Cloud-based e-mail to save $15 million over five years
GSA # 10694
December 1, 2010
Contact: Steve Hoffman, (202) 501-1231
steve.hoffman@gsa.gov
WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration announced today an award for cloud-based e-mail and collaboration tools that will reduce inefficiencies and lower costs by 50 percent over the next five years. GSA is the first federal agency to move e-mail to a cloud-based system agencywide.
“Cloud computing has a demonstrated track record of cost savings and efficiencies,” said Casey Coleman, GSA Chief Information Officer. “With this award, GSA employees will have a modern, robust e-mail and collaboration platform that better supports our mission and our mobile work force, and costs half as much.”
The contract provides for an easily accessible suite of services, including e-mail and collaboration tools, to facilitate a more mobile work force. While agencies have moved sub-entities’ e-mails to the cloud, GSA is the first to utilize a cloud-based system for e-mail agencywide. The migration will result in a 50 percent savings over the next five years when compared to current staff, infrastructure, and contract support costs.
GSA’s move to cloud-based e-mail and collaboration tools is part of a government-wide effort to utilize more agile, lightweight technology such as cloud computing and to shared services to limit the need for expensive, redundant infrastructure.
“GSA’s cloud e-mail award is in step with the Administration’s ‘cloud first’ strategy and demonstrates that agile, secure, reliable, and cost effective cloud options exist to rapidly improve agency operations and services,” said Dave McClure, GSA Associate Administrator of the Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies.
GSA awarded the $6.7 million, five-year task order to Unisys Corp. under the Alliant Governmentwide Acquisition Contract. Unisys has partnered with Google, Tempus Nova, and Acumen Solutions.
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As the federal government's workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions include:
• Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 210,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;
• Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up more than 11 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;
• Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,
• Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.
Source: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/208417
