The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) in Switzerland has published an invitation to tender for the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) as the current infrastructure reaches its limits and can no longer meet the demands of rapid digitalization.
According to a statement from the Federal Department of Finance, the new infrastructure is intended to form a basis for the digital transformation of the Swiss administration, combining innovative services with high security standards. The tender carries a maximum procurement volume of around CHF 7 billion (US$ 8.48 billion).
The SGC combines three cloud levels geared toward different requirements. Cloud level one (lot 1) will be awarded to two tenderers for a public cloud with global reach. Cloud level two (lot 2) will be awarded to two tenderers for a public cloud with enhanced data governance requirements where data is stored and processed in Switzerland. Cloud level three (lot 3) will be awarded to one tenderer for a private, on-premises cloud offering standardized services with a high level of control for particularly sensitive applications, with data stored and processed in the federal data centers.
Each award will have a duration of seven years and the market will be reopened to competition every seven years. The FOITT also notes that no bidder may be awarded more than one lot as a means to strengthen digital sovereignty by reducing reliance on individual providers.
Lots 1 and 2 will each have a maximum procurement volume of CHF 2 billion (US$ 2.42 billion), and lot 3 a maximum of CHF 3 billion (US$ 3.63 billion). These volumes are based on current federal expenditure on cloud-related services, the needs of the cantons and communes derived from that expenditure, and the expected growth driven by ongoing digitalization.
The procurement procedure will play out in two phases: a prequalification phase running over 60 days from the publication of the tender, followed by a bid phase. Should no objections with suspensive effect be filed, the awards are expected to be published and contracts concluded in late summer 2027. The first call-offs could take place in late autumn 2027.