Posted: May 19, 2010, 10:24 a.m. EDT
This notice is a sources sought synopsis. No solicitation is being issued at this time; while a formal solicitation may be issued at a later date, this notice does not commit the government to ultimately award a contract.
Synopsis:
Added: 19 May, 2010
Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Contracting Division (RDK), 2251 Maxwell St SE, Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5773
DESC: Contracting Point of Contact: Liza S. Herrera, Contracting Officer, 505-846-6644. The Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate, Kirtland AFB, NM is seeking sources for the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) Defense Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC) contract to provide management, development, operations, and outreach for the center, located in the Maui Research and Technology Park (MTRP) in the town of Kihei on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) Defense Supercomputing Resource Center (DSRC) is one of six Defense Supercomputing Resource Centers, forming an integral part of the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP). The mission of the MHPCC DSRC is: (1) to develop advanced high performance computing applications and tools, (2) to deploy state-of-the-art high performance computing and communications systems, and (3) to accelerate the transition of these advanced defense technologies into superior warfighting capabilities. The MHPCC DSRC is charged with responsibility for processing and disseminating data at unclassified, collateral and compartmented levels. MHPCC provides unclassified, sensitive computing services, special computing services, user interface toolset client development, user training, development and infrastructure support for the Computational Research and Engineering for Acquisition Tools and Environments (CREATE) project of the DoD HPCMP, and effective management and processes (leadership shared with Engineer Research and Development Center DSRC). The MHPCC DSRC maintains expertise in Software Application Engineering (HPC, Distributed Processing, and Software Integration Across a Range of Security Levels varying from Unclassified to Top Secret SCI; and Technical Research and Development Projects), Large-Scale Data Management (Events Monitoring as a Function of Time and Geography; Terabyte Level Database (Oracle) Architecture, Enhancements, and Integration; Maritime and Airborne Cargo Tracking and Analysis Decision Support Systems), Modeling and Simulation Support (Simulations and Algorithm Design; Expertise in Parallel Software Optimization, Software Integration, and Test-bed Engineering; and Virtual Training and Simulation Test-bed Environment), and Subject Matter Expertise in Scalable Computing Technology (High Performance Parallel Computer Applications and Optimization; Image Processing Algorithms and Information Fusion; High Fidelity Radar Simulations; Weather Forecasting Engineering Services; Computational Chemistry and Bio-Chemistry; and Space Physics). The Mana system deployed at the MHPCC is currently among the most powerful systems in the HPCMP and consists of 1,152 Power Edge M110 Compute nodes with eight 2.66 Ghz Nehalem cores per node, 24 GB of memory per node, Dual DataRate InfiniBand Interconnect, 350 TB direct attached storage using the Luster File System, 16 TB disk buffer and Sun/StorageTek SL8500 tape archive with 50 TB storage, expandable to 1.6 PBN. The MHPCC DSRC is exceptionally well connected with both unclassified and classified networks, including but not limited to Defense Research and Engineering Network (DREN) (OC-12), Secret Defense Research and Engineering Network (SDREN) (OC-12), Hawai i Wide Area Network (OC-12), SIPRNET (T1), MDANet (OC-3), Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS) (OC-3 to PACOM), and Point-to-Point Encrypted Connectivity at Multiple Security Levels. The primary objective of these assets is to provide computational support to AFRL, Maui Space Surveillance Systems (MSSS), the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP), and other DoD users of the HPC high performance computation facilities. Secondary objectives consisting of approximately 10% of the effort include, but are not limited to: fostering technology exchange between U.S. industrial and academic entities, maintaining the educational outreach objectives through the establishment of Educational Partnership Agreements (EPA) and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA), as well as continual development in the area of high performance computing technology to support DoD supercomputing objectives. The contractor shall support and honor any Educational Partnership Agreements (EPA) and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) AFRL elects to enter into to support the secondary objectives. This contract shall provide for both classified and unclassified processing, including TS/SCI tasks. The anticipated value is approximately $15-$20M/year with a potential maximum term of 10 years, plus funding for potential hardware upgrades and three month contract phase-in / phase-out periods for a total estimated value of $350M.
All entities having the capability to perform this work are invited to submit a Statement of Capability (SOC) to assist the Government in making a set-aside decision. Based upon responses to this announcement, the Government may elect to set aside this acquisition for small businesses, qualifying 8(a) businesses, certified HubZone small businesses, or research and educational programs and activities: historically black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions of higher education that meet the definition of "Covered Institution" as defined in 10 USC 2362 Covered Educational Institution is (1) an institution of higher education eligible for assistance under title III or IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1501 et seq); or (2) and accredited postsecondary minority institution.
The Statement of Capabilities shall contain the following information:
1) All entities submitting Statements of Capability should indicate whether they are a small, small disadvantaged, 8(a), certified HubZone small businesses, or woman owned businesses, or research and educational programs and activities: historically black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions of higher education. Small Disadvantaged Businesses must be certified by the SBA (contact your local SBA office or online at www.sba.gov).
2) State your company's experience in the past five years in supercomputing operations and management related to assets and/or technologies similar to those at the MHPCC DSRC in the areas of high performance computing, development of scaleable software tools and applications, image processing and visualization, and the transition of these technologies to a leading edge, production environment
3) Availability of an adequate number of qualified personnel to support the effort.
4) Include any other specific and pertinent information as it pertains to this particular area of procurement that would enhance our consideration and evaluation of the information.
The Statement of Capability, not including resumes, shall be limited to 15 pages, printed on one-side only, using standard Times or Times New Roman font no smaller than 12 point. An original Statement of Capability and two (2) copies must be sent to the Contracting Officer no later than 1200 p.m. noon (mountain daylight time - MDT) on 21 June 10. Foreign firms are advised they will NOT be allowed to participate as the prime contractor or as a first-tier subcontractor.
The operations, research, and test data produced under a resultant contract may contain Military Critical Technology List (MCTL) information whose export is restricted by the Export Control Act (Title 22, USC, Section 2751, et seq.) or the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (Title 50, USC, App. 40-1, et seq.). Therefore, only offerors who are certified by the Defense Information Service (DLIS) may submit statements of capability. Contact US/Canada Joint Certification Office, DLIS, Federal Center, 74 Washington Ave, North, Battle Creek, Michigan, 49017-3084, (800) 352-3572, http://www.dlis.dla.mil/jcp/, for further information on certification and the approval process.
Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) rules, procedures, and responsibilities, as described in FAR Subpart 9.5 may be applicable. If applicable, the general rules of FAR 9.505-1 through 9.505-4 would apply.
This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Any costs incurred as a result of this announcement shall be borne by the offeror and will not be charged to the Government for reimbursement.
Submit all questions/comments electronically to Ms. Liza S. Herrera at liza.herrera@kirtland.af.mil . Responses will be posted electronically.
Contracting Office Address:
2251 Maxwell St SE
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117
Place of Performance:
Maui Research and Technology Park
Kihei, Hawaii 96753
United States
