Financing Options for Supercomputer Hardware at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify qualified financial institutions capable of providing lease-to-own (LTO) financing for the "Discovery" leadership-class high-performance computing (HPC) supercomputer system. This RFI is for market research purposes only and is not a solicitation. Responses are due February 20, 2026.
Scope of Requirement
ORNL is seeking LTO financing for the "Discovery" supercomputer, an HPC system to be sited at ORNL. The estimated value of this financing is between $350M and $450M, with an anticipated contract term of approximately 5 years at a fixed interest rate. Payments are expected to be monthly or quarterly, commencing upon system acceptance. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- Estimated Value: $350M - $450M
- Contract Term: Approximately 5 years
- Set-Aside: None specified
- Response Due: February 20, 2026, by 22:00:00Z
- Published: January 16, 2026
- Anticipated Timeline:
- RFI Response Reviews: February 2026
- RFP Issuance: Late 2026
- Master Lease-to-Own (MLTO) Award: Late 2027
- Individual LTO Agreement Execution: First half of CY 2028
Requested Information from Respondents
Respondents should provide details on:
- Company demographics, capabilities, and financing capacity.
- Benchmark interest rate indices, structures, and factors affecting rates.
- Origination fees and interest rate lock mechanisms.
- LTO and Master Lease Agreement mechanics (e.g., amortization, rent schedules, title transfer, end-of-term options).
- Insurance requirements, prepayment, and early payoff policies.
- Standard terms and conditions, including feedback on UT-Battelle's proposed terms.
Submission & Contact
Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF or Microsoft Word format, organized using the numbering and headings from Section 3 of the RFI. This RFI is for market research only and does not commit ORNL to a contract. ORNL plans to conduct an industry day or structured Q&A tentatively in Summer 2026.
Primary Contact: James Brimhall (brimhalljm@ornl.gov)