70--LEASE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING SYSTEM

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is conducting a market analysis prior to exercising the Option Contract Period under Contract No. 50-DDNR-0-90030 with Raytheon Company. The Option Contract Period provides for the lease of a High Performance Computing System (HPCS) for the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Plainsboro, New Jersey. The period of the Option Contract Period is October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2006. The market analysis is being conducted to determine if exercise of the Option Contract Period under the existing contract with Raytheon Company is advantageous to the Government. The Government requires a single contractor to be responsible for the design, installation, maintenance, and support (e.g., software maintenance, hardware maintenance, applications analysis) of the HPCS. The primary objective of this acquisition is to acquire balanced, comprehensive computing capability for GFDL. This includes not only high-performance computing but also corresponding capabilities for data management and archiving, analysis and visualization of model results, and networking and telecommunications that the Laboratory needs to most effectively advance its research programs. The HPCS must meet all of the stated objectives and specifications cited in the Statement of Need and shall include all hardware and software necessary to operate the HPCS as a complete, functional, balanced, and highly reliable system. GFDL requires an availability of at least 96% (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) for each component of the HPCS. A single Contractor will serve as the point-of-contact for the entire HPCS, even though the HPCS may involve separate sub-systems from a number of different vendors. The project funding profile for the three-year Option Contract Period is approximately $10.9 million annually. In accordance with the terms of the contract, the HPCS to be delivered during the Option Contract Period must offer a guaranteed increase in computational performance over the system delivered as the final substantial upgrade during the Base Contract Period. Accordingly, any proposed system being offered by a vendor under this synopsis must provide at least a similar guaranteed minimum level of performance. For information concerning the computational performance requirements during the Contract Option Period and related benchmark codes, please contact Brian Gross, GFDL by either telephone at (609) 452-6597 or email at [email protected]. A copy of the contract statement of need is available upon written request to the Contracting Officer at [email protected] Vendors that believe they can satisfy the Government's requirements are invited to submit an affirmative response. To be considered an affirmative response, vendors must submit written data and documentation which demonstrates an ability to furnish a system capable of meeting the requirements and within the annual funding profile previously cited. All responsible sources must submit a written narrative statement of capability including detailed technical information and other technical literature sufficient to permit agency analysis in order to determine a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. A determination by the Government not to open the requirement for competition based upon responses to this notice is solely within its discretion. Affirmative responses must be received within 30 days after publication of this synopsis.