Transformative Expandable Modular Data Center

Overview

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is seeking commercial solutions capable of providing the critical facility infrastructure required to host advanced High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) systems in a flexible, scalable, and pre-manufactured environment.

Project Objective

This Individual Program Requirement seeks to identify “baseline” systems for integrated Modular Data Centers (MDCs) capable of sustaining a minimum of 1 MW Information Technology (IT) critical load. The MDC should be capable of supporting high density and power requirements of CPU and GPU architectures, including up to ~300 KW per rack and ~450 lb per sq ft. The MDC should include all necessary Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, backup power generation, precision cooling, and fire suppression systems integrated into a containerized solution. ITL will gain a comprehensive understanding of industry capabilities to provide resilient and secure (ICD-705) operations for HPC and AI systems. The final deliverable should be manufactured off-site, transported, and rapidly assembled within a 6-month timeframe to support next-generation workloads with rigorous liquid cooling demands. Furthermore, this initial deployment must serve as a scalable baseline architecture that can be rapidly duplicated and expanded to meet future capacity requirements.

Project Manager

Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC)

Requirements

Submissions should consider the design, integration, and deployment of a highly flexible MDC architecture that provides a fully integrated and secure compute environment and address the following key areas:

• Capacity, Architecture & Flexibility: Solutions must deliver an MDC supporting a minimum of 1 MW IT critical load. This IT load includes high density and high power CPU and GPU architectures, including up to ~300 KW per rack and ~450 lb per sq ft. The module architecture must be highly flexible, capable of accommodating a mix of customer-furnished high-density HPC compute racks and lower-density service racks without requiring significant structural reconfiguration.
• Rapid Scalability & Expansion: The architecture must be modular not just in its initial assembly, but in its macro-architecture. The solution must allow ERDC to rapidly procure, build, and integrate exact copies (additional blocks of at least 1 MW) to seamlessly expand total site capacity in the future.
• Integrated Power & Backup: Provide a minimum of N+1 UPS systems. Provide and install a dedicated Standby Diesel Generator at an N+1 redundancy level, appropriately sized to support the IT load plus all facility cooling and ancillary systems, with an integrated sub-base fuel tank for extended continuous operation.
• Cooling Systems: 100% of the IT load will be cooled via either Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) or Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx). The vendor must propose a solution that can be flexibly configured with these types of systems, which will be provided with the IT hardware. N+1 Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) units must be included strictly for ambient room temperature and humidity control. Site chillers and chilled water storage tanks must be included to sustain cooling during generator start-up. Chilled water pumps must be supported by UPS.
• SCIF Standards and Security: Solutions must meet strict SCIF specifications (e.g., ICD/ICS 705 standards) for physical security, acoustic protection, and emission security. ITL will handle the final SCIF accreditation, however, the solution provider must work closely with ITL throughout the design and build phases to ensure all structural and security specifications are met.
• Modularity & Deployment: The solution must be pre-manufactured, transported, and assembled on-site in Vicksburg, MS to include roof installation and module ganging.
• Ancillary Systems: Solutions must have comprehensive fire suppression (e.g., Novec 1230), Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus (VESDA smoke detection, Emergency Power Off (EPO) controls, and a complete Data Center Monitoring System.

Constraints and Considerations:

• Provided by Government: The solution foundation (pads) layout/footprint, walkways, main utility 480V power feeder, and site map (provided as an attachment for selected solutions).
• Provided by Others: IT equipment racks, network cabling, internal server components, and actual supercomputing hardware will be procured separately.
• Testing: The solution provider must provide all energization, startup, and testing of electrical and mechanical systems (including rental load banks) to validate the 1 MW capacity prior to IT deployment.

Applicants must be registered on SAM.gov. The Purpose of Registration on SAM.gov should reflect all awards.

Note: Submissions should NOT include confidential or proprietary details. Submissions may be shared with other ERDC teams if there is an apparent fit with other ERDC projects. 

Estimated Government Funding Profile 

The government would like to see a variety of scalable technical solutions not bound by a minimum or maximum funding level. While funding is available for this effort, a minimum and/or maximum amount will not be provided at this time.

This project does not commit the government or ERDCWERX to pay any costs incurred in preparation of a response or guarantee a contract.

Estimated Period of Performance

Solutions should propose a timeline detailing the delivery and deployment of the fully integrated and deployed secure MDC.

Desired End State

ERDC gains an understanding of the available industry solutions related to rapidly deployable, scalable, and highly secure self-contained Modular Data Center (MDC) infrastructure.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the criteria described in the CSO Solicitation document. Additional criteria specific to this project are listed below:

• Technical requirements will assess how innovative the solution is (as defined in this announcement) and the feasibility of the solution solving the agency’s challenges.
• Importance to agency programs will assess the solution’s potential to enhance the mission effectiveness of the agency.
• Funds availability will assess the availability of funding to procure the solution.

All resultant contracts will be firm-fixed price. All items, technologies, and services (including research and development) procured via this CSO are treated as commercial. Applicants from universities and/or non-profit organizations should be aware that commercial clauses will be integrated into the award and should coordinate proposals with associated legal counsel prior to submission.

Notional Project Schedule

Proposed project milestones include:

August 31, 2026	Project Announced, Submissions Open
September 9, 2026	Question Period Ends
September 30, 2026	Submissions Close (Deadline Extended)
September 16-30, 2026	ERDC Conducts Reviews
October 2026	Downselected Vendors Notified

*If needed; dates may vary to accommodate project team and participant availability. The government may accelerate the pre-proposal review/feedback timeline, and therefore also require earlier delivery of full proposals.

Project Security Classification

Unclassified