Google and Amazon will create "Nimbus Project" to form cloud services for the government

A few days ago, the Israeli government signed a contract with Amazon and Google, the happy winners of the first tender in the "Nimbus Project" for the provision of cloud services to the Israeli government sector. The winners will be required to establish cloud areas in Israel (Region) in the next two years; Until established, the winners will provide cloud services from the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. The tender is valid for 7 years, with the possibility of extensions up to a period of 23 years in total.
The Nimbus project is intended to enable government ministries, security bodies and other bodies in the economy to consume cloud services in an advanced manner. The direct implication of the move is that government computer services (in the broadest sense of the term) will be provided by outsiders, in a kind of ‘outsourcing’; Such a move would allow the government to pay for actual consumption (if the government relies on a system it builds for itself, then it needs to adapt it so that it can meet the peak requirements; when it purchases cloud services, it pays according to actual use). Also, the government will be able to conduct a better audit of its expenditures; Assimilate new technologies at a high rate; And improve security and remote access.
The requirement to provide cloud services from an Israeli region will ensure the government functional continuity in the event of a global Internet malfunction, and the sovereignty and privacy of information in accordance with Israeli law. In response to reporters 'questions, the Accountant General clarified that in the contracts signed with the suppliers, the political sensitivities were taken into account, and that steps were taken to ensure that' workers 'political organizations' would not harm the provision of cloud services. In addition, the winning suppliers were required to establish an 'Israeli subsidiary' so that it would be fully subject to Israeli law. In response to Calcalist's question, it was clarified that, in principle, any supplier will be required to contact all government ministries and security bodies.
The establishment of the areas in Israel may produce additional economic benefits. First, it is an investment of a significant magnitude (very conservative estimates speak of about NIS 4 billion); Second, thousands of workers will be employed at the time of establishment, and about 3,000 workers will be employed on a regular basis; Third, this move is expected to generate a new industry of startups focused on cloud technologies; Fourth, this move may upgrade the computing capabilities of the entire economy; Fifth, Gogol and Amazon were required to make reciprocal purchases in Israel at a rate of 20% of the contract value.
At the press conference held today, Accountant General Roni Hezekiah hinted that the price of providing the services from the winners was set at less than 80% of the price that appears in the global price lists. However, it is not known how many other governments paid in similar tenders.
The losers in the tender, Oracle and Microsoft, petitioned the High Court to extend the deadline. This petition means that they reserve the right to appeal in the future, but the Treasury clarified today that no legal proceedings are currently underway. The Treasury also noted that this tender, due to its importance and size, borrowed In control processes that have not been done in any procurement process, and that they feel very confident about the process.They say the legal proceedings will not follow the engagement in the tender.Also, it was clarified that the fact that Microsoft lost the tender will not impair users' ability to use familiar Microsoft applications..