Redacted_Brand_Name_Justification_FY18_Classified_Cluster_Tech_Refresh.pdf

IN REPLY REFER TO

J&A Number: 0233-18-004-00 Code: 10411 Requisition Number: N0016718Q0055

BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Contracting & Acquisitions Department (Code 02).

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

This is a Brand Name Justification to be awarded on a lowest-price technically-acceptable basis. The proposed action is for the acquisition of Penguin Computing, Inc. (Penguin) components for a tech refresh of the oldest portion of the existing Classified High Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster using authorized resellers of Penguin products. The tech refresh will include the following components, detailed in the attached Requirements for Penguin Computing Cluster Update:

• Tundra ES Computational Nodes, including 36 Relion XO1132g CFD Compute Nodes with 128GB RAM and dual Intel Xeon Gold 5115 CPUs;

• EDR Infrastructure, with Mellanox EDR InfiniBand Fabric, including three Relion XO1132g FEA Compute Nodes with 256GB RAM and dual Intel Xeon Gold 6134 CPUs;

• Administrative Network Arctica 4804ip – GigE Network to update the existing MOAB and Scyld ClusterWare licenses and support;

• Rack Infrastructure Open Bridge Rack (Dual Zone 400U) to connect the systems to the existing InfiniBand fabric;

• Cluster Management Software Scyld Support Extension, ClusterWare HPC (License); and

• Integration Services including installation, configuration, and expansion.

This justification document is in accordance with FAR 6.302-1(c) (1).

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

CARDEROCK DIVISION

9500 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD

WEST BETHESDA, MD 20817-5700

The requirement was synopsized and publicly posted to the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps) website on 01 May 2018. The anticipated value of the acquisition is $551,581.82.

Required delivery date is August 1, 2018.

This action is a new firm-fixed price (FFP) contract citing FY18 Service Cost Center (SCC) funding.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD), Code 1041, Ship Engineering and Analysis Technology Center (SEATech) is seeking to acquire a tech refresh of some of the oldest compute nodes of an existing Penguin HPC computational cluster.

This acquisition will replace some of the compute nodes that have the Harpertown chip microarchitecture, introduced in 2007. This will bring a needed improvement in the InfiniBand fabric. The updated compute nodes will reside in a leading-edge, Open Bridge Rack configuration, which is more power efficient and makes the nodes easier to maintain and service.

Without this purchase, the classified HPC computational cluster will be insufficient to meet the needs of the Carderock Engineers and Naval Architects. Current hardware is taxed by large model sizes and user demand, and is quickly becoming obsolete. Delay in this procurement could potentially impact the ability to meet deadlines. The computational models run on these systems support, among others, the CREATE, Columbia Class, Virginia Class, and DDG-1000 Programs.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open Competition

10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1), “The property or services needed by the agency are available from only one responsible source or only from a limited number of responsible sources and no other type of property or services will satisfy the needs of the agency.”

While only one source is capable of manufacturing the required supplies, that source has authorized sellers who may also compete for the contract.

5. Identification of Limited Justification Rationale

The hardware and software being acquired must be compatible with the existing Penguin Classified HPC cluster, as the new hardware and software will be fully integrated with the existing Scyld ClusterWare Cluster. Scyld ClusterWare is not compatible with non-certified software or hardware. Due to the extensive libraries and use of this system across NSWCCD, any effort to change to a different manufacturer’s system would not be cost-effective and would negatively impact the NSWCCD’s fleet support operations, as well as nullifying and voiding the current HPC cluster’s warranty.

If a different vendor were selected, the entire Classified HPC cluster would have to be replaced with hardware from the newly selected vendor, which would require an expenditure of approximately $550,000 for the new hardware. It would also require replacing the remaining existing hardware, at a cost of approximately $2,500,000, making the total purchase approximately $3,050,000. This would require a Capital Investment Program (CIP) purchase, which would not be available until at least FY25 or later, and would result in significant labor costs (from ~$65,000 to over ~$100,000) and fees (~$369,050 plus $130/line item, at FY18 prices) for the purchasing and acquisition process. This would significantly impact the work of NSWCCD Engineers and Naval Architects. It would create delays and increase costs in the projects that SEATech supports, such as the CREATE project and the Columbia Class, Virginia Class, and DDG-1000 Programs, for Sponsors such as the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

6. Description of Efforts Made to Solicit Offers from as Many Offerors as Practicable

A Sources Sought was posted to FBO on 20 April 2018 for a period of seven days, in accordance with DFARS PGI 206.302-1(d). There were two responses received from the Sources Sought, which indicates that at least two small businesses are likely to submit quotes.

Penguin is the sole manufacturer of Penguin brand name servers and Scyld ClusterWare clusters. However, Penguin is not the sole distributor of its products; there are a limited number of resellers authorized to sell Penguin’s products to the Federal Government.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer will determine that the proposed order represents the best value (as defined in FAR 2.101) and results in the lowest overall cost alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government’s needs.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

NSWCCD will likely have reason to solicit similar supplies/services in the future. If other vendors are identified by Penguin as authorized resellers of Penguin supplies, these vendors may be considered in future solicitations. If barriers to compatibility among non-Penguin hardware/software manufacturers can be eliminated at little or no additional cost, non-Penguin supplies may be considered for acquisition in future solicitations.

The circumstances surrounding the need to obtain the required supplies/services without providing full and open competition will be reviewed annually by the Procuring Contracting Officer

(PCO).

TECHNICAL AND REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION - (FAR 6.303-2(b))

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification, except as noted herein, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

TECHNICAL COGNIZANCE:

Signature Patricia McCarthy, Code 1041 (301) 227-4765 Date

REQUIREMENTS COGNIZANCE:

Signature Matt Early, Code 1041 (301) 227-4689 Date

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW (NMCARS 5206.303(90))

I have determined that this justification is legally sufficient.

Signature Isaac Natter, Legal Counsel (301) 227-2022 Date

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION - (FAR 6.303-2(a)(12))

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature Gary Whitney, Code 0225 (301) 227-3451 Date