GPU Compute Servies for Network of Optimal Dynamic Energy Signatures

SOL #: HR001126QE003Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

DEPT OF DEFENSE
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa)
DEF ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGCY
ARLINGTON, VA, 222032114, United States

Place of Performance

Arlington, VA

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers (518210)

PSC

Data Center Services Delivered As A Service Contract. Offsite Data Center Facilities Using The Resources Provided By 3rd Parties. May Be Part Of An Infrastructure As A Service Offering. (DC10)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Apr 17, 2026
2
Last Updated
May 5, 2026
3
Submission Deadline
May 8, 2026, 9:00 PM

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 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting proposals for GPU Compute Services to support its Network of Optimal Dynamic Energy Signatures (NODES) program. This unrestricted opportunity seeks a dedicated, managed high-performance computing (HPC) solution, including compute hardware, storage, networking, security, and user support. Quotes are due May 8, 2026.

Scope of Work

DARPA requires fifty (50) dedicated, private NVIDIA HGX H100 80GB 700W SXM5 8X GPU-baseboards (or equivalent/better, such as Blackwell B200) to be available by May 15, 2026. An additional 100 baseboards are needed for redundancy. The solution must include 550TB of NFS storage, 100G Dedicated Internet Access, and one x86 virtual machine. Comprehensive support includes 24/7/365 Tier 1 customer support and Tier 3 scientific software support for up to 100 users. Security requirements mandate isolated Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) deployments with SOC 2 Type II certification, with a preference for US-hosted data centers.

Contract & Timeline

This is a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract with a 5-month base period and a 5-month option period. Billing will be based on actual metered consumption, calculated at a single, all-inclusive per-baseboard-hour rate. The estimated contract value is $40,000,000.00.

  • Response Due: May 8, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
  • Published: May 5, 2026
  • Set-Aside: Unrestricted
  • NAICS: 518210 (Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services)

Submission & Evaluation

Quotes must be submitted electronically to NODES@darpa.mil and remain valid for 90 days. Submissions require three volumes: Technical (10-page limit), Price, and Administrative. Evaluation follows a two-step "best value" approach:

  1. Technical Capability (Pass/Fail): Quoters must meet Go/No-Go requirements, including GPU availability by May 15, 2026, SOC 2 Type II certification, and non-adversarial data center locations.
  2. Best Value Evaluation: For passing quotes, factors are: Technical Approach (significantly more important than Price), Past Performance (significantly more important than Price), and Price. Superior technical approaches that reduce risk or enhance capability will be highly rated. DARPA may award to a higher-priced, technically superior quote.

Additional Notes

The current requirement does not involve Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), but future services may. CMMC Level 1 (Self) is the required cybersecurity baseline. FAR Clause 52.222-90, "Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors," has been incorporated.

People

Points of Contact

BAA CoordinatorPRIMARY

Files

Files

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Versions

Version 3Viewing
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Posted: May 5, 2026
Version 2
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Posted: Apr 27, 2026
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Version 1
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Posted: Apr 17, 2026
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