Request for Proposal: ALCF HPSS Disk Cache

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is an Illinois Sales Tax Exemption Certificate issued to UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC. It serves as official authorization to purchase tangible personal property for use or consumption tax-free under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

• Certificate Holder: UCHICAGO Argonne LLC
• Address: 5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago IL 60637-5418
• Issue Date: 02/09/2026
• Expiration Date: 03/01/2031
• Sales Tax Exemption Number: E99362058
• Organization Type: Educational

Bidders should review this certificate to confirm that the entity they are contracting with (UChicago Argonne LLC) is exempt from Illinois Sales Tax for the relevant period. This exemption may impact how costs are calculated and invoiced for the opportunity.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Statement of Work (SOW) details the requirements for a block storage system to serve as a disk cache for the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility (ALCF) Archive Storage. The primary goal is to efficiently move large amounts of data from high-speed compute clusters (like Aurora and Polaris) to the archive, replacing end-of-life disk cache and data mover servers.

• Storage System: A standalone appliance accessible by Linux data mover hosts, presenting raw, unformatted LUNs.

• Data Ingestion & Migration: Support high-speed parallel data transfers for ingesting data into the archive and simultaneously migrating data to tape.

• Connectivity: Data mover hosts must support connectivity to existing network infrastructure (100GbE, 200GbE, 400GbE) via standard transports (eth, ib, fc, sas).

• Data Mover Hosts: Can be external servers or embedded virtual machines, provisioned with a current RHEL distribution.

• Capacity: Minimum of 10 PiB usable capacity, excluding overhead for redundancy and hot spares.

• Performance: Target aggregate throughput of 140 GB/s and 5 million IOPS for SSD, or 90 GB/s and 3.2 million IOPS for HDD. Must support at least 16 parallel data streams at 90% line rate on a 400GbE link.

• Monitoring: Provide integrated monitoring tools and data collection processes on data mover hosts, supporting structured data and defined RAS messages.

• Reliability: High reliability and availability, tolerant to electrical and mechanical distribution events. Must support automated rebuild processes for storage media failures and hot-swapping of field-replaceable components (FRUs).

• Maintenance & Support: 5-year hardware and software maintenance (mandatory 9x5 NBD support, optional 12x7 support), including on-site parts cache and problem escalation procedures. Software support includes 24x7 for critical failures.

• Facility: Installation within the Theory and Computing Sciences Building (TCS-DC) data center, requiring tolerance for raised floor loads and available 480Vac power. Cooling via under-floor plenum.

• Power: Fault-tolerant power distribution from two separate sources, tolerance for power quality variations (surge/sag), power factor of 0.95, and adherence to IEEE STD 519-2014 for harmonic currents.

• Management Network: Integration into existing Ethernet-based management network, requiring a 1000BASE-T management port and out-of-band management interface.

• Installation & Acceptance: Offeror must provide an installation plan 90 days prior to installation and jointly develop an Acceptance Test Plan (ATP) 60 days prior to delivery.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Enclosure No. 5 - ANL-70B Pre-Award Information Reps & Certs.pdf," is a comprehensive set of representations and certifications required from offerors. It serves to gather essential information about the entity, its business practices, and compliance with various federal regulations prior to contract award.

• General Information: Legal name, Unique Entity ID (UEI), Doing Business As (DBA), physical address, primary performance location, and primary contact details.
• Business Organization & Entity Type: Selection of entity type and small business classifications (Small Business, Small-Disadvantaged Business, Woman-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, HubZone).
• NAICS Code: Identification of the North American Industry Classification System code and associated size standard.
• FAR Clauses & Certifications: Includes representations and certifications related to:
  • Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services (FAR 52.204-26)
  • Laboratory's standard terms and conditions (FAR 52.204-17)
  • Suspect Counterfeit Parts
  • Personal Conflict of Interest
  • Representation of Limited Rights Data and Restricted Computer Software (FAR 52.227-14)
  • Small Business or Non-Profit Status (Public Law 96-517)
  • Patent Waiver Rights
  • Exemption from Service Contract Labor Standards (FAR 52.222-48, FAR 52.222-52)
  • Affirmative Action Compliance (FAR 52.222-25)
  • Equal Opportunity Compliance (FAR 52.222-26)
  • Buy American Act – Supplies (FAR 52.225-1)
  • Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (FAR 52.204-10)
  • Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Proposed Debarment and other Responsibility Matters (FAR 52.209-5)
  • Certification Regarding Knowledge of Child Labor (FAR 52.222-18)
  • Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (FAR 52.203-11)
  • Compliance with Veteran's Employment Reporting Requirements (FAR 52.222-37)
  • Certificate of Independent Price Determination (FAR 52.203-2)
  • Covenant Against Contingent Fees (FAR 52.203-5)
  • Combating Trafficking in Persons (FAR 52.222-50)
  • Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification (FAR 52.230-1)

This document is critical for all potential bidders. Completing and submitting these representations and certifications accurately is a mandatory step in the proposal process. Failure to provide accurate information or meet the requirements outlined in these clauses may result in the rejection of an offer or impact contract award. Bidders must carefully review each section to ensure compliance with all applicable federal regulations and contract requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Low Risk On-Site Supplemental Conditions," outlines specific contractual requirements and conditions for contractors performing work at the Argonne National Laboratory. It details critical aspects of safety, indemnity, insurance, and environmental compliance that bidders must adhere to.

