PGC-Object Storage Solution

The Polar Geospatial Center (PGC) at the University of Minnesota seeks a vendor to design, deliver, and implement an object‑based storage solution capable of at least 40 PiB of usable capacity initially, with scalable growth. The solution will store remote‑sensing imagery and digital elevation products that are accessed frequently, requiring near‑line performance rather than deep‑archive latency. Two architectural paths are acceptable: a cloud‑based (with optional on‑premise hybrid) solution or an entirely on‑premise solution. The contract will cover hardware/software procurement, system integration, migration of existing datasets, performance tuning, and ongoing support. Vendors must respond through the university’s MBID e‑procurement system, adhere to strict submission deadlines, and may be required to present oral demos or site visits. • Minimum 40 PiB initial usable storage, scalable with funding • Near‑line performance for high‑frequency remote‑sensing data access • Cloud‑only or cloud‑plus‑on‑premise hybrid, or fully on‑premise design • Full lifecycle services: design, implementation, migration, support • Submission via MBID system; hard close on 2 Oct 2026; questions due 8 Sep 2026