Five data centre providers have been chosen to service Federal Government agencies while they develop whole-of-government strategies as part of the Gershon Review.
Polaris Data Centres, Canberra Data Centres, Fujitsu, Global Switch Property and Harbour MSP were selected after submitting to the Department of Finance and Regulation’s Express of Interest Tender opened in May.
The five providers’ facilities must be in either the ACT or other locations and must offer between 1000sqm and 2000sqm of floor space – or the equivalent in multiple sites with a minimum of 500sqm per site – and be ready for fit out during the 2009/10 financial year.
The decision to go with a panel of providers was flagged earlier in the year when Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, said he would not opt for one supplier or a super data centre.
In a statement, Tanner said the whole-of-government strategy was well underway.
The Gershon Review, which was publicly released in October, noted the absence of a whole-of-government strategic plan for data centres could cost taxpayers up to $1 billion over 15 years if a more coordinated approach wasn’t implemented.
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