Switzerland seeks bidders for 7 billion franc government cloud deal

Switzerland has opened a tender for a government cloud project worth 7 billion francs, the biggest IT contract in the federal government’s history, SRF reported. The contract is planned to run for 14 years.

The new infrastructure is intended to let the federal administration store and work with data securely. It is also expected to be available to cantons and municipalities, a change that digital sustainability researcher Matthias Stürmer described to SRF as a significant step forward.

The cloud is divided into three tiers. The global public cloud will handle non-sensitive data, with two providers to be selected. A Swiss public cloud for data requiring greater security will use open-source software and be limited to providers that store and process data in Switzerland; two providers will be chosen. Highly protected data will be held and processed only in federal data centres, with one provider selected to operate that private cloud.

Stürmer said the tender gives greater priority to digital sovereignty than previous procurement processes, which required providers to operate on at least three continents. However, international companies, including US providers, can still bid for some work. Stürmer warned that data such as geospatial information could end up with large US firms, creating a risk of dependence. He noted that Zurich Airport, for example, relies on weather data every minute.

Swiss companies could also compete, Stürmer said. While Switzerland has no company on the scale of Google or Microsoft, smaller and medium-sized firms could form a consortium. A lead bidder would be required, but it could draw on the services of other companies.

Interested companies can apply by December 18. If there are no appeals that suspend the process, the federal government plans to announce the awards and sign contracts in late summer 2027.