• Approval to Proceed: Contractors cannot begin on-site work without explicit approval.
• Indemnity: Contractor is responsible for all losses and damages arising from their work, including liability for damage to property and injury or death to persons.
• Insurance: Mandates specific minimum insurance coverage (General Liability, Automobile Liability, Professional Liability, Workers' Compensation) with coverage limits and carrier rating requirements.
• Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H): Outlines comprehensive ES&H regulations and requirements, including compliance with specific CFR titles, DOE directives (like 10 CFR 851), and industry standards (OSHA, NFPA, ANSI). It details requirements for reporting incidents, conducting Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and implementing safety programs.
• Site Rules and Safety Requirements: Specifies prohibited conduct, equipment inspection protocols, and mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses and hard hats.
• Disciplinary Program: Requires contractors to implement a disciplinary program for safety violations, with progressive stages and potential consequences including contract termination and site access suspension.
• FAR/DEAR Clauses: Incorporates specific Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) clauses related to personal identity verification, pollution prevention, access to records, and radiation protection.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the stringent safety, insurance, and compliance obligations associated with performing work at Argonne National Laboratory. Failure to comply with these conditions can lead to disciplinary actions, contract termination, and impact future bidding opportunities. Bidders must factor these requirements into their proposals and operational planning.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "TCSBT Exhibit C - Certificate of Insurance (COI) Requirements," outlines the specific insurance requirements for the Contractor and its subcontractors working at Building 240, supplementing the ANL366 form. It details the types of insurance, coverage limits, and specific provisions that must be maintained.

• Commercial General Liability: Requires limits of $2,000,000.00 (General Aggregate and Products/Completed Operations Aggregate), $1,000,000.00 (Bodily Injury/Property Damage Per Occurrence), $500,000.00 (Fire Damage/Damage to Rented Premises), and $10,000.00 (Medical Expenses per person). Coverage must include Premises/Operations, Products/Completed Operations, Contractual Liability, Broad Form Property Damage, Independent Contractors, and Personal Injury.
• Umbrella Liability: Requires a limit of $10,000,000.00 per occurrence and in aggregate, written on a follow-form basis.
• Workers' Compensation and Employers Liability: Statutory limits for Workers' Compensation and a minimum of $1,000,000.00 for Employers Liability (Coverage B). A waiver of subrogation is required.
• Comprehensive Crime Insurance: $10,000.00 for monies/securities (inside/outside facility) and $100,000.00 for employee dishonesty.
• Automobile Liability Insurance: $1,000,000.00 Combined Single Limit for owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles.
• Property – Subcontractors' Personal Property: Subcontractors must insure their own property.
• Professional Liability: $100,000.00 per claim or $1,000,000.00 annual aggregate, on a claims-made basis.
• General Requirements: All coverages apply to all locations, General Liability/Auto/Umbrella are primary and non-contributory, 30-day notice for cancellation/non-renewal, insurers must be A.M. Best rated A or higher, and specific endorsement requirements for notice of cancellation/modification.
• Additional Insured / Loss Payee: Requirements for naming additional insureds and loss payees on Commercial General Liability, Umbrella, and Automobile Liability policies, including a list of entities such as UChicago Argonne, LLC, The United States of America, and The Argonne National Laboratory.

This document is critical for any bidder or subcontractor who will be performing work at Building 240. It specifies the mandatory insurance coverages and minimum limits required to be held by the Contractor and its subcontractors. Failure to meet these requirements could impact a bidder's ability to be awarded or to perform the contract. Bidders must ensure their insurance policies comply with these detailed specifications.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is Enclosure No. 3, a Pricing Proposal Form, provided in response to the Request For Proposal (RFP) dated April 29, 2026, for the ALCF HPSS Disk Cache project. It is intended for bidders to detail their proposed costs.

• Base Proposal: Requires a total dollar amount, derived from the sum of all "Base" components.
• Pricing Breakout: Includes fields for:
  • (Base) Hardware and Software Components
  • (Base) Installation
  • Maintenance and Support (Base: One Five-Year Period [9x5 NBD], Option 1: One-Year Extension [9x5 NBD])
  • Upgraded Support (Base: One Five-Year Period [12x7 NBD], Option 1: One-Year Extension [12x7 NBD])
  • (Base) Spare Parts Cache
• Bill of Materials (BOM): Bidders must include a separate, full BOM with itemized hardware, software, licenses, and accessories, including contractor and manufacturer part numbers and revisions.
• Delivery: Specifies F.O.B. Destination and requires the bidder to state shipment time in days from receipt of order.
• Contractor Information: Fields for signature, printed name, title, date, phone, and email.

