Tucson Data Center Services Sole Source Request

The State of Arizona is seeking a sole source contract extension with Ark Data Centers (formerly Involta) for a critical disaster recovery data center site located in Tucson. The procurement is specifically focused on securing a fully operational data center that meets stringent technical and infrastructure requirements for state agency business continuity. Detailed assessments conducted per ANSI/BICSI 002-2014 standards have identified specific critical infrastructure needs, including a minimum 66-foot separation for power and carrier connections, multiple meet-me rooms (MMRs), low flood risk, and carrier diversity that matches the state's existing Phoenix data center. The contract opportunity is primarily serving state agencies that require robust disaster recovery capabilities, with a specific focus on ensuring geographic separation and infrastructure resilience that can withstand potential regional disruptions. The current solicitation is for a five-year contract extension, with a posting date of February 6, 2025, and a response deadline of February 11, 2025.

The procurement appears to be a direct sole source procurement with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types. The contract involves Pima County and Tucson City jurisdictions, with the primary vendor being Ark Data Centers. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the comprehensive infrastructure requirements suggest a significant investment in data center services. The state has conducted extensive assessments to validate that no alternative data center in the Tucson area meets their critical survivability standards, which justifies the sole source approach. The incumbent vendor, originally Involta and now rebranded as Ark Data Centers, has been the state's data center partner since 2020, demonstrating a established relationship and proven capability to meet the state's complex technical requirements. The procurement aims to ensure continuous, uninterrupted data center services that can support state agency operations during potential disaster scenarios.