A24-1153 HPC Cluster RFP Solicitation.pdf

Ames National Laboratory is operated by Iowa State University for the U.S. Department of Energy.

TRANSMITTAL LETTER

SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES (>SAT)

DATE: 3/19/2024 Sent via email from

AMES NATIONAL LABORATORY

PROCUREMENT OFFICE

211 TASF, 2408 PAMMEL DR

AMES, IA 50011-2408

www.ameslab.gov

TO: ALL OFFERORS

SUBJECT: Request for Proposal (RFP) No. A24-1153

Dear Sir or Madame:

Ames National Laboratory (referred to as “AmesLab” or the “Laboratory”), operated by Iowa State University (ISU) under Prime Contract DE-AC02-07CH11358, as amended, with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking to acquire the goods or services described in this RFP. Your firm is invited to participate in this solicitation by submitting a written proposal pursuant to the instructions outlined herein.

Below are procurement milestone dates pertaining to subject solicitation:

Procurement Event

Due date & time

(ALL TIME LISTED ARE CENTRAL TIME ZONE)

Cut-off Date for Questions. Questions regarding the solicitation shall be submitted via email to the Procurement Agent no later than:

4/3/2024 by 12 PM CDT

Proposal Submission Due Date. Proposals shall be submitted via email to the Procurement Agent no later than:

4/10/2024 by 5 PM CDT

Anticipated award date of Purchase Order is: 4/17/2024

Please review all attachments to this solicitation and follow the proposal instructions before you submit your offer.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD OFFERORS DIRECTLY CONTACT ANYONE OTHER THAN THE

PROCUREMENT AGENT OR HIS DESIGNEE REGARDING THIS SOLICITATION.

Very Respectfully, Jonah Tibbits Procurement Agent http://www.ameslab.gov/

AMES LABORATORY SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES (>SAT)

Form 48300.070 Procurement Revision 0, 3/1/2022 Page 2 of 6

1. SOLICITATION NO. 2. SOL. ISSUE DATE 3. PROCUREMENT AGENT 3.a. EMAIL ADDRESS 3.b. PHONE NO.

RFP A24-1153 3/19/2024 Jonah Tibbits jtibbits@ameslab.gov 515-294-8116

4. PROJECT TITLE 5. OFFER DUE DATE / LOCAL TIME

High Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster 4/10/2024 / 5 PM CDT

6. DELIVER TO FOR LTL/CONTAINER FREIGHT 6.a. DELIVERY TO FOR SMALL PACKAGES 7. THIS ACQUISITION IS UNRESTRICTED

Ames Laboratory Warehouse 2437 Kooser Dr Ames, IA 50011-3608

Ames Laboratory Spedding Hall Dock 2416 Pammel Dr Ames, IA 50011-2416

Open Competition

7.a. UNRESTRICTED (APPLIES IF CHECKED IN BLOCK 7.) 7.b. NAICS CODE AND SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STANDARD

This solicitation is conducted using full and open competition. Offerors are expected to use small businesses and all classifications of small minority businesses including ANCs and Indian Tribes (SB), veteran-owned small business (VOB), service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOB), HUBZone small business (HUB), small disadvantaged business including ANCs and Indian Tribes (SDB), women-owned small business (WOSB), as sub-subcontractors to the maximum extent consistent with effective contract performance.

NAICS Code: 334112 SB Size Standard: 1,250 The small business size standard for a concern that submits an offer, other than on a construction or service acquisition, but proposes to furnish an end item that it did not itself manufacture, process, or produce is 500 employees or less if the acquisition—

(1) Is set aside for small business and has a value above the simplified acquisition threshold;

(2) Uses the HUBZone price evaluation preference regardless of dollar value, unless the offeror waives the price evaluation preference; or

(3) Is an 8(a), HUBZone, service-disabled veteran-owned, economically disadvantaged women-owned, or women-owned small business set-aside or sole-source award regardless of dollar value.

8. EDUCATIONAL DISCOUNTS

ISU manages and operates Ames Lab for the DOE as a prime contractor under DOE Contract# DE-AC02-07CH11358 (Prime Contract).

Ames Lab is not a separate legal entity from ISU. ISU manages and operates Ames Lab as a single, integrated, autonomous entity.

