Linux Administrator

Client: State of Mississippi

Agency/Department: Mississippi Department of Human Services

Project Name: MDHS Legacy Systems Operational and Transitional Support

Posting No.: 138672

Project Overview: The State of Mississippi, Department of Human Services (MDHS), has planned an initiative to modernize the legacy Information Systems that support its Human Services programmatic areas. Onboarding the Design, Development and Implementation (DDI) vendor for the planned system modernization project has been delayed by multiple factors. As a result, The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) must continue maintaining and supporting the current legacy systems and applications for an indefinite period while preparing these aged systems for the planned transition to a modernized enterprise platform solution.

MDHS is seeking a qualified vendor project team to support and maintain its Human Services legacy eligibility systems in preparation for modernization. The vendor team will play a crucial role in maintaining and supporting the existing legacy information systems, their subsystems, and the technical infrastructure that facilitates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child Support Enforcement (CSE), and Childcare (CC) programmatic areas. The ideal vendor must possess a robust track record of delivering both technical and business resources with proven experience in managing state human services legacy systems.

In addition to supporting the current legacy systems, the selected vendor must have technical acumen to assist in the transition to the new, modernized eligibility systems. This includes providing technical expertise for the smooth migration of data and services, ensuring minimal disruption to the existing programs and their beneficiaries. Vendor expertise will ensure that the current systems remain fully operational, effective, and in productive use during a federal funding partner pilot while transitioning to the modernized solution. The vendor must also support the eventual decommissioning of the legacy systems, ensuring that all aspects of the transition are managed efficiently and effectively.

By partnering with a vendor that can deliver comprehensive support and technical proficiency, MDHS aims to achieve seamless operations and modernization process, ultimately enhancing its ability to serve at risk Mississippians with needed services.

Place of Performance: Work performed will be a combination of 75% off-site and 25% on-site activities based upon MDHS approval of scheduled work.

Period of Performance: Three years with possible option year extensions

Scope of Work & Deliverables:

The Statement of Work (SOW) for this project defines the essential tasks, responsibilities, and deliverables required from the selected vendor to support the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) in its legacy systems support and transition initiative. This section specifies the objectives of the project, including the maintenance and enhancement of current systems, the development and implementation of CI/CD strategies, and the preparation for a smooth transition to modernized solutions. The vendor is expected to provide comprehensive solutions, deliver high- quality outcomes, and adhere to project timelines and milestones to ensure the successful execution of the modernization roadmap and the continued effectiveness of MDHS’ programs.

Description of Duties

IT professional responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the MDHS Linux operating systems and related software. Staff ensure that Linux-based networks, servers, and systems function properly by performing system tuning, performance optimization, and root cause analysis. Duties may include managing user access, expanding storage solutions, implementing security measures and supporting automation platforms like Ansible, manage Red Hat Satellite. The resource(s) will work at the direction of the assigned state manager, and duties may include the following:

· Installation and Configuration of Linux Systems - Installs, configures, and maintains Linux operating systems and related software. Installs and upgrades software, maintains software licenses, and patch Linux servers. Install and configure Linux systems, including back-end databases and scripts, and perform system maintenance by reviewing error logs. The vendor must have experienced Linux Administrators with a proven track record in installing, configuring, and maintaining Linux systems, ensuring seamless integration and functionality of related software and systems.

· Maintenance and Support of Automation Platforms - Maintain and support the Ansible automation platform and Red Hat Satellite at MDHS. Configure and maintain the Ansible environment, including managing inventory files, environment variables, and host groups. Create, modify, and manage Ansible playbooks to automate tasks and processes like software installation, system updates, and network configuration. Manage

AMQ templates and Fuse installation templates on the Ansible automation platform. Create new templates to support deployments on new servers. Write Ansible playbooks to apply IRS security fixes. The vendor must have expertise in Ansible and Red Hat Satellite, capable of managing, supporting, and automating processes within these platforms to ensure efficient and secure system operations.

· System Performance and Root Cause Analysis - Ensure that the MDHS Linux-based networks, servers, and systems are functioning properly. Support the respective teams by performing system tuning, performance optimization, and root cause analysis. Address all application and system issues raised by the DBA team, ESB team, and SID team at MDHS. The vendor must provide skilled Linux Administrators adept at system tuning, performance analysis and troubleshooting to maintain optimal system performance and resolve issues promptly.

· Storage Management - Add additional storage to the mount points/Linux servers to support the growth of application data. The vendor must have experience in managing and expanding storage solutions for Linux servers to accommodate growing data needs.

· User Access Control - Control user access and manage who can access what within the Linux environment. The vendor must have the ability to implement and manage robust access control measures to ensure secure and appropriate access to MDHS systems and data.

· Backup and Recovery - Support Data Domain, which is used at MDHS for backup. Perform cleanup of Data Domain to address performance issues. The vendor must have experience in managing backup solutions, particularly Data Domain, ensuring data integrity and addressing performance issues.

· System Upgrades and Licensing - Upgrade Linux servers from end-of-life (EOL) versions to the latest versions. Maintain Red Hat Satellite and apply for licenses. The vendor must provide expertise in upgrading and maintaining Linux servers, including managing Red Hat Satellite installations and licenses.

· Scripting and High Availability (HA) Support - Write bash scripts to support high availability (HA) and get notified via email when systems are down. The vendor must have proficiency in scripting (bash) to support high availability and monitoring of Linux systems.

Required Skills and Experience

· Minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a Linux Administrator.

· Experience with configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, etc.).

· Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).

· Hands-on experience with server hardware and software troubleshooting.

· Experience in managing web servers and databases.

· Familiarity with cloud services.

· Knowledge of security best practices and compliance.

· Experience with automation and DevOps practices.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $70.00 - $80.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to Relocate:

• Jackson, MS 39201: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Jackson, MS 39201

Salary : $70 - $80