The U.S. Air Force released a request for lease proposal in search of a potential artificial intelligence data center at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.
Davis-Monthan is one of five potential Air Force bases that could house the private commercial data center. Other sites are located in Tennessee, California, New Jersey and Georgia.
The RFP says the government will be eligible to purchase services and power from the data centers but will not be obligated to.
Proposals must carry a valuation of at least $500M. Proposed facilities must exceed 100MWs of power.
Additional guidelines include minimizing the impact on military duties, government duties and the local community. Developers must create a mitigation and contingency plan that outlines the life cycle of utilities.
A water and environmental management plan must also be submitted, alongside a noise and light pollution mitigation plan.
Currently, the City of Tucson does not provide the base with any potable or reclaimed water. The base operates its own wells. If the base were to increase its capacity, it must receive approval for new impact studies by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Before leaving office, former President Joe Biden signed an executive order in January that directs agencies to lease federal sites for AI data centers.
Current President Donald Trump also signed AI-related executive orders in January that are intended to remove barriers that inhibit the development of AI-related infrastructure and to streamline the permitting process.
Proposals are due on Nov. 14. (Source)