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Conference ulysse::rdb_vms_competition

Title:DEC Rdb against the World
Moderator:HERON::GODFRIND
Created:Fri Jun 12 1987
Last Modified:Thu Feb 23 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1348
Total number of notes:5438

548.0. "Oracle Wins Again!" by DPDMAI::DAVISGB (Gil Davis DTN 554-7245) Wed Jan 24 1990 15:29

    I just read a little snippet from an Rfp that came out from the US Air
    Force/Army.  This is the AAFES - Army Air Force Exchange Services -
    basically, all the BX's PX's, Movie houses and other services at all
    the bases worldwide.  The Rfp is asking for an information system.
    
    The Database and Operating System sections are REAL short (although the
    Rfp itself is 3 inches thick!
    
    Mandatory's include (and if you don't say "YES" to a mandatory, you are
    disqualified...)
    
    Mandatorys:	Database:	Oracle
    				SQL*FORMS
    		O/S:		Unix System V
    
    Interesting that the Rfp comes out with the software already chosen....
    
    Cheers,
    
    Gil
    
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548.1Spec Wars IIPHLACT::QUINNThu Jan 25 1990 19:3015
    Gil,
    
    Have you tried.... 
    
    "Mr. COTR, (contracting officer's trechnical representative) can I see
    your waiver for this DOD contract software system, justifying your
    decision to preclude the use of ADA, the MIL-STD 1815A required
    programming language?"
    
    "But sir, you must have a waiver, because mandating ORACLE/UNIX
    precludes an ADA development."
    
    It won't close the sale, but it will open the field for us.
    
    thomas
548.2CISM::MORANWhen Money Speaks The Truth is?Thu Jan 25 1990 20:507
    Not only is oracle the database required on this proposal BUT it
    was demoed on a VAX.  From all appearances there are only two serious
    players for this proposal - HP and DEC.  FYI - the potential winner
    could get up to 150MM over the next few years worldwide.  Fred Roberts
    of the Dallas office has been waiting close to 1.5 years for this
    to finally be released.  Hope we win.  Another FYI - the system
    integration for all of this is being performed by Coopers & Lybrand.
548.3V&V contractor???PHLACT::QUINNMon Jan 29 1990 15:0425
    Another idea, maybe...
    
    Have they selected a V&V (verification and validation) contractor yet?
    If they have, begin courting favor with same, if they haven't, find one
    or two, court them and get one selected.
    
    Once you have them selected, start playing the paperwork game. V&V guys
    check the paperwork, file it, forward it, caress it lovingly, etc.
    They're odd, but necessary. What you can do is help them find (and
    understand) internal documentation inconsistencies in the spec. Things
    like mutually exclusive requirements and clauses, etc.
    
    What this gets you (sorry, but its a pain!) is the opportunity to sic
    the document guys on the functional guys who specified ORACLE. You do
    it by pointing out that function X described in section LL.MMM.NNN
    excludes design element Y in section AA.BBB.CCC. So they file a
    software problem report (or whatever) and the specification review board
    MUST answer it in writing and then ORACLE must fess up and .....
    
    The above assumes, of course, that you can find real reasons,
    spec-wise, why they shouldn't be using ORACLE.
    
    Lemme know about this one, I'm curious.
    
    thomas