Request for Information (RFI) for a Deployable High Performance Computer (HPC)

1. Introduction

This Request for Information (RFI) is in accordance with (IAW) the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15.2 and is published only to obtain information for use by Program Executive Officer, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation (PEO (U&W)), Navy and Marine Corps Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-266), Patuxent River, Maryland.

This RFI does not constitute an invitation for bids, a request for proposal, a solicitation, a request for quote or an indication that the Government will contract for the items provided by responder. The Government will not reimburse responders for any costs associated with the preparation or submission of the information requested. Response to this RFI is strictly voluntary and will not affect any potential offerors ability to submit an offer if a solicitation is released. The Government will disregard any requests for a solicitation package.

The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested. The Government will not return submittals to the responders. The Government may request that responders provide additional information/details based on their initial submittals.

2. Objective

The Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Office (PMA-266) under PEO(U&W), is seeking industry input to identify potential solutions for a High Performance Computer (HPC) to be deployed on the United States Marine Corps MQ-9A Unmanned Aerial System (UAS).  Ideally, the system, as delivered, should be ruggedized and ready to use with minimal logistics, training, and support. The system should meet the requirements to obtain an Authorization to Operate (ATO) at the Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level. The HPC will be installed in the Centerline Avionics Bay (CAB), mounted underneath the midsection of the fuselage.

PEO (U&W), PMA-266, is specifically interested in systems with the characteristics listed below.  Note, these are the minimum desired characteristics.

• Delivery Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 or higher, as defined in the Department of Defense (DOD) Technology Readiness Assessment Guidebook of June 2023 (https://www.cto.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/TRA-Guide-Jun2023.pdf)
• Compute Density of 80x1012 Floating Point Operations per Second (80 TFLOPS)
• Compliant with the Open Mission Systems (OMS) Tier 3 standard (OMSC-STD-001)
• Supports the following software packages:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • PyTorch, YOLO, and TensorFlow
  • Other open-source Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML) software
• Data read/write speed of 16 gigabytes per second (GB/s)
• Communications interfaces (both internal and external) support data transfer rate of 100 Gb/s (i.e. consistent with gigabit ethernet speeds) or faster
• Maximum size & weight:
  • Length: 20 Inches
  • Width: 10 Inches
  • Height: 8 Inches
  • Weight: 55 pounds
• Power consumption
  • Maximum of 1000 watts direct current (DC)
  • Compliant with MIL-STD-704F, Aircraft Electrical Power Characteristics
• Environmental
  • Compliant with MIL-STD-810H, Standard Environment Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests.
  • Compliant with MIL-STD-461G, Control of Electromagnetic Interface Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment.
  • Continuous nominal performance at low altitudes: 0ft MSL / 50°C ambient temperature and 5000ft MSL / 40°C ambient temperature.
  • Continuous nominal performance at high altitudes: 15,000ft MSL / 20°C ambient temperature.
  • Continuous nominal performance with sustained (up to 120s) accelerations of ±2Gs in any direction.
  • Continuous nominal performance with instantaneous (up to 2s) acceleration of up to ±4Gs in any direction.
• Security features:
  • Able to obtain an ATOat the TS/SCI level as defined in DOD Instruction (DoDI) 8510.01, DoDI 8500.01, and NIST SP 800-53, as well as Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 503, ICD 503 Technical Amendment, ICD 503 Practitioner Manual, ICD-703, ICD-731 and Intelligence Community Standard (ICS) 500-18, ICS 500-27, ICS 503-1, and ICS 503-2.
  • Secure boot/firmware validation/verification via Trusted Platform Module (TPM) or equivalent industry standard hardware-based solution.
  • Encrypted Data-at-rest
  • Encrypted Data-in-motion

3. Requested Information. The responder is requested to provide detailed information to demonstrate the characteristics described above.  For each characteristic, please indicate whether your firm has an existing computer that meets or exceeds it and provide the detailed performance spec.  If your firm does not currently have an existing device that meets or exceeds all requirements, please indicate which requirements cannot currently be met and a brief description of how you would address the shortfall, including an initial budgetary estimate.

One of the most important requirements to meet will be the security classification requirements listed at the end of Section 2 above.  However, we anticipate that that requirement may be the most difficult to meet.  If your company has a system that is already certified to the appropriate level, please include documentary evidence (which will not count against the page limit listed below), otherwise, please provide details on how you intend to meet those requirements.

We expect to need a Cross-Domain-Solution (CDS) and a High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) in conjunction with the HPC.  Ideally, those would be embedded into the HPC enclosure but may sit outside.  If your company has hardware and/or software that can serve those functions – whether internally or externally – please include information about those as well.

Provide detailed information in response to the questions listed below. Please answer them in the order in which they are asked:

1. What is the modularity of the device?  Can components be added, removed, or replaced by users?
2. Does the device support non-proprietary, industry standard hardware interfaces for replaceable components (e.g. SSD/NVMe, RAM, etc.)?
3. What environmental (including electromagnetic environment) testing has your device been subjected to?  Are you willing to provide copies of the reports?
4. Are you willing to release full Interface Control Documents?
5. How does your system incorporate anti-tampering techniques?
6. Does your firm have any experience implementing DOD anti-tamper requirements (e.g. secure data self-destruct/zeroize – as specified in various DODI  and DOD Directives (DODD), including DODI 5200.39, DODD 5200.47E, DODI500.83, and others)?  If so, please provide a brief overview of the effort(s).
7. Does your firm have a CDS and/or HAIPE that could be combined with the HPC (either as separate units or integrated into the HPC unit)?  If so, please provide details.
8. What other unique capabilities are available with the system that may enhance mission performance?
9. What is your maintenance strategy?  Describe operator performed maintenance expectations at the component level. 
10. Are you able to provide logistical support with spare parts and repairs of damaged parts?
11. What is your experience with developing ruggedized, deployable HPCs:
    1. For commercial use?
    2. For military use?
12. How many units have been sold/fielded to date? If able, please identify user(s) of the identified solution(s).
13. What is the production lead-time and capacity constraints based on order quantities of 1, 5, 10, 25?
14. What is the maximum production output (systems/month) at this time?
15. Is this system available for commercial procurement IAW FAR Part 12?
16. Did you receive funding to develop your system from any governmental agencies?
17. Are you a foreign-owned, foreign-controlled, or a foreign-influenced company?
18. Please provide your CAGE code and business size under NAICS Code. If you are a small business per the parameters of NAICS Code, do you also qualify under any of the sub-categories: 8(a), Small Disadvantaged Business, HUB Zone, etc.?
19. Please provide operators manual and maintenance manual, if available.

4. Responses

All interested, capable, and responsible sources that wish to respond to this RFI, please respond with a white paper via electronic mail no later than 60 days after release date on SAM.GOV. Please limit responses to no more than 20 pages, 12-point font, not including preprinted information material (manuals/ICDs/certification letters, etc.).  No telephone requests for additional information will be accepted.  Please submit unclassified responses only.  If your firm has relevant classified information, please make a note of that in your response, and we will follow-up separately, if we are interested in that info.

5. Questions

If you have any specific questions (relating to the above referenced information only) please submit them in written format to the Contracting Officer listed.  Do not contact the program office directly. Informational meetings will not be entertained at this time.

Contracting Office Address:
47123 Buse Road, BLDG 2272, Room 536
Patuxent River, Maryland 20670
United States