ITES-4H Contract Guide: Procuring AI Infrastructure for t…
Quick Summary
- ITES-4H: $12B ceiling, managed by US Army CHESS
- Scope: AI infrastructure, GPU servers, data center hardware
- Term: 10-year contract (5 base + 5 options)
- Competition: Set-aside categories for small businesses
- Procurement: NTS solutions available through authorized ITES-4H partners
ITES-4H: Procuring AI Infrastructure for the US Army GPU compute server
The Information Technology Enterprise Solutions - 4th Generation Hardware (ITES-4H) contract vehicle, managed by the US Army Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) office, provides one of the most comprehensive procurement pathways for AI infrastructure in the federal government. With a $12 billion ceiling and 10-year term, ITES-4H covers servers, storage, networking, and associated services for Army and other Department of Defense organizations.
Contract Scope and Structure
ITES-4H is structured into four functional areas: FA1 (Commercial IT Hardware and Software), FA2 (Enterprise Solutions), FA3 (Small Business), and FA4 (Mobile Solutions). AI infrastructure procurement typically falls under FA1 or FA2, depending on whether the acquisition is hardware-only or includes integration services. The contract supports both firm-fixed-price and time-and-materials pricing structures.
Procuring GPU Servers Through ITES-4H
GPU servers for AI training and inference are available through ITES-4H from authorized resellers and OEM partners. The procurement process begins with requirements definition, followed by RFQ development, vendor solicitation, technical evaluation, and award. Typical ITES-4H procurements for AI infrastructure take 60-120 days from RFQ to delivery, significantly faster than standalone competitive procurements.
| Procurement Phase | Typical Duration | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements Definition | 2-4 weeks | GPU count, server configuration, memory, networking |
| RFQ Development | 2-3 weeks | SOW, evaluation criteria, delivery schedule |
| Vendor Solicitation | 3-4 weeks | Q&A, site visits, technical demonstrations |
| Evaluation and Award | 4-8 weeks | Technical evaluation, price analysis, negotiations |
| Delivery and Installation | 4-12 weeks | Configuration, testing, acceptance |
Advantages Over Other Contract Vehicles
ITES-4H offers several advantages for AI infrastructure procurement. The contract's broad scope covers everything from individual GPU servers to complete AI cluster deployments. CHESS provides technical assistance for requirements development. ITES-4H does not require minimum order quantities, enabling both small and large procurements. The contract supports both on-premise and cloud services for AI workloads.
NTS and ITES-4H
NTS solutions are available through multiple ITES-4H prime contractors, providing federal customers with access to our full GPU server product line including NVIDIA HGX, AMD Instinct, and Intel Gaudi-based systems. NTS provides configuration management, integration services, and warranty support through ITES-4H delivery orders.
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Can small businesses compete for ITES-4H AI procurements?
Yes, ITES-4H includes a dedicated small business functional area (FA3) with set-aside categories for small, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and 8(a) businesses. NTS partners with small business primes for set-aside procurements.
What is the maximum value of ITES-4H orders?
ITES-4H has a $12 billion overall ceiling with no specific per-order limit. Individual orders typically range from $10,000 for single GPU servers to $50M+ for complete AI cluster deployments.