Navy issues RFI for cloud services

The Department of the Navy has issued two requests for information on data storage and cloud-based collaboration systems, including email. Navy, like so many other agencies, is looking for ways to cut its expenses through its IT spending.

According to Federal News Radio reporter Jared Serbu, the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command is contemplating “a public-private data center model to consolidate the dozens of facilities operated by the Navy and Marine Corps into a more rational footprint, as well as a commercial solution to cloud-based email and collaboration.”

It wants to explore software-as-a-service offerings that include email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and groupware, as well as audio and video chat, instant messaging, and calendaring.

Interested parties are asked to respond to the announcement by Aug. 29.

GAO issues RFI for cloud services

The Government Accountability Office is looking into possible cloud computing options. The agency recently issued a request for information for cloud services as it tries to enhance its IT systems in an age of decreasing budgets.

“In facing both an expected decrease in resources and the impending end of life for major elements of its existing infrastructure, GAO is looking for avenues to not merely maintain the existing environment but to take steps to transform it into an environment that is more cost-effective, sustainable and aligned with future business needs,” GAO wrote in the RFI.

GAO noted its multiple locations around the country, its massive amounts of data, and security as three of the main things vendors should consider when submitting their responses to the agency.

Interested companies have until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 to reply to the RFI.

GAO is the latest in a long list of agencies interested in cloud computing. The government’s 25-point IT reform plan released in December called on agencies to identify three current systems to move to the cloud. The plan also called for agencies to follow a cloud-first policy when evaluating options for new IT systems.

Federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra has said he believes $20 billion of the $80 billion government spends on IT is a potential for migration to the cloud.

Labor releases RFI for cloud email

The Labor Department has put out a request for information for a software-as-a-service cloud email solution.

“The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to assist DOL in understanding the SaaS cloud computing solutions available in the market place with respect to email services, archiving and eDiscovery services, and collaboration services including the maturity and experience of vendors/system integrators in migrating and integrating multiple services to the cloud,” the agency said in the RFI available on FedBizOpps.gov.

Currently, each of Labor’s nine major agencies is responsible for its own email system. In all, Labor services over 21,000 mailboxes.

Labor is just one of the growing number of agencies looking to the cloud for its email services. A recent report from the CIO Council, shows 13 agencies (including Labor) currently using the cloud or planning to use the cloud for email.

Interested parties can submit their responses via email until 3:00 p.m. (EST) on June 13.