SSA solicits encryption info

The Social Security Administration’s Office of Telecommunications and Systems Operation has issued a request for information, seeking contractors that can provide a commercial product to encrypt data in the agency's Microsoft Windows 2003 file servers.

The announcement comes less than a week after the agency launched a program to shift to voice-over-IP technology nationwide. On Aug. 11, SSA issued a request for proposals to provide hardware, software and services under the Telephone Systems Replacement Project.

According to SSA, it currently stores users’ individual and shared data on Windows servers at more than 1,500 field offices. About 1,475 to 4,200 servers are to be encrypted, pending an evaluation of data type and location.

The data includes documents created using standard commercial productivity tools, such as Microsoft Office and proprietary applications SSA developed. It also includes various database types, including Oracle and Microsoft SQL.

SSA said respondents must indicate whether their software is available on General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules, other governmentwide agency contracts or the open market. Pricing data is not required. Only electronic responses will be accepted and they should be submitted by Sept. 1.

Contact Patrice Coleman, SSA contract specialist at (410) 594-2016, fax (410) 965-9560 or e-mail patrice.coleman@ssa.gov.