Swiss Government Cloud: tender launched

The Federal Office of Informatics and Telecommunications (FOITT) published the call for tenders for the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) on the SIMAP public procurement platform on 20 October 2026. The current cloud infrastructure of the federal administration is reaching its limits and no longer meets the requirements of digitalisation. The new cloud infrastructure is to provide a foundation for the digital transformation of the administration and combine innovative cloud services with high security standards.

From the FOITT press release: the three cloud levels

Cloud level I: The public cloud 'Global Reach' (lot 1) enables innovative and flexibly scalable cloud services from providers that are active globally. The award is granted to two providers. Cloud level II: The public cloud 'Enhanced Data Governance' (lot 2) ensures enhanced governance requirements with data storage and data processing exclusively in Switzerland. Open-source solutions are used. The award is granted to two providers. Cloud level III: The private cloud 'On-Premise' (lot 3) offers standardised services with high control for particularly sensitive applications with data storage and data processing in the federal data centres. This level offers the highest data sovereignty, ensured through technical, organisational and contractual elements. Additionally, operational autonomy is guaranteed as needed. The award is granted to one provider.

From the FOITT press release: contract durations

The awards have a duration of seven years; a market opening takes place every seven years. The total contract duration is 14 years.

Costs are incurred only upon actual use

The optional procurement volume amounts to a maximum of two billion francs each for lots 1 and 2 and a maximum of three billion francs for lot 3. The volumes are assigned to the individual lots in a binding manner. The calculation of the total procurement volume (CHF 7 billion) is based on the current expenditure of the Confederation for cloud services, a resulting need for cantons and municipalities, and the expected growth due to the ongoing digitalisation. The volume is to be understood as the maximum procurement size over the entire contract duration of 14 years. Costs are incurred only for the resources actually used (pay-as-you-use principle). The SGC is designed for the requirements and needs of the Confederation; cantons and municipalities should also be able to benefit from the offer if interested.

Outlook

… The procurement procedure consists of two phases: after a pre-qualification phase (60 days from publication), the bidding phase follows. Provided there are no appeals with suspensive effect, the publication of the awards including contract conclusions is to take place in late summer 2027. The first calls for services would then be scheduled for late autumn 2027.

Source and text adoption

Federal Office of Informatics and Telecommunications (FOITT): 'Swiss Government Cloud: Ausschreibung gestartet' [original title in German], press release of 20 October 2026. In the German version of this article, the title, lead and preceding text passages are reproduced verbatim from the official German press release; they are presented here in English translation. The assessment of the existing infrastructure also comes from FOITT. The sections reproduce selected passages in the order of the stored official original version, not the full text of the release. The ellipsis before the outlook comes from the provided source excerpt. Source: https://www.admin.ch/de/newnsb/vL4DxR3WIhey