The relationship between ISU and the Laboratory is not a contractor – affiliated source relationship. Therefore, offerors are advised that Ames Lab is eligible to receive educational discounted pricing.

9. AUTHORIZATION TO UTILIZE GOVERNMENT SOURCES

Offerors are advised that the Laboratory is also authorized by the Government (Department of Energy) to purchase from GSA Federal Supply Schedules (FSS), NASA SEWP contract holders. Therefore, offerors may propose discounted pricing off their contracts held with these agencies.

Additionally, the Laboratory may place orders against DOE Integrated Contractor Purchasing Team (ICPT) agreements and agreements awarded by the Supply Chain Management Center (SCMC). If your firm has an active ICPT Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) or SCMS BOA for the supplies or services under this solicitation, please provide the Agreement No., and pricing information in your submission of offer.

10. NUMBER OF AWARDS PLANNED

The Laboratory intends to award one Purchase Order(s) resulting from this solicitation to that offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Laboratory, the best value, price and other factors as specified, considered.

11. OFFER ACCEPTANCE PERIOD

“Acceptance period,” as used in this provision, means the number of calendar days available to the Laboratory for awarding a Purchase Order from the date specified in this solicitation for receipt of offers. The Laboratory requires a minimum acceptance period of 30 calendar days. An offer allowing less than the Laboratory’s minimum acceptance period may be rejected.

mailto:jtibbits@ameslab.gov

Revision 0, 3/1/2022 Page 3 of 6

12. EXCEPTIONS TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Offerors MUST agree to the Laboratory's terms and conditions or state any exceptions to the terms and conditions within your proposal response. No further objections to the Laboratory's terms and conditions may be made after a proposal is submitted.

Offerors understand and agree that by submitting a proposal, they are indicating acceptance of all Ames Laboratory Terms and Conditions, as identified as attachments to this solicitation, unless such a declaration is made in advance.

The Laboratory cautions Offerors that taking exceptions to any term or condition of this solicitation (including submitting any alternate proposals that require relaxation of a requirement) may make an offer unacceptable. The Laboratory reserves the sole discretion to consider exceptions to terms and conditions or to reject any exceptions. All exceptions must be submitted with the Offeror’s proposal.

13. DISCUSSIONS 14. FIRM’S AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL

The Laboratory may evaluate offers and award a Purchase Order without discussions with offerors. Therefore, the offeror’s initial offer should contain the offeror’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. Discussions may be conducted if the Laboratory determines they are necessary. The Laboratory may reject any or all offers if such action is in the best interest of the Laboratory; accept other than the lowest offer and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received.

The offeror’s proposal must be signed by an official authorized to bind your organization and must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFP. Offeror shall appoint and list a single point of contact for negotiations and Purchase Order administration once the agreement is awarded.

15. SUBMISSION OF OFFERS

Submit signed and dated offers to the Procurement Agent’s email address listed in Block 3., above, at or before the exact time specified in Block 5. Offers shall be submitted on your company’s letterhead stationery and, as a minimum, must show—

✔ 1. The solicitation number;

✔ 2. The time specified in the solicitation for receipt of offers;

✔ 3. The name, address, and telephone number of the offeror;

✔ 4. A technical description of the items being offered in sufficient detail to evaluate compliance with the requirements in the solicitation. This may include product literature, or other documents, if necessary;

✔ 5. Terms of any express warranty;

✔ 6. Price Schedule and any discount terms;

✔ 7. “Remit to” address, if different than mailing address;

✔ 8. A completed copy of the attached Representations and Certifications;

✔ 9. A copy of Offeror’s W-9 or W-8 BEN;

✔ 10. A statement indicating if the products under this solicitation are export controlled, and, if so, the Export Control

Classification Number (ECCN);

✔ 11. Acknowledgement of Solicitation Amendments (if any);

✔ 12. Past performance information, when included as an evaluation factor, to include recent and relevant contracts for the same or similar items and other references (including contract numbers, points of contact with telephone numbers/email addresses, and other relevant information);

✔ 13. A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration;

✔ 14. ICPT BOA, SCMS BOA, GSA FSS, or NASA SEWP contract number and pricing information, if applicable; and ✔ 15. A statement specifying that “Supplier Name [Offeror] agrees that Ames Laboratory may accept this offer up to the specified days in Block 11 (or specify longer) calendar days from the date of submission of this offer”.

