Empire AI Data Center Cost Estimation

The University Facilities Unit at the University at Buffalo (UB), in support of the Empire AI consortium, seeks to contract with a firm to provide consulting services associated with the Empire AI Data Center at the University at Buffalo’s North Campus. The firm will produce a minimum of three concepts for the data center as well as the total estimated cost to design and construct the data center for each concept. The data center is expected to have a capacity of up to 15MW of usable power in its fully populated and expanded future state and a minimum of 8MW available on day one of the operation. The data center should consider water cooled GPU systems such as state-of-the-art GPU Clusters. The cost estimate is a critical deliverable of this contract.  

 Energy Efficiency. Empire State Development and the Empire AI Consortium, shall work with the Power Authority of New York, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure a reliable and sufficient clean energy supply for the institute, to maximize the energy efficiency of the facility or facilities and equipment of the institute, and minimize emissions and negative environmental impacts, including from the use of freshwater resources, from constructing, operating, and of maintaining the institute.

Bidders are asked to produce a reasonable order of magnitude conceptual total project estimate for multiple scenarios of the planned data center. The firm will provide services to the Empire AI Consortium and stakeholder.

Bidders shall submit with their qualification package resumes of person(s) that are intended to provide consulting services to the university. This requirement includes staff of any intended sub-consultants including minority or women owned businesses.  Successful vendor will document:

• A minimum of three (3) projects either active or completed in the last five (5) years that must include:
  • Estimate and schedule development for the construction of a data center
  • Planning/programming development

Questions that rise as a result of this RFP are to be submitted in writing no later than September 13, 2024, to: Tricia Kandler, tkandler@buffalo.edu.

Bid Proposal Due Date and Time: October, 7, 2024 at 2:00PM and submitted to: UB-Compliance@buffalo.edu

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9/20/24 Please see the attached Addendum #1 for answers to all questions.

NO CHANGES to proposal due date.