Stop negotiating a data center contract with a gut feeling.
Twelve field-tested chapters and a working cost calculator — Tier III vs. Tier IV tradeoffs, 2026 colocation pricing benchmarks, UPS vendor comparison, and the F-Gas fire-suppression rule that can get a new build fined. Real numbers, cross-checked at time of writing.
Written from 15+ years running data center design, operations, and project management.
A colo quote buries the real cost in a rack rate, a power number, and a cross-connect fee hidden in an appendix.
A "99.98% SLA" sounds airtight until you do the math and realize it still allows two outages a year.
A build timeline quietly slips six months before anyone on the project is willing to admit it.
A junior PM walks into their first RFP with no framework and no idea which questions actually matter.
Pick the format that fits how you work
Read the reasoning, run the numbers, or get both — three ways into the same field-tested framework.
The Guide
Twelve chapters on build-vs-buy-vs-colocate economics, Tier III vs. Tier IV tradeoffs, 2026 colocation pricing benchmarks, UPS vendor comparison, and the F-Gas fire-suppression rule that can get a new build fined. Hand it to a junior PM and watch them catch the six-month timeline slip nobody else flagged.
- 12 chapters: Tier III vs IV, 2026 colo pricing, UPS comparison, fire suppression & more
- Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet (PDF) — the one-page version for the call itself
Best for: first-time buyers and anyone about to evaluate colo or build proposals.
Buy the Guide — $49The Tool
Enter rack count, density, and market tier — get an all-in monthly cost, a recommended cooling technology, and a side-by-side of up to 3 vendor quotes. The NRC Budget Tracker flags category overruns automatically, including the low-voltage line item most builds blow through first.
- TCO & Provider Comparison Calculator — rack, power, cooling & vendor cost (.xlsx)
- 20+-category Technical Due Diligence Checklist
- 21-category Site Readiness & Handover Checklist
- Site Selection Scorecard + Vendor RFP Questionnaire
Best for: anyone comparing quotes, running a build budget, or walking a site right now.
Buy the Tool — $69The Combo
The Guide and the Tool were written together, not bundled after the fact — the Tier III/IV chapter cites the calculator's cooling-recommendation tab, the fire-suppression chapter cites the Decision Worksheet. Read the reasoning, then run your own numbers against it, for $29 less than buying both separately.
- All 12 Guide chapters + Cheat Sheet
- TCO Calculator + all 6 editable templates
- 4 files, one download, $29 cheaper than separate
Best for: anyone making a real buying or build decision in the next few months.
Buy the Combo — $89| Included | Guide | Tool | Combo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-chapter Main Guide (PDF) | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| Quick-Reference Cheat Sheet (PDF) | ✓ | – | ✓ |
| TCO & Provider Comparison Calculator (.xlsx) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| 6 Editable Checklist Templates (.docx) | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | $49 | $69 | $89 |
7-Day, No-Questions Refund
If this doesn't earn its place in your next negotiation or build, email info@techinfrahub.com within 7 days of purchase for a full refund. (This is our proposed default — tell Claude if you'd rather change the window or drop it.)
Questions before you buy
What format do I actually receive?
PDF for the Guide and Cheat Sheet, a working Excel file for the calculator, and Word documents for the templates — everything opens in tools you already have, no special software required.
Is this a subscription?
No. Every price on this page is a single, one-time payment. There's no recurring charge and nothing auto-renews.
I'm moving into data centers from an IT background — is this too advanced?
No — the Guide is written to give you the vocabulary and risk map first, before the technical calculator. It's built for exactly that transition.
How do I get my files after buying?
You'll create a quick account during checkout, and your files are available on your personal download page immediately after payment — accessible any time you log back in.
I bought the Guide — can I upgrade to the Combo later?
Yes, just purchase the Combo separately and email info@techinfrahub.com — we'll make sure you're not paying twice for the overlapping content.
Make your next negotiation the one you're actually prepared for.
12 chapters, 1 working calculator, 6 editable templates — the same numbers used to evaluate real colocation deals and builds. Pick the format that fits how you work.
Get Started — From $49