RFI.7.21.2026.pdf

7/21/2026

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON OPPORTUNITIES AND BUSINESS

MODELS REGARDING AI SUPERCOMPUTING CAPABILITY AT ARGONNE

NATIONAL LABORATORY

ACTION: Request for Information (RFI)

SUMMARY:

Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) seeks information from academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, and other interested parties regarding opportunities to participate in the development and use of a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation. The center will include AI supercomputing resources and be located on Argonne property.

Argonne is advancing efforts to strengthen U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), accelerate scientific discovery and engineering innovation, and enable secure, scalable computing infrastructure aligned with national priorities. Argonne is evaluating approaches to implement AI infrastructure that can support research, development, demonstration, and mission-focused applications through public-private collaboration.

Argonne, as a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory with established capabilities in high-performance computing, AI, data science, secure computing, and user facility operations, is well positioned to host such a capability.

Through this RFI, Argonne seeks input in two areas:

Computing and infrastructure capabilities—opportunities for organizations to provide equipment, software, services, test beds, infrastructure elements, or other capabilities that support an initial deployment and/or future phases of expansion, technology refresh, or modernization of a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation that includes AI resources; and

Use, co-funding, and partnership interest—input from organizations interested in using, supporting, funding, reserving capacity from, or otherwise partnering around a portion of AI supercomputing resources within the center through research, education, co-funded public-private partnership, sponsored access, or other arrangements.

Argonne is specifically interested in models that leverage substantial private-sector investment, with the expectation that much of the infrastructure associated with the center of innovation would be financed through private, non-Federal sources rather than taxpayer funding.

This RFI is issued for information-gathering and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a funding opportunity announcement, request for proposals, or other solicitation, and does not commit Argonne to any award, agreement, or other action.

Argonne welcomes responses from a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• Universities, university consortia, and nonprofit research institutions;

• Industry stakeholders (such as Energy & Utilities, Materials & Chemicals, Industrials

& Manufacturing, Automotive & Transportation, Health Care & Life Sciences, Agriculture & Food Processing);

• Large businesses, small businesses, and emerging technology firms; and

• Organizations (including entities not listed above) interested in sponsored research, shared infrastructure, or public-private partnership models.

DATES:

Responses to this RFI should be submitted no later than August 21, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Responses should be submitted electronically to: AI-Capability-RFI@anl.gov

Please include the subject line: "RFI Response—Argonne AI Supercomputing Capability"

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Background and Policy Context

Argonne is a DOE national laboratory with established strengths in high-performance computing, data-intensive science, AI, advanced networking, and secure research operations. Argonne also has experience operating major user facilities and enabling collaborations among Federal agencies, universities, industry, and technology developers.

Argonne is seeking to collaborate with a broad set of entities to drive technological leadership in artificial intelligence through a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation providing computing capabilities at the scale of 100,000 GPUs. The envisioned capability would be the world's largest AI computing resource dedicated to advancing science, engineering, and medicine. Breakthroughs in these domains increasingly depend on AI capabilities at a scale, openness, and mission focus that commercial infrastructure alone cannot provide. A dedicated national resource is essential to ensure that researchers, innovators, and institutions across the country have access to the AI computing power needed to tackle the nation's most consequential challenges. The AI supercomputing resources within the center are anticipated to include advanced accelerated computing, scalable data and storage systems, high-performance networking, secure computing environments, model development and deployment tools, and associated power, cooling, and facility infrastructure.

Argonne is assessing opportunities to strengthen the nation's AI and advanced computing ecosystem through strategic infrastructure investments, mission-aligned partnerships, and expanded access to computing capabilities that support science, energy, security, and U.S.

industrial competitiveness through a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation.

Argonne is interested in receiving input on how a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation, which includes AI supercomputing resources and is located at Argonne, could support near-term R&D needs of the U.S. government, universities and industry while establishing a foundation for future phases, broader user engagement, and complementary public-private investment.

Over time, additional phases of this National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation may be considered that incorporate technology demonstrations, test beds, expanded partner participation, dedicated or shared user access models, and other features that increase mission value and long-term flexibility. In addition, it is anticipated that several categories of users will want to reserve capabilities on the national Genesis Mission AI supercomputing resources through partnership models.

This RFI is intended to inform planning for complementary capabilities, future buildout, user demand, governance, and partnership models.

II. Purpose

Argonne seeks information from interested parties on two focus areas.

Focus Area A: Computing and infrastructure capabilities

Argonne seeks information on opportunities for organizations to contribute capabilities that would support both the initial deployment and future phases of a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation that includes AI supercomputing resources.

Such participation may include power and IT equipment, software and models, data infrastructure, integration support, operational services, demonstrations, pilot projects, or test beds. We are excited that NVIDIA has agreed to be an anchor partner, providing GPUs and computing technologies. We are open to additional partners that help to accelerate and enhance capabilities.

Deployment of an AI supercomputer requires a deep, long-term partnership with one or more private-sector integration or infrastructure partners. Such an integrator must be capable of securing sufficient financing for construction and deployment of at least the first phase of the partnership, estimated to require at least $6B of privately financed investment during the first 18 months, for construction and deployment of innovative physical, energy, and computing infrastructure, on a demanding timeframe. Organizations that do not provide large-scale capital investment are nevertheless encouraged to respond regarding equipment, software, services, infrastructure elements, pilot projects, test beds, and other complementary capabilities.

Focus Area B: Utilization, Co-Funding, and Partnership Models

Argonne also seeks information from organizations interested in using, supporting, co-funding, sponsoring, reserving capacity from, or otherwise partnering with the AI supercomputing resources within a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation. Argonne is interested in a variety of potential models for access, collaboration, governance, and cost-sharing, including concepts that may draw on user facility practices, strategic partnerships, consortia, or other public-private arrangements consistent with Laboratory authorities.

