Request for quote for firm fixed priced order for NEW BRAND NAME Dell Blade Servers. This action will support engineering groups for the procurement of IT Equipment including Dell blade servers. Please see attachment "Dell Blade Salient Characteristics for CHESS RFQ" for full description of items to be quoted.
DELL BRAND NAME ONLY!
FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION!
Evaluation Criteria: The Government will award a contract to the offeror's proposal based on best value.
All salient characteristics/specs must be met and included in quote for consideration. No other Brand Name or substitutions are allowed.
Contract will be awarded without discussions.
Quote must be ALL inclusive of all costs/pricing, fees, shipping, handling and delivery. Acceptance and inspection are at Government facility.
The Government reserves the right to increase quantities per the following clause(s): FAR 52.217-6 Option for increased quantity.
Salient Characteristics, ACC-DTA Clauses and Local Narratives (delivery orders included), Army Contract Writing System (ACWS) Transition Information for Offerors, and Instructions to offerors documents are attached. RFQ closes on 4/18/2025 at 3 pm (EST). No quotes will be accepted after. No exceptions.
All questions regarding this RFQ MUST be sent to daphne.b.philson.civ@army.mil no later than 4/15/2025 at 3 pm (EST) to allow for a response.
ALL QUOTES MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH ARMY CHESS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
RFQ was posted to CHESS IT MART on 4/9/25, and all quotes due via CHESS IT MART on 4/18/25 at 3pm EST.
CHESS IT MART Portal: https://chess.army.mil/
MUST be a registered contractor.
CHESS Customer Support Team: armychess@army.mil
Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm EST.
In accordance with AFARS 9-4. Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS)
a. CHESS is the mandatory source for all purchases of commercial-off-the-shelf software, desktops, notebook
computers, video teleconferencing equipment, and other commercial Information Technology (IT) equipment ( e.g.,
routers, servers, printers, peripherals, regardless of dollar value). CHESS is the mandatory source for all Army IT
purchases, except for the Air National Guard, which is exempt from the CHESS requirement and must purchase IT
through AFADVANTAGE/GSA-2GIT to retain IT compatibility. Per AFARS 5108.7403, before procuring commercial
software outside of the CHESS contracts, the contracting officer or contract ordering official CH must ensure that
the requiring activity obtains a waiver. Any IT hardware or software purchase made outside of CHESS requires a
Statement of Non-availability (SoNA). See AFARS 5139.101-90(a) and AR 25-1.
b. All desktops and notebooks must be purchased during one of the Consolidated Buy ordering periods that occur
three times annually (Oct/Jan, Feb/May, and Jun/Sep). Consolidated Buy exception memos are prepared by the
requiring activity and are approved by an O6/GS-15 (or equivalent) within the requiring activity and must remain a
part of the transaction document file. An exception memo example is available at CHESS Exception Request.
c. IT hardware or software purchases require an Army Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-6 approved Information
Technology Approval System (ITAS) Memorandum. CHs must include the ITAS Approval Memorandum in the
transaction file along with all other supporting documentation. Supporting documentation must include
documentation submitted with the ITAS approval request such as a CHESS SoNA. The CHESS website provides
information concerning ITAS approvals. CHs may also consult their local command for guidance. The ITAS Approval
website is located at ALL QUOTES MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH ARMY CHESS. NO EXCEPTIONS.
RFQ was posted to CHESS IT MART on 3/25/25, and all quotes due via CHESS IT MART on 4/8/25 at 1pm EST.
CHESS IT MART Portal: https://chess.army.mil/
MUST be a registered contractor.
CHESS Customer Support Team: armychess@army.mil
Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm EST.
In accordance with AFARS 9-4. Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS)
a. CHESS is the mandatory source for all purchases of commercial-off-the-shelf software, desktops, notebook
computers, video teleconferencing equipment, and other commercial Information Technology (IT) equipment ( e.g.,
routers, servers, printers, peripherals, regardless of dollar value). CHESS is the mandatory source for all Army IT
purchases, except for the Air National Guard, which is exempt from the CHESS requirement and must purchase IT
through AFADVANTAGE/GSA-2GIT to retain IT compatibility. Per AFARS 5108.7403, before procuring commercial
software outside of the CHESS contracts, the contracting officer or contract ordering official CH must ensure that
the requiring activity obtains a waiver. Any IT hardware or software purchase made outside of CHESS requires a
Statement of Non-availability (SoNA). See AFARS 5139.101-90(a) and AR 25-1.
b. All desktops and notebooks must be purchased during one of the Consolidated Buy ordering periods that occur
three times annually (Oct/Jan, Feb/May, and Jun/Sep). Consolidated Buy exception memos are prepared by the
requiring activity and are approved by an O6/GS-15 (or equivalent) within the requiring activity and must remain a
part of the transaction document file. An exception memo example is available at CHESS Exception Request.
c. IT hardware or software purchases require an Army Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-6 approved Information
Technology Approval System (ITAS) Memorandum. CHs must include the ITAS Approval Memorandum in the
transaction file along with all other supporting documentation. Supporting documentation must include
documentation submitted with the ITAS approval request such as a CHESS SoNA. The CHESS website provides
information concerning ITAS approvals. CHs may also consult their local command for guidance. The ITAS Approval
website is located at https://cprobe.army.mil/enterprise-portal/web/itas/home.
d. Any IT hardware or software purchase made outside of CHESS requires a SoNA. A SoNA is a notice that a
particular product is not currently available through a CHESS contract. It is not a waiver to purchase, nor does it
authorize use on the Army network. For detailed instructions on SoNA requirements and how to obtain a SoNA, see
CHESS SONA..
d. Any IT hardware or software purchase made outside of CHESS requires a SoNA. A SoNA is a notice that a
particular product is not currently available through a CHESS contract. It is not a waiver to purchase, nor does it
authorize use on the Army network. For detailed instructions on SoNA requirements and how to obtain a SoNA, see
CHESS SONA.
Background
The U.S. Army is seeking to procure Dell Blade Servers through a firm fixed price order as part of the CHESS (Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions) initiative. This procurement aims to support engineering groups within the Army by providing essential IT equipment. The contract is intended for full and open competition, emphasizing that only Dell brand products will be accepted, with no substitutions allowed.
Work Details
The contractor will be responsible for supplying Dell Blade Servers that meet all specified salient characteristics outlined in the attached document 'Dell Blade Salient Characteristics for CHESS RFQ'. The quote submitted must include all costs associated with the procurement, including pricing, fees, shipping, handling, and delivery. Acceptance and inspection of the servers will occur at a Government facility. All quotes must be submitted through the Army CHESS portal, and no other brand names or substitutions are permitted.
Place of Performance
The geographic location for performance includes various Government facilities where acceptance and inspection of the servers will take place.
