Are You A Cloud Architect? NJVC Needs YOU!!

If you are a cloud computing architect, have I got news for you! 

NJVC, one of the largest IT solutions providers supporting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), is building a high performance cloud computing team. We help customers solve their toughest mission-critical IT challenges, enabling them to concentrate their resources on their core mission. While much of our work requires a security clearance, and having an active clearance would be a definite plus, don't let that stop you from exploring the possibilities.

The currently open system architect position is located in Vienna, VA. The ideal candidate will be able to conceive, experiment with, and present Cloud Computing architectural approaches for information technology and systems, including software, hardware, and processes, in support of business needs. They will also be able to ensure architectural integrity and consistency across any cloud computing solution. Position tasks may include:

• Defining the requirements for, and the collection, organization, management, and reporting of IT architecture information —especially in the context of present and future architectures, transition plans, integrated schedules, and downward directed Congressional, SECNAV, and SECDEF reporting requirements.
• Identification and inventory of equipment/software, interviewing users, attending design meetings, and using tools to graphically depict architectures and assist in designing/maintaining the Enterprise Architecture Management database using MS Access and SQL Server.
• Define, design and develop system requirements for cloud computing. Assess architecture and current hardware limitations, define and design complex system specifications, input/output processes and working parameters for hardware/software compatibility.
• Coordinates design of subsystems and integration of total system. Analyzes and resolves difficult and complicated program support deficiencies. Conducts independent technical investigations in systems design. Coordinates and consolidates design efforts on major projects.

Additional job details are available on-line.
 

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"Army Private Cloud" RFP Released

Last week the US Army released  a procurement solicitation for the Army Private Cloud.  This $249M solicitation calls for a 1-year base period with four, 1-year options. Department of the Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA [ALT]), Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS), has a requirement for the Army Private Cloud.

According to the solicitation, "The Department of the Army, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA [ALT]), Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS), has a requirement for the Army Private Cloud." Originally publicized as the Army Enterprise Application Hosting Service (AEAHS), the service cited a need for quick and flexible deployment of applications supporting various levels of mission criticality.

"Traditionally the Army has used a relatively decentralized approach to provision of information systems and services.  This approach has enabled significant innovation and enhanced warfighting capability.  The Army is now ready to leverage a more centralized approach as a component of the LandWarNet strategy.  This approach will enable the Warfighter to access information globally while reducing costs and energy usage.  Cloud Computing is part of this approach and is expected to reduce cost while improving access and security.  The Army cannot afford to continue doing business as usual and will embrace lessons learned from the private sector to achieve cost savings."

In this procurement, the Army will procure two "suites".

Suite 1 encompasses:

i)    Continental United States (CONUS) – Fixed-facility Contractor owned and operated or Government owned facility, operated by the Contractor, including Contractor provisioning and ownership of equipment.
ii)    Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) – Fixed Government owned facility, operated by the Contractor and including Contractor provisioning and ownership of equipment.  Locations may be either austere or non-austere.

Suite 2 , the Mobile Datacenter, consists of:

i)    Continental United States (CONUS) Containerized Data Center, Contractor owned and including Contractor provisioning and ownership of equipment.  Locations may be either austere or non-austere.
ii)    Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) Mobile, Containerized Data Center Cloud Computing Services including Contractor provisioning and ownership of the Container and the equipment and including deployment locations in austere or non-austere environments.

Solicitation details are available at the FedBizOpps.gov.

For more on the US Army's cloud computing activity, see:

Army G6 Cloud Roadshow Brief 

Army Knowledge Leaders Study Cloud Computing

 The Army's iPhone Story 

One AWESOME Week of Cloud Computing

( Thank you. If you enjoyed this article, get free updates by email or RSS - KLJ )

Cloud Musings Direct Launches

In response to request, the inaugural "Cloud Musings Direct" newsletter was launched this week.  This bi-weekly electronic newsletter will highlight important government cloud computing industry trends and events.  If you didn't see the newsletter in you email inbox on Monday (and it's not caught up in your spam folder), please register to get future issues.

In this week's Cloud Musing's Direct:

NGA Exploring "Community Cloud" with NCOIC
By Kevin Jackson

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is looking to leverage industry expertise through collaboration with the Network Centic Operations Industry Consortium (NCOIC). NGA provides timely, relevant and accurate geospatial intelligence in support of national security objectives. NCOIC's  mission is to facilitate global realization of the benefit inherent in Network Centric Operations.  To that end, they seek to enable continuously increasing levels of interoperability across the spectrum of joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational industrial and commercial operations.  Both organizations are looking to this collaborative effort to help enhance worldwide sharing of geospatial intelligence. More

Government Pushes, Questions Cloud
By Hovhannes Avoyan

President Obama is pushing cloud computing and the U.S. government has created an app store (Apps.gov). Yet federal officials still have plenty of questions and concerns surrounding security on the cloud. A recent PCWorld magazine article cited a GAO report that was released this week  that listed several security concerns — among them, vendors using ineffective security practices, agencies not able to examine the security controls of cloud suppliers , criminals targeting data-rich clouds, and agencies losing access to their data if the relationship with a vendor ends. More

NASA Collaborates with Japan Over Joint Open Source Cloud Computing
By Lavenya Dilip

NASA and Japan's National Institute of Informatics (NII) will be collaborating on interoperability between NASA's Nebula Cloud Computing Platform and Japan's NII Cloud infrastructure. Nebula, NASA’s huge open source project for the purpose of on-demand cloud computing integrates cloud computing and data center containers for NASA’s new data powerhouse and provides access to high performance computing and storage for the space agency’s researchers. Japan's NII Cloud provides cloud platform services to Japan's academic and research community. NASA Nebula and NII's Cloud are both built entirely using open source technologies and open-data application programming interfaces. More

( Thank you. If you enjoyed this article, get free updates by email or RSS - KLJ )