Swiss Government Cloud: tender procedure launched
Bern, 20.10.2026 — The Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT) published the invitation to tender for the Swiss Government Cloud (SGC) on the SIMAP procurement platform on 20 October 2026. The Federal Administration's current cloud infrastructure is reaching its limits and can no longer meet the demands of digitalisation. The new cloud infrastructure is intended to form a basis for the digital transformation of the administration and combine innovative cloud services with high security standards.
The SGC should enable the Confederation, cantons and communes to provide digital services efficiently, securely and in line with needs in the future. The invitation to tender entitled “WTO 25002 609 Swiss Government Cloud” fulfils Parliament's mandate: it focuses on flexibility and open standards, while strengthening security and enhancing the operational autonomy of the Federal Administration. The SGC will thus make an important contribution to digital sovereignty.
Object of procurement: the SGC's three cloud levels
With its hybrid multi-cloud approach, the SGC combines three coordinated cloud levels, each geared to different requirements in terms of innovative potential, protection requirements and digital sovereignty.
- Cloud level I: Public cloud – global reach (lot 1) enables innovative, flexible and scalable cloud services from globally active providers. Contracts will be awarded to two tenderers.
- Cloud level II: Public cloud – enhanced data governance (lot 2) guarantees enhanced governance requirements, with data stored and processed exclusively in Switzerland. Open source solutions are used. Contracts will be awarded to two tenderers.
- Cloud level III: Private cloud – on premises (lot 3) offers standardised services with a high level of control for particularly sensitive applications, with data stored and processed in the federal data centres. This level offers the highest degree of data sovereignty, which is ensured by means of technical, organisational and contractual measures. In addition, operational autonomy is guaranteed as necessary. The contract will be awarded to one tenderer.
The invitation to tender translates these requirements into eligibility and award criteria. It is designed to be open and does not prescribe any specific providers, products or technologies, thereby creating a level playing field for all tenderers. The invitation to tender therefore offers a wide range of opportunities for interested companies in Switzerland. Furthermore, the criteria set out in the directives on digital sovereignty in the Federal Administration are taken into account in the invitation to tender. The procurement procedure has a lot limitation: no tenderer may be awarded more than one lot. This strengthens digital sovereignty by reducing dependence on individual providers and jurisdictions. Each award has a duration of seven years, and the market is reopened to competition every seven years. The total contract duration is 14 years.
Costs arise only from actual use
The optional procurement volume amounts to a maximum of CHF 2 billion for each of lots 1 and 2, and a maximum of CHF 3 billion for lot 3. The volumes are allocated to the individual lots on a binding basis. The calculation of the total procurement volume (7 bn) is based on the current federal expenditure on cloud-related services, the needs of the cantons and communes derived from that expenditure, and the expected growth driven by ongoing digitalisation. This volume should be understood as the maximum that can be procured over the entire 14-year contract duration. Costs are incurred only for the resources actually used (principle of pay as you use). The SGC is designed to meet the requirements and needs of the Confederation, but the cantons and communes should also be able to benefit from the offering if they are interested.
Outlook
The procurement procedure consists of two phases: a prequalification phase followed (60 days from the publication date) by a bid phase. Provided there are no objections with suspensive effect, the awards are expected to be published and the contracts concluded in late summer 2027. The first call-offs could then take place in late autumn 2027.
Link
Information on the Swiss Government Cloud SGC
W012 – directives on digital sovereignty in the Federal Administration