2025-UWMSN-00894-RFP Amendment 1 - Data Center Colocation Services.docx

Amendment #1 Data Center Colocation Services

2025-UWMSN-00894-RFP

Amendment 1 is issued to answer questions from bidders and extend the due date to June 9, 2025.

10-25kW rack density is listed as a mandatory requirement in 3.1.4. However, we would like to know how you would accommodate higher-density racks as per 3.8.16. It’s likely a rack up to 50kW would benefit from liquid cooling.

Move-in dates depend on availability of suitable fiber paths and service provider site enhancements that may be required.

We will entertain a solution provided by the service provider or a solution brought by UW that can be plumbed into existing infrastructure.

Once we can take occupancy (post network and facility work commissioning) we begin migration from existing facilities immediately. It will not happen as a bulk move or rapid deployment from existing facilities but will be a steady flow for about 1.5-2 years.

We need to ensure that .5MW power capacity is available immediately (post network and facility work) with a plan to grow up to 1.5-2MW within 2 years.

See answer #1. The requirements are in the Word document and the 500kW is the amount we want available immediately.

UW has specific transport (circuit) specifications as identified in the RFP though we do not have specific requirements regarding mandatory carrier(s).

No.

Any information contained in the Proposer’s response that is proprietary must be detailed separately on form DOA-3027. Marking of the entire response as proprietary will neither be accepted nor honored. The University cannot guarantee that all such material noted remains confidential, particularly if it becomes a significant consideration in contract award. Information will only be kept confidential to the extent allowed by State of Wisconsin Public Disclosure Law (refer to Standard Terms and Conditions, Section 27.0).

This form is available in the sourcing module Supplier Acknowledgements/Certifications section 2.1.5, complete and upload it with your response.

Available upon contract execution. See answers #2 and #3.

Correct.

(2025-uwmsn-00894-RFP) a few months ago. Should we re-submit?

25-102824-RFI Request for Information was issued solely for information and planning purposes for a future Request for Proposal. It did not constitute a solicitation, and no award/contract would result from the RFI.

Regardless of whether you responded to the RFI, to be considered for RFP 2025-UWMSN-00894-RFP, please register with Shop@UW and respond to the RFP.

See answer #4.

The University will extend one week, to June 9, 2025.

The RFP does include requirements for secure storage and questions related to the availability of conference rooms and office space.

See 3.6.2, 3.6.4, 3.3.8

See answer #47. The quantity of racks will grow with time, to answer this question requires more detail about when the sample is taken (initial 6 months, 1 year in, 3 years in, etc.) We currently prefer 30" wide (31.5), 48" deep, 45 RU tall racks.

Number of cabinets depends on power density levels supported by the provider.

The 150 mile driving distance requirement is mandatory.

See section 2.1 Supplier Acknowledgements/Certifications.

Question 2.1.3. allows proposers to provide modifications to the terms and conditions. They must be mutually agreed upon.

See answer #2

See answer #3

See answer #1

See answer #3

See answer #2

See answer #3

No

Correct.

The UW will lead all aspects of the migration efforts. At this time we do not anticipate needing migration planning assistance from the vendor.

We would entertain use of a Data Center Infrastructure Management system if available. See 3.10.5

We are looking for remote hands only for physical hardware support.

We are currently not running any racks at this level but that is due to constraints at our existing facility. We anticipate needing these capacities, however, to support higher density installations.

Generally we use a combination of AP8865's and APDU10452ME(MO) in 20/30/60 configurations as needed.

See #33, 34, #1.

UW equipment may colocate within a room or cage with other customers. We may have a need for a dedicated cage in order to comply with specific regulatory requirements in the future, however in general UW equipment does not require its own cage.

We do expect UW equipment to be fully segregated into its own racks, not commingled with non-UW customers within the same rack, and the racks be contiguous as much as possible for networking simplicity.

See answers #47 and 51

The increase in power is a combination of migration from existing facilities and growth.

We are not running a Disaster Recovery (DR) environment, we generally configure High Availability (HA) systems across multiple on and off-campus facilities, the ramp-up projections are a combination of migration from existing facilities and growth.

The research computation workloads deployed as higher-density racks will not have a DR site.

If the services are identified in a requirement question, then they will be scored. You may also list any related optional services you offer.

See 3.8.4 and 3.8.12 in the RFP. UW may seek clarifying information throughout the evaluation process.

See 3.3.2. The University will be the sole judge of equivalent acceptability. We would expect SLAs and / or other supporting documentation to demonstrate the proposer’s self-attestation.

Both please.

We prefer contiguity as it simplifies our in room networking deployment and saves us money in that regard.

However, if there are different spaces serving different purposes, for example a dedicated room for liquid cooling solutions or higher-density racks, we may split our deployment across multiple spaces.

Network interconnect connectivity to Cloud service providers, WiscNet and Internet2 is not needed or required. However, WiscNet may provide transport (circuit) services that meet specifications identified in the RFP. UW will provide our own cloud, Internet2 and WiscNet network interconnection services.

The exact number is not known at this time and would be negotiated. We could roughly anticipate about 80-100 30” racks within the first 2 years.

Number of cabinets depends on power density levels supported by the provider.

We want to see both options represented.

As long as a crosswalk table or some other key is present to help us understand what you translated into your local parlance.

The initial floorspace reservation would likely be in the 600-900 sqft range but exact numbers are not known at this time.

See #47.

Likely L10ft x D5ft x H10ft or larger.

In-room networking, in-rack liquid cooling solutions possibly, stand-alone rack systems, other networking as described in the RFP Phase 2 section.

See answer #17

We are scoring based on dedicated secure storage ability, and are interested in what other amenities are available such as conference rooms, office space, etc.

Exact configurations are not known at this time but we are considering Liquid to Air rack-based direct liquid cooling (DLC) and variations on that theme. We are just getting our first requests from researchers and will need to work with them to understand specifics.

We expect to be at 500kW within the first year and a half to 2 years but an exact power ramp schedule is unknown at this time and is highly determined by migration pacing and new growth requests.

See answers #2 & 3

Can UW Madison provide an estimated contract award date?

See answers #2 & 3

See answers #2 & 3, we expect to request any site tours within approximately 3 months of the RFP due date. Timing of all steps depends on the number of responses and other factors.