The Department of the Interior announced a contract award for Cloud based email and collaboration services using Google Apps for Government.The contract award is part of the Department of the Interior's IT Transformation initiative which will provide employees with modern infrastructure and support government practices by cutting costs, reducing waste, and integrating crucial services. This effort hopes save taxpayers close to $500 million dollars by 2020.

"With this award, Interior will move into the 21st century by delivering a highly integrated, cost-effective, and evolving cloud-based platform,” said Rhea Suh, Interior Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget.

Google Apps for Government provider Onix Networking will head up the consolidation efforts. Email services and the Department's future data storage requirements will be streamlined, and the departments users will have different accessability options - both web-based or desktop software - to gain access to Google Apps For Government. The complete suite of tools includgin audio and video chat as well as Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Sites, and many others will further enhance the Department’s collaboration efforts.

With full mobile device integration, the Interior's dedication to employees who are located in remote field locations or travel often has never been greater.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said, "This award is a great example of how our IT Transformation initiative is already delivering value to the Department. Implementing a Department-wide, cloud-based email system that helps modernize the ways we do business while cutting costs is good government, plain and simple. We will continue to identify efficiencies to save time and taxpayer dollars using advances in technology to provide better service for less.”

“Our approach represents a unique and thoughtful way to ensure we are replacing our on- premise systems with truly cutting edge cloud based technologies that meet the Department's needs," stated Bernard Mazer, Interior’s Chief Information Officer. “This is a significant step forward in our efforts to bring Department employees the email and collaboration tools they need to more effectively support our mission.”

Onix Networking Awarded 34 Million Dollar Google Apps Contract By US Government

The total contract value awarded to Onix Networking is $34,872,728 over seven years.

About Onix Networking

Onix Networking, located in Lakewood, Ohio is a small business that provides industry-leading solutions in information technology. Onix specializes in technologies and services that help optimize IT infrastructure for secure, manageable and reliable data.

Onix has been serving clients in the corporate, federal, state and local government markets since 1992. We have been successful by listening to our clients needs, providing them with industry leading solutions, and ensuring continuous satisfaction. Our projects and capabilities are geographically dispersed supporting customers worldwide.

About Google Apps For Government

Secure, reliable applications wherever you work. Google Apps for Government lets agencies cut IT costs and empower employees with modern, web-based email and collaboration applications. This dedicated environment for government customers provides maximum availability, security and disaster recovery. FISMA certification attests to the security of your data.