A virtual machine is a tightly isolated software container that can run its own operating systems and applications as if it were a physical computer. A virtual machine behaves exactly like a physical computer and contains it own virtual CPU, RAM hard disk and network interface card.

Virtual machines can share the physical resources of a single computer, yet remain completely isolated from each other as if they were separate physical machines. If one of the virtual machines crashes, the other virtual machines remain available.

A virtual machine is essentially a software container that bundles or “encapsulates” a complete set of virtual hardware resources, as well as an operating system and all its applications, inside a software package. Encapsulation makes virtual machines incredibly portable and easy to manage. You can move and copy a virtual machine from one location to another just like any other software file.

Rather than purchasing servers, software, data center space or network equipment, you can instead buy those resources as a fully outsourced service. The service is typically billed on a utility computing basis that reflects the level of activity or usage. There is no minimum commitments, allowing you to pay for what you need, when you need it, scaling up or down on demand.

Companies offering virtual machines will provide a secure online account for you on their portal. Using your account, you may manage your virtual machines and monitor costs.

Utilizing a virtual machine can result in cost reduction for your agency by eliminating upfront capital expenditures and reducing administrative burden on IT resources. Cloud services provide on-demand computing reducing time to implement new solutions from months to days. Services are scalable and pay-as-you-go. Pay for only what you use. You do not need to purchase hardware, software licenses or implementation services. Cloud service providers offer reliable services, large storage and computing capacity, and 24/7 service and up-time.

Cloud computing provides a way to outsource non-critical applications to service providers, allowing agency IT resources to focus on business-critical applications. Software updates are automatic and are available the next time you log into the cloud. Cloud computing lets you access all your applications and documents from anywhere in the world, freeing you from the confines of the desktop and facilitating group collaboration on documents and projects.

Apps.gov offers virtual machine services from multiple contractors. Pricing varies by the size machine you need so there are a number of machine bundles available. Contractors have provided prices (rates) stated on a “per hour”” basis for use of the virtual machine. Rates for supplemental disk space are priced by GB of disk space used per hour. Rates for bandwidth are priced by GB of data in/out per month.

You will be billed directly by the contractor, not GSA. The service is typically billed monthly against your purchase card on a utility computing basis that reflects the level of activity or usage. You will be able to monitor your usage and cost through an online account provided by the contractor.

Click on Continue below to view a list of Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contractors offering virtual machine services along with informational links for each contractor that will allow you to review the cloud services and bundled pricing offered.

GSA has established several MAS BPAs for Cloud IT Services. If your requirement exceeds the micro-purchase threshold, you must forward your requirement (or statement of work including any evaluation criteria) to the BPA contractors listed, and evaluate the responses received, make a best value determination, and place the order with the BPA contractor that represents the best value (see FAR 8.405-3). Your statement of work should also include the maximum dollar amount to be charged on your purchase card each month (the provider is required to notify you via email once 80% of that amount has been reached during the month).

To get quotes, click on the “Get Quotes” button which will redirect you to the GSA eBuy system where you may create and submit your request for quote against these BPAs (login is required to solicit quotes). Once awarded, an order may be placed using eBuy (purchase card only) or you may use your agency‘s purchase order system.

Once you have placed your order, the contractor will contact you and provide further instructions on how to begin configuring and managing your service on their website. You will be billed monthly by the contractor (not GSA) based on usage. All subsequent management or questions about your account must be directed to the contractor.

Note: in the near future we will be adding more information and tools for evaluating and ordering virtual machine services on apps.gov.