III. Areas of Interest

Illustrative topics of interest include:

• Pilot projects, domain-specific foundation models, digital twins, agentic frameworks, co-design activities, and test bed concepts;

• Workforce development, training, and user enablement; and

• Governance, access, allocation, and business partnership and co-funding models.

IV. Questions for Respondents

Respondents may address one or both Focus Areas. Argonne encourages concise, specific responses. Respondents need not answer every question.

A. Focus Area A: Computing and infrastructure capabilities

1. Describe your organization and its relevant capabilities, experience, and interest in AI infrastructure and modeling, high-performance computing, or related services.

2. What equipment, software, services, infrastructure elements, or test bed capabilities could your organization provide to complement or supplement the initial deployment, and why would these be most valuable to incorporate alongside the national Genesis Mission AI supercomputer resources?

3. What pilot projects, demonstrations, or validation activities should Argonne consider in connection with a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation?

4. How should future phases be structured — including architectural, interoperability, standards, interface, and integration considerations — to enable modular growth and broad participation by additional providers, collaborators, or institutions?

5. What power, cooling, networking, siting, cybersecurity, or operational considerations should Argonne consider in planning future phases? Please describe your recommended approach and prior successful experience in deploying said approach.

6. Please describe the financial resources/financing you intend to leverage to deliver the proposed computing/infrastructure capabilities.

7. What workforce development, training, service, maintenance, or lifecycle support functions will be important to long-term success?

8. What barriers could limit participation, and what actions could Argonne take to reduce those barriers?

B. Focus Area B: Utilization, Co-Funding, and Partnership Models

1. Describe your organization's interest in using or partnering with a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation, including the scientific, engineering, educational, operational, or commercial use cases and workflows you anticipate, and any collaborations or user communities (across industry, universities, national laboratories, or other entities) you anticipate engaging.

2. What are your anticipated technical and data requirements, including compute scale, accelerator type, storage, networking, data movement, latency, software environment, security posture, scheduling, reliability, user support, and any required data types, data pipelines, data-sharing arrangements, or trusted research environments?

3. If funding is appropriated, what types of Government funded research do you anticipate running on national Genesis Mission AI supercomputer resources within the center?

4. What access and partnership models would best facilitate your participation, such as proposal-based, reserved, dedicated, sponsored, cost-reimbursable, or hybrid access? If you have interest in co-funding, sponsoring, reserving, or leasing capacity, what business or engagement structures (e.g., consortia, CRADAs, strategic partnership projects, user agreements, sponsored research) would work best?

5. What governance, allocation, intellectual property, data rights, privacy, cybersecurity, or other compliance considerations would affect your participation?

6. What engagement mechanisms would be most effective, such as advisory groups, technical working groups, regular calls for use cases, or staged partnership processes?

7. What deployment timing, capacity profile, and growth trajectory would best align with your anticipated needs?

V. Strategic Topics of Particular Interest

In addition to the questions above, Argonne is interested in stakeholder views on:

• What unique value would a National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation located at Argonne provide to complement, rather than duplicate commercial cloud or privately owned infrastructure?

• What public-private partnership models could support phased growth while preserving mission alignment, security, and operational flexibility?

• What governance approaches could facilitate participation by both industry and academia?

o In particular, how might a consortium of universities/academic institutions/medical centers be structured to enable broad researcher access to an allocation of national Genesis Mission AI supercomputing resources, including access to capabilities at a scale that individual institutions may not otherwise be able to obtain on their own, and what forms of institutional participation or support would best sustain such a model over time?

• What innovative approaches or technologies can be taken to mitigate impact on communities and the environment?

• What features would make the National Genesis Mission Supercomputing Center of Innovation durable, attractive, and useful across multiple phases of expansion?

VI. Response Guidelines

Responses should be a PDF or Microsoft Word document, no more than 5 pages, excluding a required cover page containing the respondent's name, organization, address, focus area (see below), and point of contact. Responses may describe potential roles of any scale, including, for example, lead integration, infrastructure investment, equipment supply, software provision, data and networking services, pilot projects, test beds, operations and maintenance support, training, or other specialized contributions. Argonne welcomes responses from organizations regardless of whether they are positioned to participate in large-scale capital formation.

Responses should clearly indicate whether they address:

• Focus Area A only;

• Focus Area B only; or

• Both Focus Area A and Focus Area B.

To the extent practicable, responses should include:

• Organization name, organization type, and primary point of contact;

• A brief description of relevant experience and capabilities;

• The specific area or areas addressed;

• Key technical, operational, and partnership considerations; and

• Any recommended approaches for access, collaboration, co-funding, governance, or future phases.

Responses containing business confidential, proprietary, or otherwise sensitive information should be clearly marked.

VII. Treatment of Information

Responses to this RFI may be used by Argonne for planning, market research, and program development purposes. Argonne and DOE may review and analyze the information received to inform future strategy, stakeholder engagement, acquisition planning, partnership development, infrastructure planning, or related activities.

This RFI does not provide any assurance that Argonne will issue future solicitation, enter into any agreement, or provide any form of support based on the information received.

Argonne may contact respondents and hold workshops for clarification but is under no obligation to do so.

VIII. Disclaimer

This RFI is issued solely for information-gathering and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Notice of Funding Opportunity, Funding Opportunity Announcement, Request for Proposals, Broad Agency Announcement, or other solicitation.

Argonne will not reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response. Submission of a response does not obligate Argonne to respond to the submission, nor confer any right to participate in any future procurement, financial assistance, user access opportunity, or partnership activity.