Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1.3. The objective of the requested services is to bridge the gaps left by retiring staff members. In the long term, our aim is to manage the IBM mainframe environment with fewer FTE sysprog mainframe staff, relying on managed services to supplement our expertise when needed to continue supporting the OCIO mainframe’s 99% uptime requirement. Managed services will be utilized to: 1.3.1. Upgrade z/OS operating system, BCP software products, CICS, DB2, and OEM software product levels on each LPAR using a phased approach when new releases become generally available from IBM. 1.3.2. Receiving and applying maintenance for the z/OS operating system, installed BCP software products, CICS, DB2, and OEM software products, testing in test environments, and deploying to production logical partitions (LPARs) and subsystems using a coordinated and phased approach. 1.3.3. Facilitate z/OS CPC and storage array hardware upgrades when new hardware is acquired by OCIO, currently on a 4-year cycle. 1.3.4. Providing technical responses within 4 hours of requests by staff when a mainframe problem has been flagged and assistance is requested to troubleshoot. 1.4. Professional services will be utilized on an as needed basis for providing knowledge transfer and education to the unit’s remaining staffed sysprog FTEs to build up their mainframe administration knowledge base and skillset.
