HPE_Cray_2024_1.pdf

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Agency and Activity. The Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey plans to contract on a sole source basis. This document sets forth the justification and approval as required by FAR 13.106-1(b)(1).

2. Nature of Action Being Approved. The United States Geological Survey, Science Analytics & Synthesis (SAS) program requests award of a non-competitive procurement to a HPE Cray reseller for the purchase of maintenance and support for our high-performance computing system.

3. Description of Supplies or Services. SAS has a need to renew annual maintenance and support for all the software, components, and machines necessary for an existing HPE Cray high-performance computing system. This system enables processing of large- to massive-scale scientific simulations and models which require huge amounts of globally addressable memory and thousands of processors. The system is still in good operating condition and is expected to provide reliable service, but only if properly maintained via this maintenance and support purchase.

The performance period for the hardware and software maintenance is from 18 Aug 2024 - 30 Sep 2025 and includes:

• HW/SW maintenance on XC-50 (SN: 10011431) and CLSL300 (SN: 10011432).

• Cray pro assist 9x5 NBD support service coverage.

4. Estimated Dollar Value. The total estimated dollar value is $145,000.

5. Statutory Authority. The proposed action may be awarded on a sole source basis under the authority of Section 201 of the Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 USC 501) and FAR 13.106-1.

6. Rationale Supporting Use of Citation in No. 5. SAS has invested significant resources in this HPE Cray high-performance computing system. The equipment is five years old and is still in good operating condition, providing important contributions to ongoing scientific investigations. This system is expected to provide reliable service into the future, but SAS must purchase support for this system to ensure it continues to function as an extremely important component of the USGS’s arsenal of scientific research tools. There would be significant loss of replacement product cost, staff time, and impact on scientific research if SAS was required to replace this system instead of extending maintenance and support. Note: Savings hoped to be achieved through full and open competition are not expected to overcome the replacement costs.

Savings will still be achieved through competition among resellers, though. Further, if the system were replaced through full and open competition, brand name maintenance would still be required in short order. Maintenance and support must be purchased through HPE Cray (the system manufacturer) or an HPE Cray reseller due to the need to access proprietary data to complete the maintenance.

7. Other Information. HPE Cray and HPE Cray resellers are the only know providers of hardware and software support for HPE Cray systems, servers, and storage devices. These systems are proprietary and are not know by other entities.

8. The Efforts to Identify Additional Sources Including the Market Research Conducted.

Market research, including consultation with the manufacturer (HPE Cray) and other hardware providers and resellers, has indicated there are no other service providers who are authorized to provide maintenance and support for HPE Cray hardware and software except for services purchased through HPE Cray or HPE Cray resellers.

9. Future Plans to Permit Competition. Each year, upon renewal of the agreement, SAS will conduct market research to identify additional providers of maintenance and support for HPE Cray hardware and software. The replacement of the system will be competed at the end of its useful life.

10. Recommendation and Certification from Program Office.

Based on the above, I recommend this acquisition be conducted on a limited source basis. I certify that technical data, which form a basis for this justification and are the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel, are complete and accurate.

SAS / Kyle Moran, Computer Scientist/ Date

11. Certifications from the Contracting Officer.

a. The proposed pricing is determined fair and reasonable based on comparing with catalog prices and previous invoices from the vendor.

b. This justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

12. Approvals.

Scott Cox, Contracting Officer/ Date

Jennifer Kelley, Bureau Competition Advocate/ Date