diff --git a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
index dd1d4e7..17c5b3a 100644
--- a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
+++ b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 )
@@ -92,14 +93,20 @@ func main() {
 		discoveries["lifeboat"] = lifeboat
 		builtinLocal = &lifeboat
 	}
-	gpuAdapter, err := models.NewOllamaAdapter(envOr("LOCAL_GPU_PROVIDER_URL", "http://192.168.220.91:11434"), nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal(err)
+	gpuURL, gpuKey, gpuConfigured, gpuErr := loadProtectedGPUConfiguration()
+	if gpuErr != nil {
+		log.Printf("optional GPU provider disabled: %v", gpuErr)
+	} else if gpuConfigured {
+		gpuAdapter, adapterErr := models.NewOpenAICompatibleLocalAdapterWithAPIKey(gpuURL, gpuKey, nil)
+		if adapterErr != nil {
+			log.Printf("optional GPU provider disabled: %v", adapterErr)
+		} else {
+			gpu := providerRegistration{ProviderInstanceID: "local-gpu-opportunistic", Kind: "openai-compatible-chat-v1", EndpointRef: "local-gpu-opportunistic-v1", CredentialRef: "credential://domovoy/gpu/provider-api-key/v1", AuthMode: capability.AuthKey, BillingMode: capability.BillingFree, DataPolicy: capability.DataPolicyExternalMessageOnly, Provider: gpuAdapter, Discovery: gpuAdapter}
+			providers[gpu.Kind] = append(providers[gpu.Kind], gpu)
+			discoveries["gpu"] = gpu
+			externalRecovery = append(externalRecovery, gpu)
+		}
 	}
-	gpu := providerRegistration{ProviderInstanceID: "local-gpu-opportunistic", Kind: "ollama-v1", EndpointRef: "local-gpu-opportunistic-v1", AuthMode: capability.AuthNone, BillingMode: capability.BillingFree, DataPolicy: capability.DataPolicyExternalMessageOnly, Provider: gpuAdapter, Discovery: gpuAdapter}
-	providers[gpu.Kind] = append(providers[gpu.Kind], gpu)
-	discoveries["gpu"] = gpu
-	externalRecovery = append(externalRecovery, gpu)
 	if openAIProvider != nil {
 		kind := capability.ProviderKind(envOr("OPENAI_PROVIDER_KIND", "openai-responses-v1"))
 		providers[kind] = append(providers[kind], providerRegistration{ProviderInstanceID: "openai-bootstrap", Kind: kind, EndpointRef: capability.EndpointBindingRef(envOr("OPENAI_ENDPOINT_REF", "openai-responses-default")), CredentialRef: capability.CredentialRef(envOr("OPENAI_CREDENTIAL_REF", "openai-advisory-v1")), AuthMode: capability.AuthKey, BillingMode: capability.BillingPerInput, DataPolicy: capability.DataPolicyExternalMessageOnly, Provider: openAIProvider})
@@ -137,17 +144,24 @@ func main() {
 	if mediumURL != "" {
 		readinessProbes = append(readinessProbes, mediumHealthProbe)
 	}
-	readinessProbes = append(readinessProbes,
-		health.HTTPProbe(readinessClient, lifeboatURL),
-		health.OptionalHTTPProbe(readinessClient, strings.TrimRight(envOr("LOCAL_GPU_PROVIDER_URL", "http://192.168.220.91:11434"), "/")+"/api/tags"),
-	)
-	mux.Handle("/readyz", health.ReadinessHandler{Runtime: "cognitive-worker", Probes: readinessProbes})
-	mux.Handle("/v1/fleet/readiness", fleetReadinessHandler(fleetClient, preferredFleet, []fleetEndpoint{
+	readinessProbes = append(readinessProbes, health.HTTPProbe(readinessClient, lifeboatURL))
+	if gpuConfigured {
+		gpuHeaders := map[string]string{"Authorization": "Bearer " + gpuKey}
+		gpuProbe := health.OptionalHTTPProbeWithHeaders(readinessClient, strings.TrimRight(gpuURL, "/")+"/models", gpuHeaders)
+		gpuProbe.Timeout = 10 * time.Second
+		readinessProbes = append(readinessProbes, gpuProbe)
+	}
+
+	fleetEndpoints := []fleetEndpoint{
 		{ProviderID: "local-cpu-primary", ModelID: "local-cpu-model", Tier: capability.FleetTierFast, URL: cpuEndpoint, Headers: cpuFleetHeaders, Client: &http.Client{Timeout: 10 * time.Second}},
 		{ProviderID: "local-medium-primary", ModelID: "local-medium-model", Tier: capability.FleetTierMedium, URL: mediumEndpoint, Headers: mediumHeaders, Client: mediumReadinessClient},
-		{ProviderID: "local-gpu-opportunistic", ModelID: "gpu-opportunistic", Tier: capability.FleetTierHeavy, URL: strings.TrimRight(envOr("LOCAL_GPU_PROVIDER_URL", "http://192.168.220.91:11434"), "/") + "/api/tags"},
