DHS unveils initial sketch of enterprise cloud contract
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By
Ross Wilkers
To be called Cumulus, this new contract will cover all aspects of commercial cloud computing and is part of the Homeland Security Department's push for more visibility into spending and usage.
The Homeland Security Department has given industry a first glimpse at its plan to award a centralized, department-wide contract for acquiring commercial cloud computing services.
This contract to be called Cumulus will have a mix of competitive and non-competitive awards as DHS seeks to accelerate how its agencies and components use cloud tools.
DHS is planning to release a solicitation for Cumulus on Feb. 4 and make awards during this current calendar quarter, according to a Tuesday notice in DHS’ Acquisition Planning Forecast System.
Cumulus will cover all aspects of commercial cloud to include infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service and software-as-a-service. Professional services, marketplace solutions and training services will also be part of the new contract.
In creating Cumulus, DHS is looking to increase its visibility into cloud spending and usage across the entire department. DHS also aims to achieve greater economies of scale and consistency in how agencies and other components acquire cloud tools.
Cumulus’ period of performance will extend through March 2031.