Revision 0, 3/1/2022 Page 4 of 6

16. PRODUCT SAMPLES

When required by the solicitation, product samples shall be submitted at or prior to the time specified for receipt of offers. Unless otherwise specified in this solicitation, these samples shall be submitted at no expense to the Government, and returned at the sender’s request and expense, unless they are destroyed during pre-award testing.

17. ALTERNATIVE OFFERS

☐ If checked, offerors are encouraged to submit multiple offers presenting alternative terms and conditions, including alternative line items, or alternative commercial products or commercial services for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation.

Each offer submitted will be evaluated separately.

17.a. ALTERNATIVE LINE ITEM PROPOSAL (APPLIES IF BLOCK 17. IS CHECKED)

(a) The Laboratory recognizes that the line items established in this solicitation may not conform to the Offeror’s practices.

Failure to correct these issues can result in difficulties in acceptance of deliverables and processing payments. Therefore, the Offeror is invited to propose alternative line items for which bids, proposals, or quotes are requested in this solicitation to ensure that the resulting Purchase Order is economically and administratively advantageous to the Laboratory and the Offeror.

(b) The Offeror may submit one or more additional proposals with alternative line items. However, acceptance of an alternative proposal is a unilateral decision made solely at the discretion of the Laboratory. Offers that do not comply with the line items specified in this solicitation may be determined to be nonresponsive or unacceptable.

18. LATE SUBMISSIONS, MODIFICATIONS, REVISIONS, AND WITHDRAWALS OF OFFERS

(a) Offerors are responsible for submitting offers, and any modifications, revisions, or withdrawals, so as to reach the Laboratory’s Procurement Agent designated in the solicitation by the time specified in the solicitation.

(b) Late Offers.

i. Any offer, modification, revision, or withdrawal of an offer received by the Procurement Agent designated in the solicitation after the exact time specified for receipt of offers is "late" and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made; the Procurement Agent determines that accepting the late offer would not unduly delay the acquisition; and-

1. If it was transmitted through an electronic commerce method authorized by the solicitation, it was received at the initial point of entry to the Procurement Agent not later than 5:00 p.m. one working day prior to the date specified for receipt of offers; or

2. There is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received by the Procurement Agent designated for receipt of offers and was under the Laboratory’s control prior to the time set for receipt of offers; or

3. If this solicitation is a request for proposals, it was the only proposal received.

ii. However, a late modification of an otherwise successful offer, that makes its terms more favorable to the Laboratory, will be considered at any time it is received and may be accepted.

(c) Acceptable evidence to establish the time of receipt at the Laboratory includes documentary evidence of receipt maintained by the Laboratory, or oral testimony or statements of Laboratory personnel.

(d) If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Laboratory processes so that offers cannot be received by the

Procurement Agent designated for receipt of offers by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Laboratory requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation or other notice of an extension of the closing date, the time specified for receipt of offers will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Laboratory processes resume.

(e) Offers may be withdrawn by written notice received at any time before the exact time set for receipt of offers. Oral offers in response to oral solicitations may be withdrawn orally. An offer may be withdrawn in person by an offeror or its authorized representative if, before the exact time set for receipt of offers, the identity of the person requesting withdrawal is established and the person signs a receipt for the withdrawal of the offer.

Revision 0, 3/1/2022 Page 5 of 6

19. TYPE OF CONTRACT 19.a. ALTERNATE CONTRACT TYPE

The Laboratory plans to award a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order under this solicitation, and all proposals must be submitted on this basis.

Alternate proposals based on other contract types will ☐, will not ☒ be considered.

20. BRAND NAME OR EQUAL

☒ If checked —

(a) One or more items called for by this solicitation have been identified by a brand-name-or-equal product description. Proposals offering equal products will be considered for award if these products are clearly identified and are determined by the Laboratory to contain all of the essential characteristics of the brand-name products referenced in the solicitation.

