Switzerland Opens a CHF 7 Billion Federal Government Cloud Tender, the Confederation's Largest-Ever IT Contract, Over 14 Years and Three Tiers
Bern, Switzerland — Switzerland's federal government has opened the tender for its government cloud, a contract worth CHF 7 billion over 14 years, the largest IT contract in the Confederation's history, Swiss broadcaster SRF reported.
The new cloud is structured in three tiers: a global public cloud for non-sensitive data, with two providers to be selected; a Swiss public cloud that must use open-source technology and keep data within Switzerland, also with two providers; and a private cloud run in federal data centres for the most protected data, with one provider. Cantons and municipalities will also be able to use the federal cloud.
Bids are due by December 18, and if no appeals delay the process, awards and contract signings are planned for late summer 2027. Digitalisation researcher Matthias Stürmer noted that debate around geopolitics and digital sovereignty strongly intensified, reflected in the open-source and data-localisation requirements.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 瑞士联邦宫（伯尔尼）。图：Axel Tschentscher，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0。 / The Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland. Photo by Axel Tschentscher, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