This form is critical for bidders to accurately and completely detail their pricing structure for the ALCF HPSS Disk Cache project. It outlines the required cost breakdown, including base costs, installation, support options (both standard and upgraded, with multi-year options), and spare parts. The inclusion of a detailed BOM is also a key requirement. Bidders must complete this form as part of their proposal submission in accordance with the referenced RFP and Statement of Work.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the evaluation criteria for the ALCF HPSS Disk Cache acquisition, aligning with the Statement of Work (SOW) dated April 29, 2026, and all other RFP requirements. Proposals will be evaluated on a best-value basis, considering technical merit, contractor responsibility, and price.

Proposals are evaluated in three parts: Technical, Business/Management, and Price. The Business/Management Proposal is assessed first on a pass/fail basis for contractor responsibility. Only responsible Offerors proceed to technical and price evaluation.

Technical proposals are rated Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Unacceptable. Minimum mandatory requirements from the SOW must be met. Technical evaluation areas, in descending order of importance, include: Overall Technical Requirements (hardware, software, licensing), Maintenance and Support, and Installation Services. Specific technical requirements are detailed in Appendix 1, covering storage system capacity, throughput, durability, reliability, management network integration, power, cooling, and maintenance.

Award will be made to the responsible Offeror whose proposal is compliant, responsive, demonstrates conformance with the SOW and RFP, and offers fair and reasonable pricing, representing the best value to Argonne.

• Evaluation Factors: Technical Proposal (most important), Price Proposal. Business/Management Proposal for responsibility determination (pass/fail).
• Technical Ratings: Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Unacceptable.
• Risk Assessment: Low, Moderate, High.
• Price Evaluation: Total evaluated price, price realism, price reasonableness.

Not specified in this document.

Appendix 1 provides detailed technical criteria for the storage system, maintenance, support, and installation. Offerors must address all 'Required' criteria. 'Desired' criteria will be considered.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 6-B143-P-00143-00 issued by UChicago Argonne, LLC, operator of Argonne National Laboratory, for the "ALCF Archive Storage Disk Cache" based on an Argonne Statement of Work dated April 29, 2026. The Laboratory is seeking firm fixed price proposals for the required item(s)/service(s).

• The RFP consists of multiple enclosures detailing requirements, including a Statement of Work (SOW) for "ALCF Archive Storage Disk Cache".

• Proposals must be submitted in three parts: Technical Proposal, Business Management Proposal, and Cost/Price Proposal.

• Specific instructions for proposal preparation are provided, emphasizing economy and clarity.

• The anticipated contract type is firm fixed price.

• Award will be made based on a Best Value/Trade-Off methodology.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: May 29, 2026, by 4:30 PM CST via email to atkinson@anl.gov.

• Clarification Deadline: Requests for clarification must be submitted via email by May 13, 2026, 4:30 PM CST.

• Proposal Format: Email submission with three separate files for Technical, Business Management, and Cost/Price proposals.

• Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in Enclosure No. 4, including technical merit, support offerings, and capability to meet performance goals.

• Key Deadlines: Clarification requests by May 13, 2026; Proposal submission by May 29, 2026.

• Offerors are encouraged to have an active registration in www.SAM.gov prior to award.

• This RFP is not a contract. Argonne reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.

• Award may be made without discussion; proposals should be submitted on the most favorable terms.

• Offerors must acknowledge receipt of the RFP by return email.

• Enclosure No. 2 provides anticipated contractual terms, including the SOW and Argonne's Terms and Conditions.

• Enclosure No. 5 (Representations and Certifications) must be completed, signed, and returned with the proposal.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Enclosure No. 2A - Appendix A ANL-71COM.pdf," contains the Argonne Terms and Conditions for Commercial Goods and Services. It outlines the standard contractual terms and conditions that apply to procurements by Argonne National Laboratory for commercial goods and services.

This appendix details numerous clauses, including but not limited to:

• Assignment
• Audits and Rights
• Changes
• Conduct of Employees
• Cybersecurity and IT Acquisitions
• Disputes
• Environmental Protection
• Excusable Delays
• Inspection, Acceptance and Title
• Integration
• Laboratory Site Access, Safety and Health
• Limitation of Liability
• Non-Waiver of Defaults
• Order of Precedence/Inconsistency in Translation of Agreements
• Packaging
• Payments
• Public Release of Information
• State and Local Taxes
• Survival
• Suspect Counterfeit Parts
• Termination for Cause
• Termination for the Laboratory's Convenience
• Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FAR and DEAR clauses)

It also includes a "Suspect/Counterfeit Bolt Headmark List" to help identify defective fasteners.

Bidders must review and understand these terms and conditions as they form a significant part of the contract. They define the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of both the contractor and Argonne National Laboratory. Key areas for bidders to note include requirements for cybersecurity, employee conduct, dispute resolution, payment terms, and specific clauses related to materials and services, such as the prohibition of suspect counterfeit parts. Understanding these terms is crucial for accurate proposal preparation and contract compliance.