Tag Archives: GSA

From Data Silos to Life-Saving Decisions: How Technology is Transforming Healthcare Delivery

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Healthcare organizations continuously navigate complex challenges as patient demand grows. Imaging volumes are rising faster than radiology capacity can scale. Public health agencies manage vast amounts of data across disconnected systems. Administrative tasks consume time that healthcare staff would rather spend on patient care.

These operational realities create opportunities for technology to make a meaningful difference. Leading healthcare organizations are already transforming these challenges into improved outcomes through strategic technology deployments enabled by streamlined procurement.

As The Trusted IT Solutions Provider for the Healthcare Industry™, Carahsoft offers a robust portfolio of healthcare technology solutions that make positive changes in the quality, safety and effectiveness of healthcare delivery systems. Streamlined procurement is available through Carahsoft’s reseller partners and numerous contract vehicles including GSA Schedule, NASPO ValuePoint, E&I Cooperative Services and The Quilt.

Key Takeaways:

  • AI diagnostics improve radiology efficiently by up to 40% addressing the looming shortage of 42,000 radiologists by 2033.
  • Unified data platforms enable more than 80% of emergency departments to share real-time data with the CDC.
  • Automated workflows cut processing times by 50%, freeing staff for patient care.
  • Zero Trust security protects patient data while enabling hybrid cloud operations.
  • Streamlined procurement accelerates deployment from months to weeks.

AI-Powered Diagnostics: Addressing the Radiology Crisis

By 2023 the U.S. faces a shortage of up to 42,000 radiologists as imaging volumes rise 5% annually while residency positions increase just 2%.

At Northwestern Medicine, Dr. Mozziyar Etemadi, Clinical Director of Advanced Technologies, deployed a generative AI solution with Dell Technologies and NVIDIA that analyzes chest X-rays and generates draft reports instantaneously. Results: radiology efficiency improved by up to 40% without compromising diagnostic accuracy. The system flagged unexpected pneumothorax cases with 72.7% sensitivity and 99.9% specificity – lifesaving in emergency settings.

The technology runs on Dell PowerEdge XE9680 servers with NVIDIA H100 GPUs, deployed on premises to maintain HIPAA compliance. Northwestern is now developing predictive models for entire electronic records.

Public Health Surveillance: Rapid Outbreak Response

The CDC faced a critical challenge: essential health data trapped in disconnected silos across thousands of facilities.

The CDC’s partnership with Cloudera created a unified platform consolidating data from hospitals, laboratories and wastewater testing sites. More than 80% of non-federal emergency departments now send data to CDC, enabling comprehensive threat monitoring. When measles spiked across 15 states in 2025, officials had integrated visualizations within days.

The CDC’s One CDC Data Platform (1CDP), established in 2024, provides state, tribal, local and territorial agencies with streamlined access to core datasets and analytics, enabling faster disease trend detection and proactive strategies.

Accelerating Cancer Research Collaboration

The National Cancer Institute partnered with Google Cloud and Barnacle AI to introduce NanCI – a platform leveraging AI-driven recommendations to connect researchers with collaboration opportunities, literature and events. The solution demonstrates how AI extends beyond clinical care to accelerate scientific discovery across Government, Education and Healthcare sectors.

Operational Excellence: Freeing Caregivers to Care

Workforce coordination: Healthcare organizations use BlackBerry AtHoc, available through Carahsoft’s reseller network and contract vehicles, to streamline staffing and scheduling processes. The event management platform helps ensure personnel are coordinated efficiently across departments which is essential for maintaining high standards of patient care.

Financial automation: Community Health Centers of Florida implemented Laserfiche’s enterprise content management system, cutting processing time by 50% and eliminating manual data entry. “I cannot fathom processing the current volume of invoices ‘the old way,’” said Dee Bradshaw, director of purchasing. “Laserfiche has cut our processing time in half.”

Every hour freed from administrative burdens is an hour caregivers get back to spend with their patients.

