The state of California appears to be addressing how it will deal with redundant and competing solution offerings in the CALNET 3 and CalCloud contracts.
In a March 23 bulletin, the Office of Technology Services clarified that because CALNET 3 is mandatory for the state's Executive Branch agencies, a Microsoft Office 365 bundle that comes with Unified Communications capabilities and is offered in the state's private cloud should only be purchased by non-executive branch agencies such as constitutional offices, local government and higher education.
Awarded in 2013, the CALNET 3 contract vehicle also offers a range of voice and data services from preapproved telecom companies. CALNET 3 is the state’s multi-billion-dollar telecommunication procurement providing an array of products and services from prequalified vendors to state and local departments and agencies.
At a forum last fall on the state's private cloud (CalCloud), at least one person in attendance suggested the interaction between CALNET 3 and CalCloud was one issue that might need to be resolved.
Office 365 was recently added to the state's Vendor-Hosted Subscription Services portfolio within CalCloud.
California is moving toward implementing an enterprise standard that would encourage state agencies and departments to migrate to Microsoft’s cloud-based email and productivity tools, officials told Techwire earlier this year.
