SCINet Engineering Program Support
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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ), Solicitation #12314426Q0045, for SCINet Engineering Program Support. This Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Set-Aside opportunity seeks comprehensive support for the management and operation of the USDA Scientific Computing Initiative Network (SCINet) program. The work involves technical labor, network engineering services, and collaboration for high-performance computing (HPC) clusters, large-scale data storage systems, and associated maintenance. Quotes are due February 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET.
Scope of Work
The contractor will provide specialized services to ensure the efficient operation of the USDA SCINet program, enhancing scientific research and computing capabilities. Key responsibilities include:
- Technical Labor Support: Staffing a Strategic Initiatives Manager and a Senior Network Engineer. The Senior Network Engineer will require on-site presence at the National Agriculture Library in Beltsville, MD.
- Network Engineering: Design, implementation, maintenance, performance tuning, security enforcement, and troubleshooting for SCINet's networking infrastructure, including HPC clusters and large-scale data storage.
- Management & Collaboration: Documentation, change management, inventory tracking, project oversight, risk management, and coordination with associated institutions and programs (e.g., GlobalNOC, IT Points of Contact).
- Advanced Technologies: Evaluation and integration of emerging networking technologies, ensuring IPv6 and Section 508 compliance.
- Deliverables: Monthly and weekly status reports, meeting documentation, change management documentation, network performance and security reports, network diagrams, and various other operational and strategic reports.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP).
- Duration: One (1) base year of 12 months, plus four (4) 12-month option periods, for a potential total of five (5) years.
- Set-Aside: Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program Set-Aside.
- NAICS Code: 541519 - Other Computer Related Services, with a small business size standard of $34,000,000.
- Place of Performance: Primarily remote or contractor sites, with specific on-site duties for the Senior Network Engineer in Beltsville, MD.
Submission & Evaluation
- Questions Deadline: February 10, 2026, 3:00 PM ET. Submit questions via email to ismael.sanabria@usda.gov using Attachment 4.
- Quote Submission Deadline: February 18, 2026, 3:00 PM ET. Submit quotes to emily.strunk@usda.gov.
- Submission Format: Quotes must be submitted in four volumes: Cover Letter and Required Documents, Prior Experience, Technical, and Price. Specific page limits apply.
- Evaluation Criteria: Quotes will be evaluated based on three factors: Prior Experience, Technical, and Price. Non-price factors (Prior Experience and Technical) are equally important and, combined, are more important than Price.
- Eligibility: Offerors must be registered and active in the SAM database. Quotes must be valid for 60 days.
Points of Contact
- Contract Specialist: Ismael Sanabria (ismael.sanabria@usda.gov)
- Contracting Officer: Emily Strunk (emily.strunk@usda.gov)