3 Important Point for Federal Government Cloud Computing

Point 1: In May, Verizon and AT&T were awarded a DHS task order for just under $1B to provide telecommunications services to the department. Verizon won the lead provider’s spot and a lion’s share of the contract: $678.5 million over 10 years. (See Verizon Nabs Networx Deal and AT&T Wins DHS Deal.)

Point 2: AT&T has entered the cloud computing market with the worldwide launch of a service called AT&T Synaptic Hosting. This follows Verizon’s cloud-computing service anouncement in June. That service is set to launch in early 2009.

Point 3: According to Federal Computer Week, GSA released the Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) Statement of Work to Networx vendors on July 17, 2008. According to INPUT:

“The General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) Office of Integrated Technology Services (ITS), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Cyber Security Division (NCSD), may have a requirement for aid in the implementation of Trusted Internet Connections (TIC).”

Award is scheduled in November.