0019-02 HPC Cluster EFO JA - Redacted 6.3.2021.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-21-0164

Code:

29 April 2021

JUSTIFICATION FOR AN EXCEPTION TO FAIR OPPORTUNITY

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 delivery order under the National

Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Solutions for

Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) Government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC). The proposed order will be on a limited source basis for brand-name hardware, manufactured Hewlett Packard

Enterprise Company (HPE).

3. Description of Supplies/Services

The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Missile Systems Integration and Weapons Effectiveness Division, H30, requires one (1) HPE Apollo 2000 High-Performance Computing

(HPC) Cluster, manufactured by Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Company (HPE). Delivery is required by 10 September 2021.

certifying technical and requirements personnel.

Navy Working Capital funds will be utilized for this procurement.

4. Identification of Exception to Fair Opportunity Process

10 U.S.C. §§ 2304a 2304d, as implemented in FAR 16.505(a)(4);

Requirements for use of items peculiar to one manufacturer.

5. Rationale Justifying Use of Cited Statutory Authority

This procurement is the second of a two-part procurement to acquire an HPC Linux cluster, with a minimum of 2000 processing cores. This planned purchase will provide additional compute nodes, with additional processing cores, and the high-speed networking interconnect, to complete a single, fully integrated cluster. The HPE Apollo 2000 compute cluster is designed to be

In contrast, attempting to integrate non-HPE compute nodes with the existing cluster would require significant effort from the vendor, which would sacrifice computational resources for engineering support, while introducing the potential for adversely affecting operability and performance. The Department Modeling and Simulation

(M&S) consists of

Continued replacements of our computational resources are necessary in order to provide the required M&S support to our sponsors. Computer software codes, developed by the are the primary analysis tools used by for physics-based M&S. The consisting of hundreds of programs and software libraries, which are designed to run on

The proprietary modifications made by HPE to the Apollo 2000 platform, 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 our computations. No other system will fulfill the requirements of this purchase.

Since Fiscal Year 2007, has in

HPC Linux clusters, and these systems have been, and will continue to be, imperative to mission success. and its

Past experiences with lesser-known cluster manufacturers has demonstrated that there is no guarantee the software will even compile and execute, let alone perform accurately and in a timely manner.

Navy and Joint sponsors in the following areas:

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, . 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

In addition, this HPE Apollo 2000 High-Performance

Computing Cluster will perform

, providing users with a capability for

. Department performs design, systems under development as well as in the field. In support of those analyses, Department uses high-fidelity, physics-based computer M&S to

This overall investment supports lethality, vulnerability, and effectiveness; DT/OT/LFT&E for AEGIS Ballistic

Missile Defense, Standard Missile, Vertical Launching Systems, Corporate Lethality, Reactive Materials, and EM Railgun. Based on a significant increase in demand for simulations, it is estimated this system would require 1800-2500 computer cores to support the expected quantity of work. This system will be joined with other systems to provide increased computing power.

Without this High-Performance Computing system, NSWCDD would ultimately

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 could meet the requirements. The

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. Market research has revealed that an HPE Apollo

2000 is the only viable option, and there are multiple HPE resellers available for this proprietary equipment.

7. Determination of Fair and Reasonable Costs

The NASA SEWP GWAC does not establish the price for the required supplies. Therefore, the NSWCDD Contracting Officer will determine, using the procedures in FAR 15.4, that the cost to the

Government will be fair and reasonable.

8. Actions to Remove Barriers to Competition

For the reasons se Contracts 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, the Contracts Department will assess whether competition for future requirements is feasible.

9. Contracting Point of Contact

The point of contact for this requirement is

CERTIFICATIONS AND APPROVAL

TECHNICAL/REQUIREMENTS CERTIFICATION (FAR 16.505)

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

Technical and Requirements Cognizance:

LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW (NMCARS 5206.303-90)

I have determined this justification is legally sufficient.

NSWCDD LEGAL COUNSEL, CODE 00L, PHONE NO. DATE

CONTRACTING OFFICER CERTIFICATION (FAR 16.505)

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. The Contracting Officer's signature below also represents approval of the justification.

Digitally signed by BOWLING ANGELA M

Date 2021 05 25 20 22 57 -04'00' 25 May 2021

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

BOWLING.ANGELA.M