VAST Data Storage Support Renewal for MSI

The University of Minnesota is issuing an Invitation for Bid to renew the VAST data storage support contract for the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI). The contract will cover ongoing maintenance, technical support, and possibly upgrades for the VAST high‑performance storage system used by MSI researchers. Vendors must submit a full bid through the MBID online system by the closing date, respond to any mandatory attributes, and may be required to provide oral presentations, site visits, or demonstrations. The procurement process follows university policies, including a question cutoff date, addenda issuance, and public disclosure of proposals. • Scope: Renewal of VAST storage hardware/software support for MSI • Bid type: Invitation for Bid (RFb) – mandatory online submission • Key dates: Issue 10/19/2026, Questions due 10/22/2026, Close 10/28/2026 • Mandatory attributes and certifications must be completed in the system • Potential requirement for oral presentation or site visit (at University’s discretion) • Contact: Grace Ng (primary), University Purchasing Services for general inquiries • No explicit contract value or duration disclosed; typical support renewals run 1‑3 years.