Google is suing the Department of the Interior, claiming it was unable to compete for an email and messaging contract due to restrictions involving Microsoft software. The Interior Department asked in August for bids from companies to devise a single communications service for 88,000 federal workers—but contractors were limited to using Microsoft’s business productivity software. This meant Google could not offer a proposal using its own proprietary solution, Google Apps for Government. The contract, worth nearly $60 million over five years, was awarded to Microsoft’s BPOS-Federal suite.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Google's Lawsuit: Bigger Target is Security Seal of Approval from Feds (by Sam Diaz, ZDNet)

Google Sues U.S. Interior Department over Microsoft Contract Bid (by Nicholas Kolakowski, eWeek.com)

Google Sues Interior Department Over Messaging-service Contract: Reports (RTT News)

Google v. Onix (U.S. Court of Federal Claims)