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The purpose of Amendment III is to extend the solicitation date until 5/19/2023 @ 11:00AM EST.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged, as a result of this amendment.

The purpose of Amendment II is to extend the solicitation date until 5/17/2023 @ 11:00AM EST.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged, as a result of this amendment.

Inquiries & Responses:

1. 
   

   Please confirm the base requirement is for sixteen (16) 2U high density servers (computer clusters), each with four (4) nodes per server, totaling 64 total nodes. Requirement could be interpreted as four servers each with four nodes, totaling sixteen nodes so we are seeking clarification.

   
   
   

   The requirement is for 16 nodes. A 2U chassis is understood to contain 4 nodes, so 4 2U chassis wouldmeet the base requirement of 16 nodes.

   
   


2. 
   

   The solicitation suggests there is an existing HPC infrastructure in place. Typically to ensure optimal performance of the entire HPC environment, it is best that all nodes utilize a similar architecture. With that in mind, can the Government identify for what architecture its' application were written? For example, what processors (AMD or Intel) are currently being utilized?

   
   The current nodes are Intel architecture (e.g., Xeon 4216 as well as older Xeon CPUs).


3. 
   

   Assuming there is an existing HPC infrastructure in place, will the SSDs currently deployed be used at any time in these new clusters? If so, what is the interface type (SATA, SAS, M.2 NVMe) and form factor of the currently deployed drives?

   
   
   

   All drives in the current system use a SATA interface. We do not anticipate that these will be used in thenew cluster nodes. The new nodes may utilize any interface type.

   
   


4. 
   

   Do the clusters need to support external hot-swappable drives? If so, what form factor and interface type is required?

   
   
   

   No, hot-swappable drives are not required.

   
   


5. 
   

   The solicitation calls for "10 GbE network adapters." Please confirm the Government is requiring one 10 GbE adapter per node. Is there a preference or requirement for the port type (RJ45 copper or SFP+)? The answer to this helps to determine the appropriate switch to propose.

   
   
   

   1 x 10 GbE adapter per node is sufficient. No requirement for the port type.

   
   


6. 
   

   For the required 10GbE switch, please provide the required specifications for the device, including port type (copper, SFP, etc), number of ports, and whether the switch should be managed or unmanaged.

   
   
   

   The vendor is free to propose any reasonable solution here.

   
   


7. 
   

   The solicitation states "Contractor shall provide sufficient ethernet cabling to connect each node to each switch." Without knowing how the Government intends to mount the computer clusters and switches within the network rack, it is impossible to know the correct length cables to provide. Can the Government provide either the specific length of cables needed or provide a diagram of the expected network rack layout?

   
   
   

   Assume the proposed solution requires 9U (1U for the switch and 4x2U chassis for 16 nodes) and thatthese will be rack-mounted in 9U of contiguous rack space.

   
   


8. 
   

   The Government specifies that equipment will be installed in the Black Box Elite cabinet and that Contractor is responsible for rack mounting hardware for the computer clusters. Is the Contractor also responsible for providing the rack mounting hardware for the PDU? Or does the Government already have said hardware?

   
   
   

   The vendor should supply mounting rails compatible with the specified cabinet. Frequently these requireno additional hardware.

   
   


9. 
   

   The Government states the Contractor must provide a three-year warranty on equipment. Please confirm the SSDs in failed hardware will be retained by the Government regardless of whether the drive itself is what failed and that defective media retention is required as part of the warranty.

   
   
   

   The government prefers to retain failed SSDs.

   
   


10. 
    

    Please also confirm that in the event a server/node is to be shipped as an advance replacement for a failed server/node, the Contractor does not need to include the SSD unless the SSD is the failed component.

    
    
    

    Confirmed.

    
    


11. 
    

    For Line Item 0001 pricing, please confirm the Government wants per unit (i.e. per computer cluster node) pricing with a unit quantity of 16 as opposed to a single lot price for all 16 computer cluster nodes.

    
    
    

    Confirmed.

    
    


12. 
    

    For Line Item 0003 pricing, please confirm the Government wants per unit (i.e., per computer cluster node) pricing with a unit quantity of 96 as opposed to a single lot price for all 96 computer cluster nodes.

    
    
    

    Confirmed, in units of 4 nodes (1 chassis) as stated above.

    
    

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged, as a result of the responses.

The purpose of Amendment I is to:

1. Respond to submitted inquiries;


2. Extend the submission of quotations due date until 5/16/2023

Inquiries

1. Are there any specific RAID requirements for the compute cluster? - NO


2. Is there an exact brand of line items? - NO


3. Will GPUs be included in either the original servers or the second batch of 96 servers that may be ordered? - NO GPUs are included in this order.


4. How many ports are required for the 10G Network Switch? - A sufficient number to connect all purchased nodes with one (1) cable to the switch plus at least two (2) additional ports.


5. Does the RFQ call for a total of four 2U chassis each with 4 compute nodes for a total 16 compute nodes or does it call for sixteen 2U chassis each with 4 compute nodes for a total 64 compute nodes? - The RFQ calls for 16 nodes. This means 4 chassis, each containing 4 nodes for a total of 16 nodes. It does not mean 16 chassis. Similarly, the secondary extension for "up to" 96 nodes would be up to 24 chassis with each chassis containing 4 nodes. It does not mean 96 chassis with 4 nodes for a total of 384 nodes.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged, as a result of this modification.

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION 1333ND23QNB640251

Compute Nodes

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6- Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation document will not be issued. This solicitation is being issued under the authority of FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

This solicitation is a Request for Quotations (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-02, effective 03/16/2023.

The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334111 – Electronic Computer Manufacturing with a Small Business size standard of 1,250 employees. This acquisition will be competed as a Total Small Business Set-Aside.

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