Modern, Secure Infrastructure

California Department of State Hospitals deployed Rubrik’s data management platform to integrate legacy systems with modern hybrid cloud environments. Rubrik’s Zero Trust Data Security framework minimized ransomware vulnerability while ensuring Federal compliance.  

St. Luke’s University Healthcare Network used Rubrik for faster backups, near-instant recovery and seamless hybrid IT integration, strengthening cyber defenses while freeing IT staff to support clinical teams.

Federal agencies, State and Local Governments and Education institutions face similar Zero Trust security and hybrid cloud integration requirements.

Explore Carahsoft’s cybersecurity solutions at www.carahsoft.com/solve/cybersecurity.

Meeting Demand at Scale

NYC Health + Hospitals deployed Snowflake’s Data Cloud which consolidated separate data sources into a unified platform. This integration eradicated silos, provided real-time visibility and enabled data-driven decisions at the point of care for vulnerable populations.

The Carahsoft Advantage

For Healthcare Organizations: Faster access to solutions, simplified procurement through pre-negotiated contracts, integrated solutions across technology verticals, dedicated healthcare technology expertise. Simplify your organization’s procurement journey with Carahsoft.

For Reseller Partners: Opportunities to deliver comprehensive solutions, access to leading vendors through established contract vehicles, sales enablement and marketing support. Become a Carahsoft reseller partner.

For Technology Vendors: Expanded reach across Federal, State and Local Government, Education and Healthcare markets, simplified Healthcare sales through hundreds of contract vehicles. Join our partner ecosystem.

Ready to explore healthcare technology solutions?

Transforming Federal AI Adoption: How Google’s OneGov Agreement Delivers Enterprise-Grade Intelligence

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The General Services Administration’s (GSA) OneGov strategy represents a fundamental shift in Federal procurement, moving from fragmented, agency-by-agency purchasing to a unified enterprise approach that leverages the Government’s collective buying power. Google’s new Gemini for Government agreement provides Federal agencies with access to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at an unprecedented $0.47 per agency price point. This strategic partnership builds upon Google’s previous Workspace agreement with GSA, establishing a procurement framework that treats the Federal government as a single unified customer.

Breaking Down Silos with Purpose-Built AI Infrastructure

Gemini for Government addresses one of the most persistent challenges in Federal operations: the need for sophisticated automation tools that can operate securely across diverse Government environments. The platform serves as a developer-focused suite specifically designed for Federal agencies, enabling the building, deployment and management of advanced automated AI agents that perform complex, multi-step workflows across an organization’s internal data. Unlike commercial solutions that require extensive customization for Government use, Gemini for Government comes purpose-built with integrated security features and compliance standards that meet Federal requirements from day one.

The platform’s comprehensive approach eliminates the traditional barriers that have prevented agencies from adopting enterprise-grade AI solutions. By providing both prepackaged AI agents and the capability to create custom solutions, agencies can immediately begin automating business processes while maintaining the flexibility to develop specialized applications as their needs evolve.

Democratizing AI Development Across Federal Agencies

One of the most significant advantages of the Gemini for Government offer lies in its accessibility to agencies with varying levels of technical resources. The solution incorporates no-code capabilities through products like Agentspace, enabling Government users to leverage sophisticated AI tools without requiring extensive programming expertise. This democratization of AI development ensures that smaller agencies or those with limited technical staff can participate in digital transformation initiatives.

The platform includes Google’s best-of-breed commercial AI tools, including Agentspace and NotebookLM, all engineered specifically for Federal use. These tools provide agencies with immediate access to advanced AI capabilities while maintaining the security and compliance standards required for Government operations.

Security and Compliance Built into the Foundation

Federal agencies operate under stringent security requirements that often create barriers to adopting innovative technologies. Gemini for Government addresses these concerns through built-in security features, including identity and access management, threat detection, data privacy protections and advanced compliance standards such as SOC2 Type 2. Google Cloud’s extensive portfolio of FedRAMP High-authorized products provides the underlying infrastructure, ensuring that agencies can confidently deploy AI solutions without compromising their security posture.