(b) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in the proposal that the proposal is for an equal product, the proposal will be considered as offering a brand-name product referenced in the solicitation.

(c) If the offeror proposes to furnish an equal product, the brand name and model or catalog number, if any, of the product to be furnished must be inserted in the space provided in the solicitation. The evaluation of proposals and the determination as to equality of the product offered will be based on information furnished by the offeror or identified in the proposal, as well as other information reasonably available to the Laboratory. The Laboratory is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the proposal and reasonably available to the Laboratory. Accordingly, to ensure that sufficient information is available, the offeror must furnish as a part of the proposal:

(1) All descriptive material (such as cuts, illustrations, drawings, or other information) necessary for the Laboratory to establish exactly what the offeror proposes to furnish and to determine whether the product offered meets the requirements of the solicitation; or

(2) Specific references to information previously furnished or to information otherwise available to the Laboratory to permit a determination as to equality of the product offered.

(d) If the offeror proposes to modify a product so as to make it conform to the requirements of the solicitation, the offeror must:

(1) Include in the proposal a clear description of the proposed modifications; and

(2) Clearly mark any descriptive material to show the proposed modifications.

21. MULTIPLE LINE ITEM AWARDS 22. WARRANTY INFORMATION

The Laboratory may accept any item or group of items of an offer, unless the offeror qualifies the offer by specific limitations. Unless otherwise provided in the Pricing Schedule, offers may not be submitted for quantities less than those specified. The Laboratory reserves the right to make an award on any item for a quantity less than the quantity offered, at the unit prices offered, unless the offeror specifies otherwise in the offer.

Offerors are encouraged to submit information on any standard commercial warranties provided for offered products. The Laboratory will consider these warranties in determining the most advantageous proposal, to the extent provided in the evaluation factors.

23. CREDIT CARD ORDER ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENTS

☐ If checked, The Laboratory intends to place credit card orders, using an authorized Ames Laboratory credit card, under the ordering agreement or purchase order resulting from this solicitation. Any supplier entering into an ordering agreement or awarded a purchase order as a result of this solicitation must have the capability to accept orders made with such a credit card.

24. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

Funds are available up to the Laboratory’s approved budget amount. In the event offerors’ pricing exceeds the Laboratory’s funding limitation, this solicitation may be cancelled.

Revision 0, 3/1/2022 Page 6 of 6

25. BASIS FOR AWARD/EVALUATION

☒ Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

(a) Basis for award will be LPTA with selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price. The

Laboratory will evaluate proposals for acceptability but will not rank proposals using the non-cost/price factors. Below are the ratings for LPTA:

Technical Acceptable / Unacceptable Rating Method

Rating Description Acceptable Quotation meets the requirements of this solicitation Unacceptable Quotation does not meet the requirements of this solicitation.

(b) The non-cost evaluation factors that establish the requirements of technical acceptability are as shown below:

1. Non-Cost Factor: Delivery within approximately one-year

2. Non-Cost Factor: Any exceptions to the standard Laboratory Terms & Conditions

3. Non-Cost Factor: Technical acceptability

4. Non-Cost Factor: Authorized reseller

5. Non-Cost Factor: Energy Efficient Products – Energy Star certified

6. Non-Cost Factor: Offers must be registered in SAM.gov

(c) Past performance evaluation. Below are the ratings for past performance:

Past Performance Acceptable / Unacceptable Rating Method

Rating Description Acceptable Based on the offeror’s performance record, the Laboratory has a reasonable expectation that the offeror will successfully perform the required effort, or the offeror’s performance record is unknown.

Unacceptable Based on the offeror’s performance record, the Laboratory does not have a reasonable expectation that the offeror will be able to successfully perform the required effort.

26. NOTICE OF AWARD

Notice of Award. The Laboratory may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are discussions after its receipt, before an offer’s specified expiration time, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, will result in a binding Purchase Order without further action by either party.

27. PROPOSAL PREPARATION COST

This solicitation does not commit the Laboratory to pay any cost for the preparation and submission of a response to this RFP.

28. SOLICITATION ATTACHMENTS

1. Appendix A – Term and Conditions for FP Commercial Products and Commercial Services dated 3-12-24

2. Appendix B – High Performance Computing Cluster Specifications