Touchstone to assist GSA with cloud computing

Touchstone Consulting Group Inc will assist the General Services Administration in implementing cloud computing technology.

A unit of SRA International Inc. will provide program management support to the General Services Administration for the Federal Cloud Computing Initiative under a new $5.3 million contract.

Under the recompeted contract, Touchstone Consulting Group Inc. will support transparency efforts by creating Web portals for sharing information related to the program, company officials said June 2 in a news release.

Touchstone also will support the cloud initiative’s governance structure, which includes the Cloud Computing Executive Steering Committee, Cloud Computing Advisory Council, Security Working Group, Standards Working Group and Communications Working Group.

Touchstone’s team will be led by SRA Principal Michael Lee.

The GSA’s cloud initiative was established to help the federal government migrate toward cloud services.

Cloud computing can be a cost-effective solution that also can solve some classic information technology implementation challenges such as lengthy procurement cycles, and the redundant certification and accreditation of programs and infrastructure, Emily Crespin, SRA vice president and director of Touchstone, said in the news release.

SRA, of Fairfax, Va., ranks No. 30 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of federal prime contractors.