Additional NIH/CSR High Performance Computing (HPC) Server Purchase Request
Past New Requirement Updated
- Agency
-
National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
- Solicitation expected
- Estimated value
- $700,000 to $1,500,000
- Set-aside
- Total Small Business
Forecast facts
- Anticipated award
- NAICS code
- 541512 Computer Systems Design Services
- Points of contact
-
- Shirley Ruiz-Lundgren shirley.ruiz-lundgren@nih.gov (301) 827-7529
- Dipak Bhattacharyya bhattadi@csr.nih.gov
Forecast details come from HHS's procurement forecast. Agencies' dates and values are estimates.
About this forecast
The National Institutes of Health is forecasting a new requirement for a dedicated high performance computing (HPC) server to support its Center for Scientific Review (CSR), with an estimated solicitation release date of 2026-08-01 and an estimated award date of 2026-09-01. The requirement is a total small business set-aside under NAICS 541512, Computer Systems Design Services. CSR's single outdated server cannot support modern AI initiatives, so the on-premises system must provide adequate computing capacity, a secure NIH-controlled environment for sensitive peer review materials, and scalability and redundancy for mission-critical operations.
The estimated award value range is $700,000 to $1.5 million. This forecast requests additional funds to supplement CSR's earlier approval (PCA-CSR-07829) for $692,716.05, received June 4, 2026, because the vendor reported that the originally requested configuration is no longer available and a comparable configuration costs significantly more due to increased chip costs and other component price escalations. Shirley Ruiz-Lundgren, Contracting Officer (shirley.ruiz-lundgren@nih.gov, +13018277529), and Dipak Bhattacharyya, CIO (bhattadi@csr.nih.gov), are the listed points of contact.
Forecast text
CSR previously submitted approval (PCA-CSR-07829) for $692,716.05, which was received on June 4, 2026. Since that time, the vendor informed us that the originally requested server configuration is no longer available. A comparable configuration that meets the required specifications is now significantly more expensive due to increased chip costs and other component price escalations. For this reason, we are requesting additional funds to fulfill the updated requirement.
The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) plays a vital role in advancing biomedical research by organizing and managing all NIH peer review activities. This mission increasingly relies on advanced data processing and AI driven analysis, however, CSR's current computing environment, which consists of a single outdated server, does not possess the capabilities to support modern AI initiatives. This limits our ability to develop new tools, slows progress on critical projects, and offers no scalability or redundancy for mission critical operations. To meet current and future needs, CSR requires a dedicated high performance computing (HPC) server.
Before pursuing this purchase, CSR evaluated the feasibility of using commercial cloud platforms for data analysis and AI. While our research indicated that cloud services could likely provide sufficient data processing capabilities, be more cost effective and reduce physical infrastructure, we found that internal HHS policy currently limits the use of peer review materials in cloud-based AI applications. Peer review materials are highly sensitive and include confidential applications, reviewer critiques, personally identifiable information, and competition sensitive content. These materials are not approved for cloud based processing, and no available cloud platform meets NIH's required data handling, access control, and compliance standards. Using the cloud would introduce significant security and regulatory risks.
Investing in an on premises HPC server directly addresses these challenges by providing:
Adequate computing capacity for modern AI development and deployment.
A secure, NIH controlled environment for sensitive peer review information.
Lower long term costs compared to cloud alternatives.
Improved speed, quality, and fairness of the peer review process.
A dedicated HPC server is essential infrastructure for supporting CSR's mission and safeguarding the integrity of NIH's peer review system.
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