On-Premises Next-Gen AI Compute Data Center
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- AI_Data_Center-RFI_001
- Agency
-
Department of Energy
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 518210 Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services
- PSC
- Not on record
- Place of performance
- Richland, Washington, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Energy, through Battelle Memorial Institute's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, is issuing a Request for Information to gather industry input on the design, construction, infrastructure, and operation of a next-generation AI compute data center optimized for advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads. The facility must support mixed AI training and inference workloads with stringent security, compliance, and availability requirements appropriate for a DOE national laboratory. Key qualifications include demonstrated experience and expertise in high-performance, advanced AI compute data centers, with respondents required to submit detailed capability statements and responses to 24 structured questions across four categories covering data center facility infrastructure, compute and network solutions, sustainability and resource efficiency, and AI-powered operations and monitoring. This is a market research initiative with no formal evaluation criteria established at this time, as no solicitation or procurement commitment currently exists. The deadline for submission is 4:00 PM Pacific Time on March 27, 2026, with all responses to be submitted electronically to Samantha.Ernst@pnnl.gov.
This Request for Information uses no set-aside designations and involves no current incumbent contractors, as this is preliminary market research only. While no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFI, the project timeline indicates initial production readiness of approximately 2 MW of compute capacity targeted for 2028, with potential future expansion to approximately 40 MW. Respondents must be classified under NAICS code 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services) with a $40 million size standard threshold. Participation in this RFI is entirely voluntary and does not constitute a commitment to any future procurement action, nor does it preclude companies from participating in subsequent solicitations when they are issued.
Notice text
The Pacific Northwest Division of Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), Management and Operating Contractor of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on behalf of the Department of Energy (DOE), is issuing this request for information (RFI) to gather industry input on the design, construction, infrastructure, and operation of a scalable, high-performance data center optimized for AI and compute workloads. Through this RFI, Battelle seeks industry input to inform future procurement strategies and technical requirements for the design and delivery of an on-premises, secure, scalable data center with an advanced AI compute infrastructure capable of training and operationalization of multi-data Large Language Models (LLMs) for scientific and national governmental missions. Initial production readiness for ~2 MW of compute is targeted for 2028, with potential future expansion to ~40 MW. The facility must support mixed AI training/inference workloads with stringent security, compliance, and availability requirements appropriate for a DOE national laboratory.
Interested parties who consider themselves experienced, knowledgeable, and well-versed in high-performance, advanced AI compute data centers are invited to submit a capability statement and response to the attached RFI.
Responses are to be submitted no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time, March 27, 2026. The response and capability statements shall be provided in electronic format. All responses and comments must be emailed to Samantha.Ernst@pnnl.gov.
THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for information does not constitute a solicitation/request for proposals and submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. This RFI is released pursuant to FAR 5.201(e), Exchanges with Industry, and is issued for the purpose of conducting market research as described in FAR 10.002. As such, nothing in this request shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of Battelle to enter into a contract with any respondent. Battelle assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.
Battelle will evaluate industry and market information to ascertain potential market capacity, potential solution options, design/requirement considerations, and potential interested contractors. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.
BATTELLE IS NOT REQUESTING PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME AND INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| RFI_On-Premises Next-Gen AI Compute Data Center_PNNL.pdf |
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