SOURCES SOUGHT
D -- JPL SERVER CONSOLIDATION AND VIRTUALIZATION ASSESSMENT REQUEST FORINFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 5/8/2008
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541512
— Computer Systems Design Services
- Contracting Office
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Headquarters, Office of Procurement (HQ), NASA Management Office, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive,Pasadena, CA 91109
- ZIP Code
- 91109
- Solicitation Number
- DH-08-03
- Response Due
- 6/5/2008
- Point of Contact
- Mary Helen Ruiz, JPL Business Opportunities Office, Phone 818-354-7532, Fax 818-393-1746
- E-Mail Address
-
maryhelen.ruiz@jpl.nasa.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The California Institute of Technologys (Caltech) Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL),operating under a prime contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA), is seeking the interest of potential sources for IT server consolidation andvirtualization services.BACKGROUND: JPL has an inventory of about 19,000 computers, ranging from Windows andMacintosh desktops, to 1,000 node compute clusters. Of these 19,000 computers, about5,600 are computer servers performing a wide variety of computing tasks. The spacerequirements of this diverse server population are exceeding JPLs capacity, and plans toadd many new computing capabilities over the next few years means that the Lab needs toconsolidate its computing footprint both through hardware consolidation, as well as theuse of virtualization tools.REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: This Request For Information (RFI) proposes to obtain releasableinformation from major providers of IT consolidation and virtualization servicesregarding their direct experience with providing successful server consolidation andvirtualization assessments, consulting and services to private companies and/orgovernment agencies similar and size and complexity to JPL. The consolidated informationreceived will be considered in determining JPLs approach to IT consolidation andvirtualization, including whether JPL could realize advantages in cost or service byprocuring these services instead of self-providing.The Laboratory respectfully requests a direct but concise response to each of thefollowing key tasks and how your company is fully qualified to successfully execute them,keeping in mind the eventual purpose is to review the Labs computing environment toassess the potential for virtualization, and to make suggestions on the most effectivepath to achieving that potential.TASK 1 - Review the computing environment. JPL has an inventory of about 19,000computers, ranging from individual laptops to large compute clusters. There are a numberof data sources that describe this inventory, among them the Property Data Base, and theIT Security Data Base. This task is to review each of the data sources to quickly cullthose machines that are: (a) servers; and (b) are likely to be of an age and type thatwill make them suitable for consolidation or virtualization. In addition, there will bea physical component to the consolidation, and during this review, estimates must be madeof the physical dimensions and rackability of the identified equipment.This task must be performed in conjunction with the staff responsible for these machines. Attention must be paid to the applications being run, the expected lifetime of thesoftware (and the mission) supported by the application.TASK 2 - Select scenarios. Based on the results of Task 1, define a series ofrepresentative scenarios that will bin the Labs computers into similar types foranalysis purposes. For example, there are workstation class computers that run flightsoftware, while other machines run COTS database software such as MySQL or Oracle. Thereare large supercomputers, and hundreds of departmental application systems running bothCOTS and custom software. Since the time and cost to investigate each machine separatelyis prohibitive, sample scenarios will be used to explore the level of virtualization thatis achievable. If analysis software is to be used during the Investigation, the issues ofdeploying this software will be addressed at this stage, along with the permission of theowners of these systems to run the analysis software.TASK 3 - Investigate scenarios for their virtualization potential. Through interviews,the use of analysis tools, or other techniques, the scenarios outlined in Task 2, will beinvestigated and consolidation and virtualization opportunities identified. For example,analysis software may be appropriate for investigating COTS applications, butconfiguration controlled flight systems will probably need to be examined throughinterviews with system administrators. Expectations on the amount of consolidation andvirtualization that can be achieved will be set during this task, as well as the barrierspreventing the use of consolidation and virtualization techniques.TASK 4 - Consolidate results of scenario analysis in Task 3. When Task 3 is complete, thescenario analyses will be consolidated to provide an estimate of the overallconsolidation and virtualization potential across the Lab. This estimate will includeestimates of the required physical resources (rack space, investment in new machines andsoftware) as well as the software investments required, and in the labor required.TASK 5 - Recommend implementation approaches for JPL. Based on the consultantsexperience with other organizations, recommend approaches for JPL to achieve itsvirtualization potential. These approaches may include organization changes, investmentsin equipment and software, and investments in continuing specialized expertise during theconversion process.TASK 6 - Conduct a pilot virtualization exercise with JPL staff. With the help of JPLstaff, select a candidate suite of applications and virtualize them onto a single server.The purpose of this task is to identify technical and programmatic barriers tovirtualization at JPL, and to educate JPL management and staff on virtualization bestpractices. RESPONSE DEADLINE: Please submit your response in accordance with the above informationto JPL no later than June 5, 2008.POINTS OF CONTACT: Please direct any questions to Dennis Horgan, Email:dennis.n.horgan@jpl.nasa.gov; Phone: 818-393-0667 or Douglas Hughes, Email:douglas.s.hughes@jpl.nasa.gov; Phone 818-354-1186.DISCLAIMER: It is emphasized that the requested information is for preliminary planningpurposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that JPL willsolicit you for such procurement in the future. Neither JPL nor the Government will beresponsible for any costs incurred by you in furnishing this information. Prospectivecontractors are advised that any information provided shall be deemed to be furnishedwith unlimited rights to JPL, with JPL assuming no liability for the disclosure, use, orreproduction of such data.
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