UH lands The University of Hawaii was awarded a contract today potentially worth $181 million to operate and manage the Maui supercomputer.
$181 million
computer deal
The contract is the largest
in the school's history
By Helen Altonn
Star-BulletinIt is the single largest contract award in the university's history, officials said.
The Maui supercomputer is one of the top 20 most powerful computers in the world, said David Lassner, UH director of information technology.
The contract, with the Air Force Research Laboratory, is effective Oct. 1 and may be extended for up to 10 years.
"We have long encouraged the University of Hawaii to expand its high technology and biotechnology research programs. This contract is a proud achievement toward that end," Gov. Ben Cayetano said today in a statement.
The UH competed with the University of New Mexico, which had the contract since 1994 when the computer center opened. Plans are already under way to rename the facility to the Maui Supercomputing Center from its former moniker, the Maui High Performance Computing Center.
The center is the prime tenant at the 330-acre Maui Research and Technology Park near Kihei.
The computer helps the Air Force track space objects and helps spacecraft avoid other orbiting objects.
The Defense Department funded the supercomputer but allows its spare capacity to be leased for educational and commercial purposes.
Harold Masumoto, executive director of the UH Research Corporation, and Lassner were key figures in preparing the UH proposal.
The potential $181 million value of the contract will go largely toward covering the operating expenses shouldered by the university, Lassner said.
UH is expected to hire some 70 employees already working at the supercomputer center.
University of Hawaii
