Renewal of globus connect server subscription

This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for proposal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate an other than full and open competition basis with the University of Chicago for the Globus Connect Server (GCS).

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' (NIAID) Operations and Engineering Branch (OEB) of the Office of Cyber Infrastructure and Computational Biology (OCICB) manages and develops the technology infrastructure that supports Intramural research, Extramural investments, and Administrative management.  OEB services 4000+ end users in more than 20 locations throughout the United States.   Infrastructure services provided by OEB are maintained and used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Services include data storage and protection, applications hosting, server management, workstation configuration and management, networking, and security.

This purchase is for the renewal of Globus Connect Server (GCS), it is critical to the NIAID HPC system.  With it, we amplify our ability to increase the transfer of large file sets of data as well as improve research collaboration to acceptable standards.   GCS software is the benchmark standard for numerous research organizations and universities; it allows NIAID to improve its ability to share data and advance collaboration with extramural researchers.  This system currently ties into a global network of research agencies, which provides essential collaboration that enables NIAID to stay abreast and aware of other leading edge research results and methodologies.

The statutory authority for this sole source requirement is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1 only one responsible source and no other supply of service will satisfy agency requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement that will be considered by email (subject line to reference NOI-NIAID-25-225930 in the eSASS system, by 9:00 am eastern standard time July 18, 2025. All quotations and required documents must be submitted via the NIAID electronic Simplified Acquisition Submission System (eSASS) website at https://esass.nih.gov. All vendors must register in the eSASS system to submit a quotation. Instructions on how to register / submit quotes are included on the website. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f). All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this Agency.