EPA email to move to the cloud by early 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to move about 25,000 employees and contractors to Microsoft’s cloud-based Office 365 for Government email, calendar and collaboration system by early 2013, the agency said Wednesday.

EPA signed a $9.8 million contract with Lockheed Martin Corp. to manage the transition, which the agency expects will save $12 million in four years, according to its announcement.

“This transition will improve EPA employees’ access to communications and mobility tools and will offer the EPA significant cost savings by reducing the agency’s energy footprint,” Microsoft and Lockheed said in a joint statement.

EPA will join a growing list of agencies that already have moved to cloud-based email and collaboration systems, including the General Services Administration and the Agriculture Department. Most agencies have moved to systems offered by either Microsoft or Google.

In August, GSA entered into blanket purchase agreements with 17 vendors that migrate and manage cloud email services to help speed the government’s move to Internet-based email and to lower transition costs. In addition to Microsoft and Google cloud email platforms, those  vendors also offer Domino Web, an IBM email system, and Zimbra, an open source system.

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