This comprehensive security framework eliminates the lengthy and expensive process of retrofitting commercial solutions to meet Federal requirements. Instead of spending months or years on compliance validation, agencies can immediately begin leveraging AI capabilities while maintaining full compliance with Federal security standards.

Streamlined Procurement Through Strategic Partnerships

The GSA OneGov Gemini for Government promotional agreement demonstrates how strategic partnerships can dramatically simplify federal procurement processes. Available through Carahsoft’s GSA MAS contract, the deal provides standardized pricing and terms that eliminate the need for individual agency negotiations. The $0.47 per agency pricing includes a standard provisioning of 1,000 users, with the ability to add additional users at no cost during the promotional period.

Google has also provided flexibility to match promotional discounts on other Government contract vehicles based on specific agency procurement requirements. This approach ensures that agencies can access the technology through their preferred contracting mechanisms while still benefiting from the OneGov pricing structure. The promotional agreement runs through September 30th, 2026, providing agencies with ample time to evaluate and implement the solution.

The Path Forward for Federal AI Transformation

The Gemini for Government OneGov agreement represents more than just a procurement vehicle—it is a blueprint for how Federal agencies can access and implement cutting-edge technologies while maintaining security, compliance and cost-effectiveness. As agencies continue to face increasing demands for efficiency and innovation, solutions like Gemini for Government provide the foundation for meeting these challenges while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance.

Ready to leverage this agreement to access best-of-breed AI tools that can transform your agency’s operations? Contact our Google team at Carahsoft today or call us at (888) 662-2724 to learn more and take advantage of this limited-time promotional offer.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Google we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Streamlining Federal Identity Management: How Okta Workflows Accelerate Cost Savings for Government 

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The U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) OneGov strategy signals a major shift toward unified, efficient Government operations, breaking down technology silos and enabling agencies to work as a coordinated entity. At the core of this change is the need for modern identity management solutions that can automate complex processes while upholding top security standards. Automation can save agencies time, budget and drive outcomes for tool consolidation efforts. Okta Workflows provides Federal agencies with a no-code automation platform that simplifies identity operations and promotes collaboration across agencies. 

Breaking Down Identity Silos Through No-Code Automation 

Traditional identity management in Government often involves fragmented, manual processes that create operational bottlenecks and security vulnerabilities. Okta Workflows directly addresses these challenges by providing a unified automation engine that connects disparate systems without requiring custom coding. The platform’s pre-built connectors, reusable templates and Application Programming Interface (API) integrations enable agencies to orchestrate identity lifecycle events across multiple applications and cloud environments seamlessly. 

This approach eliminates the need for point solutions and manual workarounds that have historically contributed to siloed operations. By centralizing identity automation, agencies can ensure consistent policy execution across business units while maintaining complete audit trails for compliance reporting. 

Enhancing Cross-Agency Collaboration and Security 

Okta Workflows excels in supporting the OneGov vision of cross-agency collaboration through its robust security framework and automation capabilities. With FedRAMP High authorization and Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 validated cryptography, the platform meets the Government’s most stringent security requirements while enabling streamlined operations. 

The solution automates essential identity processes, including: 

  • Joiner/mover/leaver workflows using Human Resources (HR) data and custom triggers 
  • Complex account creation with automated app assignments based on user attributes such as organizational unit and clearance level 
  • Real-time provisioning and deprovisioning across Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications, including Azure AD, Office 365 and Salesforce 

These automated workflows greatly reduce the workload on IT staff by decreasing password-reset tickets and access requests, while ensuring consistent policy enforcement across all systems. 

Accelerating Productivity While Maintaining Security Standards 

Government agencies face mounting pressure to deliver services more efficiently while maintaining strict security protocols. Okta Workflows addresses this challenge by dramatically reducing the time and effort required for routine identity management tasks. The platform’s automation capabilities free IT personnel from repetitive administrative work, allowing them to focus on mission-critical initiatives. 