 		{ProviderID: "cognitive-lifeboat", ModelID: "qwen3-8b-lifeboat", Tier: capability.FleetTierLifeboat, URL: lifeboatURL},
-	}))
+	}
+	if gpuConfigured {
+		fleetEndpoints = append(fleetEndpoints, fleetEndpoint{ProviderID: "local-gpu-opportunistic", ModelID: "gpu-opportunistic", Tier: capability.FleetTierHeavy, URL: strings.TrimRight(gpuURL, "/") + "/models", Headers: map[string]string{"Authorization": "Bearer " + gpuKey}})
+	}
+	mux.Handle("/readyz", health.ReadinessHandler{Runtime: "cognitive-worker", Probes: readinessProbes})
+	mux.Handle("/v1/fleet/readiness", fleetReadinessHandler(fleetClient, preferredFleet, fleetEndpoints))
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/proposals/deterministic", deterministicProposal)
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/advisory-policy", gateway.policyHandler)
 	mux.HandleFunc("POST /v1/advisories", gateway.advisoryHandler)
@@ -244,6 +258,46 @@ func loadLocalCPUProviderAPIKey() (string, error) {
 	return loadProviderAPIKey("LOCAL_CPU_PROVIDER_API_KEY", "LOCAL_CPU_PROVIDER_API_KEY_FILE", "LOCAL_CPU_PROVIDER_CREDENTIAL_REF", "credential://domovoy/local-cpu/provider-api-key/v1")
 }
 
+const (
+	gpuProviderURLFile = "/run/secrets/llm_gpu_gateway_url"
+	gpuProviderKeyFile = "/run/secrets/llm_gpu_gateway_api_key"
+)
+
+func loadProtectedGPUConfiguration() (string, string, bool, error) {
+	urlValue, err := readProtectedRuntimeValue(gpuProviderURLFile)
+	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return "", "", false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", false, err
+	}
+	key, err := readProtectedRuntimeValue(gpuProviderKeyFile)
+	if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+		return "", "", false, fmt.Errorf("GPU provider key is not configured")
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", false, err
+	}
+	return urlValue, key, true, nil
+}
+
+func readProtectedRuntimeValue(path string) (string, error) {
+	const root = "/run/secrets"
+	clean := filepath.Clean(path)
+	if clean != root && !strings.HasPrefix(clean, root+string(os.PathSeparator)) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("protected runtime path outside secret root")
+	}
+	payload, err := os.ReadFile(clean)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	value := strings.TrimSpace(string(payload))
+	if value == "" || strings.ContainsAny(value, "\r\n") {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("protected runtime value is empty or multiline")
+	}
+	return value, nil
+}
+
 func deterministicAdvisory(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	request, ok := decodeAdvisoryRequest(w, r)
 	if !ok {
diff --git a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main_test.go b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main_test.go
index 8e3f8ab..4ccce5a 100644
--- a/cmd/cognitive-worker/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/cognitive-worker/main_test.go
@@ -68,3 +68,9 @@ func TestLoadProviderAPIKeyRejectsMediumDirectEnvironmentSecret(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("expected direct medium environment secret to be rejected")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestReadProtectedRuntimeValueRejectsPathOutsideSecretRoot(t *testing.T) {
+	if _, err := readProtectedRuntimeValue("/tmp/not-a-domovoy-secret"); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected protected path rejection")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml b/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
index b99cae5..0ba0e5a 100644
--- a/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ services:
       LOCAL_MEDIUM_PROVIDER_API_KEY_FILE: ${LOCAL_MEDIUM_PROVIDER_API_KEY_FILE:-}
       LOCAL_MEDIUM_PROVIDER_CREDENTIAL_REF: ${LOCAL_MEDIUM_PROVIDER_CREDENTIAL_REF:-credential://domovoy/local-medium/provider-api-key/v1}
       LOCAL_LIFEBOAT_PROVIDER_URL: http://cognitive-lifeboat:8086/v1
-      LOCAL_GPU_PROVIDER_URL: http://192.168.220.91:11434
