28 EQUI RFP-1660 GPU High Performance Computing Cluster

Background
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to design, deliver, install, and support a large-scale GPU High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster for Texas IGNITE. This initiative aims to enhance research capabilities across various fields including hypersonics, energy, national security, healthcare, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology. The project is crucial for maintaining Texas' competitive edge in the global AI landscape and driving economic growth.

Work Details
The selected vendor will be responsible for the complete delivery of a turn-key HPC cluster that includes:

- **System Design:** Propose an integrated architecture meeting technical requirements.
- **Procurement and Logistics:** Manage sourcing and delivery of hardware/software components.
- **Physical Installation:** Full installation including racking and cabling.
- **System Configuration:** Configure hardware, firmware, networking fabrics, operating systems, and core software stack.
- **Security:** Implement multi-tenant capabilities with dynamic access controls.
- **Acceptance Testing:** Execute an Acceptance Test Plan to validate system functionality and performance metrics.
- **Project Management:** Provide dedicated project management with key milestones.
- **Training and Documentation:** Offer comprehensive training for system administrators and users.
- **Support:** Provide a multi-year warranty and support plan for all components.

Period of Performance
The contract is expected to be executed for an initial period of three years with potential extensions based on mutual agreement.

Place of Performance
The work will primarily take place at the Texas A&M System owned data center or a co-location facility within Texas as specified by the vendor's proposal.

Bidder Requirements
Vendors must demonstrate experience in deploying large-scale GPU supercomputers (500+ GPUs) within the last 24 months. They must also comply with NIST 800-53 and NIST 800-171 frameworks for security requirements.