The solution’s alignment with Zero Trust principles further enhances security posture by enforcing least privilege access, enabling continuous authentication and providing automated deprovisioning capabilities. This ensures that access rights are consistently managed throughout the user lifecycle, reducing security risks associated with delayed access revocations when personnel change roles or leave the organization. 

Simplified Procurement and Deployment 

Recognizing that Federal agencies often operate with limited technical resources, Okta Workflows is designed for rapid deployment and easy adoption. The no-code interface enables teams to build and implement identity automation processes without specialized programming skills. Pre-built templates and connectors accelerate time to value while minimizing the technical burden on agency staff. 

The solution is readily accessible through the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, providing Federal buyers with a compliant procurement path featuring pre-negotiated pricing and terms. This streamlined approach eliminates lengthy contract negotiations and enables agencies to acquire the tools needed to support their modernization objectives quickly. Carahsoft and Okta have collaborated to ensure the solution is available across major contracting vehicles with pricing structured to deliver optimal value, including: 

  • GSA 
  • Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP)  
  • Information Technology Enterprise Solutions (ITES)  
  • 2nd Generation Information Technology (2GIT) 

Supporting the Modern Federal Workforce 

As Government agencies continue their digital transformation journey, the need for sophisticated yet accessible automation tools has become increasingly critical. Okta Workflows provides the foundation for agencies to modernize their identity operations while supporting the broader OneGov vision of unified, efficient Government services. 

The platform’s combination of enterprise-grade security, intuitive automation capabilities and seamless integration with existing Government systems positions it as an ideal solution for agencies seeking to enhance productivity while maintaining strict compliance requirements.  

Ready to transform your agency’s identity management and join the OneGov movement? Contact our Okta team at Carahsoft today or call us at (833) 674-3990 to learn more and take advantage of this limited-time offer. 

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Okta we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Maximizing Federal IT Investments Through Udemy’s Strategic Workforce Development 

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The Federal Government continues to invest billions in cutting-edge technology and digital transformation initiatives, yet many agencies struggle to realize the full return on these investments. The challenge is not always the technology itself, but ensuring the Federal workforce has the technical and soft skills needed to keep pace with rapidly evolving systems and processes. Udemy Business addresses this critical gap by offering comprehensive, on-demand training that upskills and reskills Federal employees, ensuring agencies maximize their IT investment returns while building a more capable, adaptable workforce. 

Secure, Cross-Agency Learning Architecture 

Federal agencies require training solutions that meet stringent security standards while enabling collaboration across organizational boundaries. Udemy Business delivers on both fronts through its secure cloud-hosted platform that complies with industry standards for data protection. The platform’s role-based controls allow administrators to manage permissions appropriately while maintaining security protocols. 

Udemy Business delivers relevant training content with customized learning paths that are tailored to specific roles, compliance requirements and interagency goals. This capability ensures that workforce development efforts align with both individual agency missions and broader Government-wide objectives. 

Udemy Business is aligned with the General Services Administration’s (GSA) OneGov strategy. Udemy Business unifies agencies and breaks down technology silos that have historically fragmented Government operations. Udemy’s extensive on-demand content library directly supports this vision by providing Federal employees with access to both technical and soft skills training across agency boundaries. Agencies can leverage Udemy’s training platform to ensure consistent skill development that ensures customers receive the largest return on IT investments. Udemy Business enables agencies to better coordinate their technology initiatives, as employees across different departments develop shared competencies in emerging technologies, project management and collaborative workflows that are essential for cross-agency success. 

Building AI and Zero Trust Capabilities 

As Federal agencies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and Zero Trust security frameworks, workforce preparedness becomes critical for successful implementation. Udemy provides comprehensive AI courses that teach machine simulation of human intelligence processes, knowledge that is essential for developers, researchers and anyone working with cutting-edge Government technology initiatives. 

