DOT looks to consolidate servers

The Transportation Department will consolidate its servers over the next 18 months to save as much as $25 million each year, the agency's chief information officer said.

"There is nothing more important to us than doing that consolidation right now," DOT CIO Daniel Matthews said today during a speech to industry representatives.

The server consolidation will focus on the back-room operations of the agency's 13 departments, he said.

DOT's goal is to more efficiently use information technology, Matthews said. Most departments buy servers individually and do not maximize those resources. The goal is to streamline resources to save money.

"We will probably not save $1 billion," he said, "but we will definitely save more than $1 million." The agency expects to save from $20 million to $25 million annually, Matthews said.

Although the intention is not to interfere with specific department applications, he said, "If we can help optimize that investment, we're going to try and do that."

DOT also is implementing new IT services contracts to replace existing governmentwide acquisition contracts, such as DOT's Information Technology Omnibus Procurement program.

The new contract, which could be awarded by the fall, will not be a governmentwide contract but will only be for DOT's use. "We need to get back to working on doing DOT business," Matthews said, as opposed to governmentwide contracts.

The new contract will include three companies — two large businesses with small-business requirements and one small business, Matthews said at an event sponsored by Federal Sources Inc. of McLean, Va.

DOT officials will decide on its acquisition strategy soon. Matthews said he hopes to have the new contract awarded before Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.