       COGNITIVE_OWNER_PRINCIPAL_ID: domovoy-creator-principal
       COGNITIVE_ALLOW_CANARY: "true"
     depends_on: [core-runtime, cognitive-lifeboat]
diff --git a/dev/ACTIVE_TASK.json b/dev/ACTIVE_TASK.json
index df51977..0760131 100644
--- a/dev/ACTIVE_TASK.json
+++ b/dev/ACTIVE_TASK.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "task_file": "dev/tasks/DEV-000182-model-rating-and-adaptive-routing.json",
-  "task_id": "DEV-000182",
+  "task_file": "dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json",
+  "task_id": "DEV-000184",
   "task_revision": 1
 }
diff --git a/dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json b/dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cce4ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+  "task_id": "DEV-000184",
+  "task_revision": 1,
+  "architecture_revision": "ADR-0018",
+  "base_repo_revision": "16a0e8c4924a2e644294e12f048e747c00f940b9",
+  "risk_tier": "E",
+  "intent": "Connect an optional OpenAI-compatible GPU provider through protected Domovoy storage without literal provider credentials or hardwired environment configuration, while preserving CPU/Lifeboat degraded operation.",
+  "requirement_ids": ["GPU provider endpoint is authenticated through protected storage", "GPU absence or invalid configuration does not stop cognitive-worker", "fleet readiness and discovery use OpenAI-compatible /v1/models", "CPU and Lifeboat remain available fallback paths"],
+  "allowed_change_scope": {"modules": ["cognitive-worker", "deployment"], "paths": ["cmd/cognitive-worker/**", "deploy/docker-compose.prod.yml", "dev/ACTIVE_TASK.json", "dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json"]},
+  "forbidden_change_scope": {"paths": ["architecture/**", "database/**", "contracts/**", "modules/**", "security/**", ".gitea/**"]},
+  "allowed_architecture_delta": {"new_cross_module_dependencies": 0, "new_canonical_owners": 0, "new_privileges": 1, "new_third_party_dependencies": 0, "new_database_owner_roles": 0},
+  "contracts": {"consume": ["protected Domovoy secret files", "OpenAI-compatible /v1/models and /v1/chat/completions", "existing cognitive gateway and fleet readiness contracts"], "may_change": []},
+  "semantic_owner": "capability provider adapter projection",
+  "canonical_state": [],
+  "state_transitions": ["missing/invalid protected GPU config -> provider omitted and degraded readiness", "valid config -> authenticated discovery/readiness and optional heavy-tier candidate"],
+  "side_effects_and_privileges": ["outbound authenticated requests to the explicitly configured GPU endpoint; no credentials forwarded to Core or user responses"],
+  "persistence_and_migrations": ["no schema changes; protected file storage only"],
+  "failure_retry_restart": ["GPU timeout/unavailability falls back through existing router to CPU/Lifeboat", "restart reloads protected files", "invalid config disables only optional GPU provider"],
+  "assumptions": ["the supplied endpoint implements OpenAI-compatible /v1/models and /v1/chat/completions", "the protected secret volume is mounted read-only into cognitive-worker", "docker-test remains prohibited"],
+  "acceptance_scenarios": ["GPU /v1/models succeeds with protected key", "GPU key never appears in env/logs/responses", "GPU discovery creates provider-neutral records", "fleet readiness reports GPU heavy tier only when configured", "stopping GPU leaves CPU/Lifeboat ready", "chat remains available without GPU files"],
+  "required_tests": ["go test ./cmd/cognitive-worker ./adapters/models", "go vet ./...", "go run ./cmd/devctl preflight -task dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json", "go run ./cmd/devctl check-diff -task dev/tasks/DEV-000184-gpu-openai-protected-provider.json", "go run ./cmd/devctl check-architecture", "go run ./cmd/devctl/independent", "git diff --check", "CI", "production protected-key models/readiness/live fallback checks"],
+  "terminal_gap_states": ["BLOCKED_BY_MISSING_CAPABILITY", "BLOCKED_BY_SPEC_GAP", "BLOCKED_BY_CONFLICT"]
+}