Word document, maximum 15 pages
• Contact: James Coombs
• Subject Line:
“EOI – Mainframe Disaster Recovery Modernization – [Firm Name]”
Submissions should clearly describe the firm’s approach, methodology, relevant experience, and proposed
engagement model across all four workstreams.
7. Next Steps
SEPTA will review all submissions and develop a shortlist of qualified firms. Selected firms may be invited to engage
with SEPTA stakeholders to further discuss their approach and demonstrate alignment with SEPTA’s technical and
business requirements.
Information gathered through this EOI will inform SEPTA’s development of a formal competitive solicitation
8. Disclaimer
This Expression of Interest is issued for information-gathering purposes only and does not oblige SEPTA to issue a
solicitation or award a contract. SEPTA reserve the right to modify, cancel, or take no further action related to this
EOI at its sole discretion.
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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.
* Disclaimer: This website provides information about bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) for convenience only and does not serve as an official public notice. Individuals who wish to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the relevant government department directly.
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