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
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is issuing 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. Responses are due February 20, 2026.
Scope of Opportunity
ORNL seeks LTO financing for the "Discovery" HPC supercomputer, an estimated $350M - $450M asset, over an approximate 5-year term. The financing will cover hardware from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE). The RFI aims to gather information on financing structures, capabilities, and terms from potential providers.
Key Financing Details
- Financing Structure: Lease-to-own (LTO) only.
- Estimated Value: Approximately $350M - $450M.
- Contract Term: Approximately 5 years.
- Interest Rates: Fixed rate.
- Payment Cadence: Monthly or quarterly, beginning upon system acceptance.
- OEM: Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE).
- Acceptance: ORNL will manage acceptance and trigger payment.
- OEM Coordination: Direct coordination with HPE by financing entities is generally not permitted, though ORNL may facilitate structured communication.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI)
- Set-Aside: None
- Response Due: February 20, 2026, by 22:00 UTC
- Published: January 29, 2026
- Anticipated Timeline:
- RFI Response Reviews: February 2026
- RFP Issuance: Late 2026
- MLTO Award: Late 2027
- Individual LTO Agreement Execution: First half of CY 2028
Requested Information
Respondents should provide details on company demographics, financing capacity, benchmark interest rate indices, factors affecting rates, origination fees, interest rate lock mechanisms, LTO and Master Lease Agreement mechanics (e.g., amortization, rent schedules, title transfer, deployment phases, upgrades, end-of-term options, acceptance, valuation, verification), insurance requirements, prepayment policies, and standard terms and conditions.
Submission & Contact
Responses must be submitted electronically in PDF or Microsoft Word format by February 20, 2026. Submissions should be organized using the numbering and headings from Section 3 of the RFI. Primary Contact: James Brimhall (brimhalljm@ornl.gov).
Additional Notes
This RFI is for market research only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to a contract. ORNL plans to conduct an industry day or structured Q&A, tentatively in Summer 2026. Responses will be considered confidential.