24-000555 JA- Sole Source 25K-250K - BTM.pdf

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity.

a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS/NIH

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH)

b. Sponsoring organization.

High Performance Computing Services (HPC) Center for Information Technology (CIT) Acquisition Planning and Management Group (APMG)

c. Project Officer information.

Benjamin Miller 6555 Rock Spring Drive, Room Bethesda, MD 20817 benjamin.miller@nih.gov 301.830.0835

2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved.

a. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

This procurement will be used to obtain time on TACC computer systems (primarily Lonestar6) and space on TACC storage systems (Corral) to be distributed to NIH intramural researchers for approved computational research projects.

The objective is to distribute the acquired computer time and storage space on TACC systems to NIH intramural researchers to further computational research within the IRP. The CIT HPC staff will manage the allocations and work within the context of the broader HPC alternatives assessment project to report back on the use of TACC resources. The results of this pilot will be used to guide further strategic directions for provisioning external high performance computing resources to the NIH Intramural Research Program

b. Project background.

In 2022, the NIH HPC staff conducted a pilot to provide access to high performance computing systems at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC). The results of this initial pilot warranted a follow-on, and the NIH Enterprise IT Council (EITC) approved funding under the Digital NIH program for a subsequent pilot, also

Sole Source Justification for Acquisitions Between $25K – $250K managed by CIT HPC. This procurement is to allocate the remainder of the Digital NIH funding to TACC to provide high performance computing resources to NIH intramural researchers.

3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value).

a. Project title. Compute and Storage resources for Digital NIH Intramural pilot.

b. Project description. This procurement will be used to obtain time on TACC computer systems (primarily Lonestar6) and space on TACC storage systems (Corral) to be distributed to NIH intramural researchers for approved computational research projects.

Description Qty Unit Price Per

Unit Total Cost

Compute hours 480,982 EA $0.45 $216,441.90

1 year disk storage in terabytes 564 EA $59.50 $33,558.00

GRAND TOTAL $ 249,999.90

Requirement type.

Research & development (R&D) R & D support services Support services (non-R&D) Supplies/equipment Information technology (IT) Construction Architect-engineer (A & E) services Design-build Other (specify):

Type of action.

New requirement Follow-on Other (specify):

Proposed contract/order type.

Firm-fixed-price Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee):

Cost-plus-fixed-fee Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee):

Time and materials Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements):

Other (specify):

Completion Form Term form

Acquisition identification number.

A contract number will be identified when the award is issued.

c. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period.

The total estimate is $249,999.90 POP is July 15, 2024 – June 15, 2025.

4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition.

This acquisition is conducted under FAR 13.106-1 (b)(1)(i)

(b) Soliciting from a single source.

(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

(i) Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

The program office ---no other product that meet the TACC

5. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s).

Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC).

10100 Burnet Road ꞏ Austin, TX 78758-4497, R8700 (512) 475-9411 ꞏ Fax: (512) 475-9445 www.tacc.utexas.edu

b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). Procuring high performance computing and storage resources at the Texas Advanced Computing Center as part of an ongoing pilot being managed by HPC to allow NIH intramural researchers to use resources at TACC.

Unique qualifications of the contractor - TACC is the largest NSF-funded supercomputer center. It has a wide array of systems that can meet the needs of NIH researchers and is focused on open science at all different scales. This contrasts with other supercomputer centers who focus on more limited researcher populations, scientific disciplines, or only on particular problem sizes. TACC also has a dedicated team of life sciences specialists to provide tier-2 support for NIH researchers.

6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies.

There are no other facts supporting this justification to be listed. All supporting facts are stated in the preceding and following paragraphs.

7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable.

The Contracting Officer will decide that the anticipated costs will be fair and reasonable based on a comparison of proposed prices to historical prices paid, whether by the Government or other than the Government, for the same or similar items, in accordance with FAR 13.106-3 (a).

8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted.

The HPC conducted market research to identify vendors for products meeting the NIH's FedRamp requirements for Compute and Storage resources for Digital NIH Intramural. This involved evaluating the existing infrastructure, conducting a market study, and recommending sustainable options.

As a result of the Sources Sought Notice, no small business vendors responded, who could provide the unique technical capabilities necessary to meet the requirements of NIH HPC customers except for TACC. TACC is the only vendor that meets all the requirements.

9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition.

N/A

10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition.

No other sources have expressed written interest written interest in the proposed acquisition except for TACC.

11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services.

The government will seek competition for any future request for this service, by placing a source sought notification and competitively seeking vendors with the capabilities to perform these services. The brand name, product(s), or features are essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates that only this vendor identified can provide what is requested. There are no other companies with similar products to meet the agency’s needs currently. For the reasons stated only this product/service will satisfy agency requirements for commonality, interchangeability, and interoperability.