Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) helps agencies realize cost savings and efficiencies while modernizing and expanding their IT capabilities without spending capital resources on infrastructure. Cloud-based infrastructure is rapidly scalable, secure, and accessible over the Internet — you only pay for what you use.
Agencies can get Cloud IaaS using a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) through 12 industry partners. The providers on this Cloud IaaS BPA allow agencies to buy cloud storage, virtual machines, and web hosting with an Authority to Operate (ATO) at the FISMA moderate-impact level.
Overview
The Cloud IaaS BPA offerings are available in three distinct lots as shown below.
Lot Name | Definition |
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Lot 1 – Cloud Storage |
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Lot 2 – Virtual Machine |
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Lot 3 – Web Hosting |
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Features
Period of performance: October 15, 2010 to October 14, 2015.
More price competition and lower costs
Industry partners offer detailed ceiling pricing for explicitly defined standard services, so you can easily compare pricing across the 12 industry partners. We encourage you to negotiate lower prices in our task order. You can negotiate lower pricing for a lower level of service, but the service provider can not charge higher prices (above the specified ceilings) for a higher level of service.
Service Level Agreements (SLA) and more
Service providers are required to meet the SLA requirements specified in the solicitation, including service availability of 99.5 percent. The BPA offers trouble tickets and order management capabilities.
Pay-as-you-go subscriptions
Our industry partners offer the five essential characteristics of cloud computing: ubiquitous network access, resource polling, on-demand self-service, rapid elasticity, and measured service. This means you can access your infrastructure over the Internet through any web browser, infrastructure can be quickly provided to you or scaled back, and the providers monitor your usage and charge you accordingly.
Available to all government customers
Federal, state, and local governments can order cloud IaaS through this pre-competed blanket purchase agreement (BPA).
How to order
For complete instructions, download the IaaS_Ordering_Guide.pdf (PDF, 366k, 10/16/2012). Also refer to GSA's Cloud IaaS template Cloud-based Web Hosting Solution BPA SOO (Word, 46k, 08/01/2011),
State, local, and tribal governments can buy from the Cloud Iaas BPAs via the Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Security
All IaaS BPA vendors support 2-Factor Authentication from both the provider’s and agency’s perspective.
- Prior to accepting an award from an ordering activity, the BPA awardees must complete the Assessment & Authorization (A&A) process at the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Moderate Impact Data Security Level, as administered by GSA.
- As of September 24, 2012, following six (6) of the twelve (12) IaaS BPA vendors hold an active GSA issued Authority To Operate (ATO) and are currently under continuous monitoring
- GSA has granted ATOs across all 3 IaaS BPA lots (Lot 1 – Cloud Storage, Lot 2 – Virtual Machines and Lot 3 – Web Hosting). Lot 1 ATO holders - Apptis and AT&T, Lot 2 ATO holders – Apptis, Autonomic Resources, CGI Federal, General Dynamics Information Technology, and Verizon Federal, and Lot 3 ATO holders – CGI Federal.
- Most IaaS BPA awardees have elected to submit their security packages to the FedRAMP program in order to obtain FedRAMP certification as well
- GSA IaaS BPA granted ATO’s can be leveraged by any federal agency for the FIPS-199 Moderate Impact Level or lower. This makes acquisitions easier, faster and less costly for agencies to take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing.
- The Assessment and Authorization (A&A) processes for IaaS BPA vendors and FedRAMP are similar; authorizations achieved through FedRAMP will incorporate the IaaS security controls.
- Location of work - All IaaS BPA holders are required to have a minimum of two geographic locations in the Continental United States of America (CONUS) and all services acquired under the BPA will reside in CONUS.
Industry partners
View the list of 12 industry partners.
Multiple IaaS BPA resources are available on http://info.apps.gov/content/infrastructure-service and updated frequently. View the IaaS BPA Resources.
The shortcut to this page is www.gsa.gov/iaas.