0304-06_-_HPC_Cluster_(Urgent)_-_Draft__for_signature_JA_TMOLDER_Signed_by_ko_Redacted.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER

DAHLGREN DIVISION

6149 WELSH ROAD SUITE 203

DAHLGREN VIRGINIA 22448-5130

IN REPLY REFER TO

J&A Number:DN-0148

Code:026

P.R. Number:TBD

JUSTIFICATION AND APPROVAL

FOR USE OF OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

JUSTIFICATION

1. Contracting Activity

The Naval Sea Systems Command, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Contracts Department

2. Description of the Action Being Approved

Award of a firm fixed priced contract on a sole source basis for critical equipment to be used by the

, manufactured by Cray, Inc.

3. Description of Supplies/Services

Cray, Inc. or an authorized reseller will provide one (1) Cray

CS500 High-Performance Computing (HPC) Cluster. Delivery is required by 30 August 2019.

The Government's minimum needs have been verified by the certifying technical and requirements personnel.

The estimated cost of the proposed contract action is

. Fiscal year 2019 Service Cost Center funds will be utilized for this procurement.

4. Statutory Authority Permitting Other Than Full and Open

Competition

The procedures in FAR subpart 13.5 were used in accordance with

41 U.S.C. 1901.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

The NSWCDD Modeling and Simulation (M&S) consists of shock physics, structural mechanics, computational fluid dynamics, J&A Number: DN-0148

NCH 53.6-2

computational electromagnetics and heat transfer as well as lethality, vulnerability and effectiveness analysis. Continued expansions of computational resources are required in order to run computational physics software in support of physics-based

M&S for a wide range of Navy and Joint sponsors. Computer software codes, developed by the Department of Energy (DOE), are the primary analysis tools used by for physics-based M&S. The

DOE codes are sophisticated software suites, consisting of hundreds of programs and software libraries, which are designed to run on HPC Linux clusters capable of massively-parallel computations. Previously, has relied on SGI HPC clusters.

However, SGI was recently acquired by a larger company, and consequently, the SGI HPC cluster platform used by H30 has been discontinued and is no longer an option. H30 has been forced to identify a viable substitute. Since Fiscal year 2007, over $4M of

Capital Improvement Project funds have been invested in HPC Linux clusters, and these systems have been, and will continue to be, imperative to mission success. H30 and its sponsors cannot afford to convert current source codes and data sets for use on unproven architectures. Past experience with lesser known cluster manufacturers has demonstrated that there is no guarantee the DOE software will even compile and execute, let alone perform accurately and in a timely manner. The DOE software used by H30 is specifically developed and tested for use on Cray and SGI systems. The acquisition of SGI leaves only one remaining manufacturer, Cray, with a singular focus on High-Performance

Computing. All five sites in the Department of Defense High-

Performance Computing Modernization Program (DODHPCMP), currently deploy Cray HPC clusters, and two of the largest, fastest HPC clusters in the world are Crays, currently deployed at the DOE

Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The proprietary modifications made by Cray to the CS500, the maturity of their operating environment, and the tight-coupling of this hardware and software, significantly increases the system throughput, and are necessary to successfully and efficiently process computations. No other system will fulfill this requirement. In addition, the vast majority of M&S engineers have used Cray

HPC clusters through the DODHPCMP sites, and this knowledge and experience transfers, seamlessly, to the Cray CS500 required by

No costly training will be required, and no valuable time will be wasted on a steep learning curve. NSWCDD will not recoup prior investments, nor capitalize on valuable experience, if this specific equipment is not procured.

Failing in this procurement will leave NSWCDD without sufficient computational resources to support Warfighter, Navy and Joint sponsors in the following areas: Weapon Systems Analysis, Effects, and Effectiveness. NSWCDD would be unable to perform the analysis required to create input to the databases ( provided to the operational commands through the Joint Technical

Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness. Attempting to compensate for diminished computational resources would cost, approximately, $2.2M to $7.9M, annually. Costs incurred are based on man-hours required using lesser computational resources, and total costs of physical testing, in lieu of simulations.

Despite the increased costs, production would be diminished by, at least, 50%. In addition, this will be the first half of an unclassified Cray High-Performance Computing Cluster; the second half will be procured in FY20. It will perform large, complex multi-physics simulations in direct support of the Fleet, providing users with a powerful visualization and post-processing capability for analyzing simulation results.

performs design, lethality, vulnerability and effectiveness analyses for weapon systems under development as well as in the field. In support of those analyses, uses high-fidelity, physics-based computer M&S to augment, validate, and economize weapon system testing. This investment supports lethality, vulnerability, and effectiveness;

. Based on a significant increase in demand for simulations, it is estimated that this system will ultimately require 2000-2500 computer cores to support the expected quantity of work. This system will eventually be joined with other systems to provide increased computing power. Without this High-

Performance Computing system and future purchases, NSWCDD would, ultimately, forfeit 60-75% of its current capabilities in simulating weapon lethality, vulnerability, and effectiveness.

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

Offerors as Practicable

Extensive market research was conducted in an attempt to find other HPC Linux clusters that would meet the requirements. HPC clusters available domestically are of varying capability, quality, and suitability. The operating environment, on which

HPC clusters are built, varies significantly from manufacturer to manufacturer, as do the, often proprietary, supporting software suites used for queue management, cluster administration, and visualization. Two manufacturers, Cray and Silicon Graphics Inc.

(SGI), have dominated the HPC market for decades. Over 90% of the HPC systems in the DODHPCMP are Cray or SGI. Market research performed to find authorized resellers has revealed that there are limited Cray, Inc. resellers available for this proprietary equipment.

The proposed contract Will be synopsized on the Federal Business

Opportunities (FEDBIZOPPS) website on 13 MAY 2019. No additional market research was conducted because it is not practicable, for the reasons discussed in paragraph 5 above, for any company other than Cray, Inc. or an authorized reseller to provide the required equipment.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The Contracting Officer has determined that the anticipated cost to the Government for the equipment covered by the J&A will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

For the reasons set forth in Paragraph 5, Dahlgren Contract

Department has no plans at this time to compete future contracts for the type of equipment covered by this document. If another potential source emerges, Dahlgren Contract Department will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

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

I certify that the facts and representations under my cognizance, which are included in this justification and its supporting data, are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW (NMCARS 5206.303(90))

I have determined this justification is legally sufficient.

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

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

Digitally signed by BOWLING.ANGELA.M.1291555400 DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=DoD, ou=PKI, 55400 ou=USN, cn=BOWLING.ANGELA.M.1291555400 Date: 2019.05.22 13:29:10 -04'00' 540-653-4904 22 May 19

Angela Bowling, Contracting Officer, 026, Phone No., Date

BOWLING.ANGELA.M.12915