BeeGFS file system licenses for 3 HPC clusters
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER · Response deadline: Mon, 12 Oct 2026
What the government is buying
NASA needs software licenses for the BeeGFS parallel file system to support three high-performance computing (HPC) clusters. BeeGFS (formerly FhGFS) is a leading open-source parallel file system developed for demanding HPC environments, commonly used in government, research, and enterprise computing centers. It enables multiple servers to work together to provide high-throughput, low-latency access to large datasets across many compute nodes.
In HPC cluster deployments, BeeGFS typically requires commercial licenses for certain enterprise features, support, or management tools beyond the core open-source distribution. The file system serves as critical storage infrastructure for computational workloads common to NASA's missions—such as climate modeling, astrophysics simulations, aerospace engineering, and satellite data processing. Performance, reliability, and vendor support are typically key evaluation factors for this type of procurement.
See the solicitation for the specific license types, quantities, and technical requirements associated with each of the three clusters.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | NASA (NASA Shared Services Center) |
| Notice type | Combined Synopsis/Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | 80NSSC26944519Q |
| NAICS | 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing) |
| Set-aside | Small Business Set Aside - Total |
| Response deadline | October 12, 2026, 7:00 AM CT |
| Place of performance | Greenbelt, MD |
Who can bid
This procurement is set aside exclusively for small businesses. To qualify, your business must:
- Meet SBA size standards for NAICS 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing), which generally requires 1,000 employees or fewer
- Be registered in SAM.gov with active status
- Have appropriate NAICS codes in your SAM profile
- Certify as small at the time of offer and award
You do not need to be a computer manufacturer yourself. Under NAICS 334111, businesses engaged in software licensing, systems integration, or IT value-added reselling may qualify if they meet size standards. If you are a value-added reseller, ensure your supplier relationships and pricing are documented, as the government may evaluate your access to genuine BeeGFS licensing and support capabilities.
How to put together a competitive bid
Demonstrate HPC storage expertise. NASA evaluators will likely prioritize vendors who understand parallel file system architectures, InfiniBand or high-speed Ethernet interconnects, and the specific demands of multi-petabyte HPC environments. Highlight relevant past performance with BeeGFS, Lustre, GPFS, or comparable parallel file systems.
Clarify licensing scope. BeeGFS offers different licensing tiers—community edition, enterprise features, and support subscriptions. See the solicitation for which components NASA requires. Your proposal should clearly specify license counts, duration, and any renewal or transfer terms.
Address all three clusters. The requirement covers three distinct HPC clusters, which may have different scales, workloads, or existing infrastructure. Proposals that demonstrate customized sizing and configuration for each environment, rather than generic approaches, will likely score higher.
Emphasize support and responsiveness. Government HPC systems require reliable vendor support with defined response times. Detail your technical support capabilities, escalation procedures, and whether you provide direct support or broker through the software publisher.
Verify supply chain and authenticity. Given software licensing fraud risks, be prepared to document your authorized reseller status or direct relationship with the BeeGFS publisher (ThinkParQ or its designated distributors).
Price competitively but completely. Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notices typically require immediate pricing. Confirm whether licenses are perpetual or term-based, and include all applicable maintenance, training, or professional services in your delivered price.
Next steps
- Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov by searching solicitation number 80NSSC26944519Q to obtain complete specifications, evaluation criteria, and proposal instructions.
- Confirm your SAM registration is active and reflects appropriate NAICS codes and small-business status.
- Note the firm deadline: responses are due October 12, 2026, at 7:00 AM Central Time—less than one week from the October 6 posting date. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Submit through the designated SAM.gov method specified in the solicitation, and retain submission confirmation for your records.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →