Apps.gov to Begin Offering IaaS Cloud Services

Federal, state, local, and tribal governments will soon have access to cloud-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offerings through the government’s Apps.gov cloud-based services storefront, the General Services Administration said Thursday. The GSA has awarded contracts to 11 applicants, including many of the major players in the cloud computing industry. The companies will need to pass security requirements of the Federal Information Security Management Act, which governs federal cybersecurity requirements.

“Offering IaaS on Apps.gov makes sense for the federal government and for the American people," said federal Chief Information Officer Vivek Kundra. "Cloud computing services help to deliver on this Administration’s commitment to provide better value for the American taxpayer by making government more efficient. Cloud solutions not only help to lower the cost of government operations, they also drive innovation across government.”

Here's a look at the companies and teams that have been awarded contracts by the GSA to provide IaaS services:

Apps. gov is hosted by Savvis, while Verizon Federal's services will be provided from facilities operated by Terremark.

Under the new award from the GSA, government customers will be able to implement on-demand computing via virtual server farms that consist of virtual and physical servers, storage services, backup services, and application support services.

“Through offerings such as IaaS, GSA is providing government entities with easy access to cost-saving, high-value, more efficient technology solutions by doing a major part of the procurement processes upfront,” said GSA Associate Administrator of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies Dave McClure.”  By continuously working with industry, GSA’s cloud-based services available through Apps.gov are secure, compliant, and save taxpayer dollars by reducing duplication of security processes across government.”

Several of the participating providers hailed the news, saying it will enable government agencies to deploy IT services more efficiently.

"The Verizon on-demand cloud computing platform will help federal government customers maintain availability of critical systems and offer a way to transition to a service-based cost model where customers pay only for resources used – enabling agencies to conduct business more effectively by getting what they need, when they need it and where they need it," said Susan Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal.

“We are proud to be CTC’s trusted resource and to have a part in this landmark initiative,” said Lance Crosby, Chief Executive Officer for SoftLayer. “Our products and services provide an enterprise-class platform, ideal for the level of performance, stability, and confidence that government agencies require. I’m very excited that SoftLayer’s advantages will be applied to important work that impacts so many.”