|
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Michigan Issues RFI For New 100,000 Square Foot Data Center
|
| LANSING - The state of Michigan is looking for ideas and industry feedback on building a 100,000 square foot data center that would consolidate three older, less efficient data centers now used by the Michigan Department of Information Technology.
This Request for Information was issued Thursday by MDIT, in conjunction with Michigan's Department of Treasury and the Department of Management and Budget.
In this Threatcast audio interview, Amy Baumer, Director of the Office of Enterprise Development, talks about what MDIT and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation want to see in the new data center. To listen, click on MITechNews.JenesysGroup.Com
“This marks another big step in our effort to establish high-tech investment in Michigan,” said Ken Theis, Director of MDIT and CIO for the State of Michigan. “A data center built through public-private partnership will allow all levels of government in Michigan to benefit, by getting the most of our taxpayer dollars.”
The new data center will be called the Great Lakes Information and Technology Center, with the potential to become a 100,000 square foot facility that will share information technology and cloud computing services. By reducing the number of duplicate computer systems operated by various cities, agencies, and departments within the State of Michigan, and by exploring the potential to partner with the private sector, the new data center will cut the costs currently associated with government information technology-related services.
“This is really an extension of what we have done here within state government, where we have consolidated 36 separate data centers to give state government a more efficient and secure environment,” said Theis. “Rather than building separate data centers, it makes sense to build one data center that can be potentially shared across all levels of government, be it township, city, county, state, or federal.”
In addition, the new data center is intended to create economic development related to information technology services by serving as an alternative to offshore application hosting and storage for both public and private entities.
The data center consolidation effort within state government saved more than $19 million and reclaimed over 30,000 square feet of office space. The new data center will allow for further consolidation within the state, but also forges new ground by allowing local government and other entities to house their data in one facility.
The vision for the new data center would create a state-of-the-art facility when it comes to maximizing energy, reducing the state’s carbon footprint and decreasing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The cost of data center operations would be reduced through renewable energy and green practices.
Companies interested in the RFI for the new data center should click on
click on Bid4Michigan.Com
|
Author: Mike Brennan
Source:
MITechNews.Com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
