SSJ_Redacted.pdf

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

November 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 1 of 2

Section A: General Contract Information

Is this a Bridge Action as defined in the AF Bridge Action Reduction Plan? Yes No

Contracting Activity:

Project/Program Name: XL60 Turbo Storinator

Purchase Request / Local ID Number: F1S0BA9186B101

Estimated Contract Cost (including Options):

Section B: Description of the Supplies/Services Required

The is in need of a storage server that is capable of storing massive amounts of data and applications. This storage system will be an archival system (with duplicate backup system for redundancy) storing large quantities of mission critical data supporting missions within squadron Mission Control Rooms. This cannot be a Network Attached Storage (NAS), Storage Area Networks (SAN), a storage array, or Just a Bunch of Disks (JBOD). It must be a single system capable of long term data storage running a workstation operating system. Must contain a minimum of 60 drive bays that are individually addressable in Operating System and stored in same chassis (cannot be external chassis/JBOD). To support known near-future requirements for upgrades and logistics support, the drive bays must not use a backplane, i.e. the drives must be individually cabled from the HBA/RAID interface hardware.

Due to increasing volume of data being produced by the during test missions, there is a need for dense storage beyond the capabilities of the existing storage systems in use.

45 Drives is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of high-performance, high-capacity storage servers and data destruction solutions. 45 Drives offers freedom from proprietary software and hardware by building servers on an open storage platform, using open source operating systems.

45 Drives XL60 Turbo Storinator is designed with the capabilities to delivery high availability and reliability while moving massive amounts of data at lightening fast speeds. It is the only manufacturer capable of meeting all of the following characteristics in one a complete system:

· Rack mountable

· 1200W redundant power supply with remote monitoring capabilities

· 16 core 32 thread CPU (either single CPU or double CPU sockets) at 2.10GHz capable of using 256GB memory at DDR4 2400MHZ ECC

· 32GB of DDR4 2400 MHz ECC RAM (or faster) expandable up to 256GB (x8 DIMM slots minimum) without requiring shipping unit back to manufacturer (not soldered)

· 60 drive bays that are individually addressable in Operating System and stored in same chassis

· Storage up to 840TB of data (60 x 14TB drives)

· Non-proprietary backplane

· HBA or RAID Controller cards capable of 12Gb/s

· Replaceable drive connections to HBA/RAID

· Utilizes SATA or SAS drives or combination

· 60 3.5” HDDs or 2.5” SSDs or mix of two simultaneously

· 1Gb/s NIC as well as 10Gb/s NIC

· Installed with CentOS or Windows 10

· Intalled with cooling solution

XL60-Turbo Storinator - 2 each

Single Source Justification (Simplified Acquisition)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

November 2018 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Page 2 of 2

Section C: Justification for Soliciting from a Single Source or Brand Name

45 Drives is the only manufacturer that offers all of the requirements listed above in one system. All storage systems offered by other vendors use a proprietary backplane for system drivers. The nature of support provided by the 412 RANS/ENRT department requires a system that is maintainable/upgradeable by off the shelf components and not restricted to proprietary parts and components. Additionally, other systems offered by other vendors do not provide drive bays that are individually addressable in Operating System and stored in same chassis. Those offered from the Request for Information's (RFI) had external chassis or JBODs. No other manufacturer is able to demonstrate that it could offer the product requirements and specifications needed.

Section D: Efforts to Obtain Competition

412 RANS/ENRT researched a total of seven vendors evaluating similar storage systems and was unable to find a system that could support all of the above listed performance requirements with the exception of the XL60 Turbo Storinator offered by 45Drives. Other than 45 Drives no other vendor could provide requested capabilities without pre-populated storage bays and at minimum order quantities greater than maximum currently needed. Vendors evaluated include: Dell, HP, QNAP, DataOn, AsaComputers, SansDigital, and Supermicro.

Further research was conducted by posting a Request for Information (RFI) in AFWAY to see if any NetCents vendors could meet the requirements. Two responses were received; one from Sterling computers and the other from ACE Technology. Both offer storage servers but none that have the capabilities to support all the performance requirements. In addition to posting a RFI in AFWAY, a RFI was also posted on FBO.gov to survey the open market. Two responses from WiredZone and ACE Technology were received but were also found to not have storage servers that could support the requirements.

Based on the information obtained from the RFI's, continued efforts were made via Internet searches and phone calls to locate authorized resellers of 45 Drives. 45 Drives has authorized resellers, PCMG and Betis Direct.

Section E: Steps to Preclude Future Single Source or Brand Name Awards

Efforts to identify alternate solutions is an on-going effort. Both the mission partners and contracting specialists will continue to perform market research in seeking other manufacturers/suppliers that can provide this requirement in the future.

Section F: Contracting Officer's Determination

I have determined, in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), that the circumstances of this contract action deem only a single source is reasonably available.

Date

15-Aug-2019

Typed Name and Rank/Grade of Contracting Officer Signature of Contracting Officer