DHS pushes agencywide cloud buying plan

The Department of Homeland Security is building a cloud acquisition strategy to allow its many components to buy secure cloud services from CSPs and resellers.

Shutterstock image:  cloud computing enabling numerous applications.

WHAT: The Department of Homeland Security's Enterprise Computing Services request for information about cloud computing services

WHY: The ECS initiative wants to explore ways to give DHS components the ability to buy secure cloud computing services through commercial providers and resellers, according to the RFI posted on FedBizOpps.

The goal is to give DHS agencies a flexible solution to their cloud computing needs by providing a portfolio of FedRAMP-compliant, cost-effective, secure and reliable on-demand cloud computing services in private, public, community and hybrid cloud environments.

The acquisition will also include cloud-specific product expertise and engineering services related to the initial setup and use of cloud services. DHS plans to establish competitive multiple-award contracting vehicles as part of its departmentwide strategic sourcing initiative.

However, DHS officials added that they might choose to conduct the solicitation under the General Services Administration's IT Schedule 70, which offers infrastructure-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service models.

Click here to read the RFI.