Swiss Government Cloud Who will win the biggest IT deal in the history of the federal government?

The Swiss federal government has launched its largest information technology tender in history, seeking bids for a new national cloud infrastructure valued at up to seven billion francs. The call for proposals, issued on Tuesday, invites companies to provide cloud computing services for the Confederation, cantons, and municipalities over a fourteen-year period. The project aims to replace existing reliance on major American providers with a more sovereign digital framework. Interested firms have until December 18 to submit their applications. If no suspensive objections are filed, award decisions are scheduled for publication in late summer 2027. The tender documentation spans 1,117 pages and outlines a three-tiered structure for data storage and processing. The first level involves a global public cloud for non-sensitive data, open to large international providers. Two suppliers will receive contracts for this tier. The second level covers a Swiss public cloud for data requiring higher security standards. This tier mandates an open-source solution and restricts eligibility to providers who store and process data within Switzerland. Again, two suppliers will be selected. The third level consists of a private cloud for highly sensitive data. These files must remain exclusively in federal data centers under operational autonomy, with one provider awarded the contract. Currently, the administration relies heavily on offers from large international corporations based in the United States. Previous tenders included geographic requirements that effectively limited participation to multinational firms active on at least three continents, a rule that favored American giants. Those restrictions have been removed in the current bid. While companies such as Google and Amazon can still apply, the new rules prioritize digital sovereignty. For specific security levels, only firms capable of keeping data within Swiss borders are eligible. Dozens of potential bidders, including Swiss, American, and Chinese entities, are currently analyzing the extensive proposal documents. Matthias Stürmer, head of the Research Institute for Digital Sustainability at the University of Bern, commented on the scale of the investment. He noted that while the sum was initially surprising, the cost is justified given the comprehensive nature of upcoming digitalization and the anticipated growth of artificial intelligence applications. Stürmer highlighted that extending access to cantons and municipalities represents a significant advancement. However, he warned of persistent risks regarding dependency. Even geodata, which may seem less critical, could still be hosted by major US firms. Such dependence creates vulnerability, particularly for operations like Zurich Airport that require constant weather data availability. Since these providers maintain close ties with the US government, this reliance could become a strategic lever. The new system is designed to serve all levels of government, ensuring secure storage and processing capabilities for diverse administrative needs. The shift away from exclusive reliance on foreign tech giants marks a deliberate policy change toward greater control over national data assets. The selection process will determine how much influence domestic versus international players hold in shaping Switzerland’s future digital backbone. The final awards will define the technological landscape for federal, cantonal, and municipal operations for the next decade and a half.