The platform also offers extensive Zero Trust security courses that help Federal teams understand and implement Zero Trust principles effectively. This training capability is particularly valuable as agencies work to maintain pace with the evolving cybersecurity climate and protect sensitive Government data and systems. 

Streamlined Deployment and Accessibility 

Government environments often present unique deployment challenges, particularly for agencies with limited technical resources. Udemy Business addresses these concerns through its cloud-based architecture that supports remote access from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility proves especially valuable for distributed Federal workforces and agencies operating across multiple locations. 

The platform’s straightforward deployment model eliminates many of the technical barriers that can slow adoption in Government environments, allowing agencies to begin training initiatives quickly without extensive infrastructure investments or complex integration projects. 

Enhanced Value Through Strategic Partnership 

Carahsoft and Udemy have collaborated to make workforce development more accessible and affordable for Federal agencies. Udemy Business Licenses are available through GSA contracts via Carahsoft, providing customers with established procurement pathways and additional savings opportunities. The partnership extends to other contract vehicles as well, giving agencies flexibility in their procurement approaches. 

Currently, eligible Government customers can access additional savings of up to 50% off manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) through this strategic partnership. This promotion remains effective through the end of Federal fiscal year 25, providing agencies with a limited-time opportunity to invest in workforce development at significantly reduced costs. 

The convergence of technological advancement, workforce development needs and strategic cost savings presents Federal agencies with a compelling opportunity to strengthen their human capital investments. 

Ready to transform your agency’s workforce development strategy? Contact the Udemy team at Carahsoft or visit the Udemy Business website to discover how comprehensive, on-demand training can maximize your IT investments while building the skilled Federal workforce of tomorrow. 

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Udemy Business, we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders. 

Maximize Federal Data Protection with Commvault’s End-of-Fiscal-Year Bundle 

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As Federal agencies approach the final stretch of fiscal year 2025, the challenge of securing comprehensive data security coverage while maximizing remaining budget dollars has become increasingly critical. Commvault has partnered with Carahsoft to deliver a strategic end-of-fiscal-year opportunity that combines substantial cost savings with the highest level of Federal security authorization available in the data protection market. 

Consolidating Data Protection Under a Single Platform 

Federal agencies often work with a range of vendors to meet their diverse data protection needs, which can introduce added complexity, training considerations and operational demands. Commvault’s Data Protection Bundle addresses this challenge by unifying data protection, Active Directory protection and air-gapped data security capabilities under one comprehensive platform. 

This consolidation approach delivers measurable operational benefits that extend beyond cost reduction. Agencies can significantly minimize the time required for deployment and training, reduce management costs and improve their response capabilities during critical events such as ransomware attacks or data loss incidents. When every minute counts in a recovery scenario, having a unified platform can mean the difference between rapid restoration and extended downtime. 

Setting the Security Standard with FedRAMP High Authorization 

Federal agencies operate under stringent security requirements that often limit their technology choices, particularly when handling sensitive or classified information. Commvault distinguishes itself as the only data protection provider to achieve FedRAMP High authorization while maintaining availability across all major cloud platforms. 

This security credential represents the highest level of authorization available for cloud services serving Government customers, demonstrating Commvault’s ability to meet the most demanding Federal security standards. For agencies required to maintain strict compliance protocols, this authorization eliminates the complexity of lengthy security evaluations while ensuring their data protection solution meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements. 

Simplifying Deployment Across Diverse Government Environments 

Government agencies face unique infrastructure challenges, from legacy on-premises systems to modern cloud deployments, often with varying levels of technical resources and expertise. Commvault’s unified platform architecture addresses these challenges by maintaining consistency across all deployment scenarios—whether on-premises, cloud, virtual or physical environments. 

Since the underlying code remains consistent across all implementations, agencies experience significantly reduced deployment times compared to managing multiple vendor solutions. This consistency also translates to streamlined training processes and lower administrative overhead, particularly valuable for agencies with limited technical staff or those supporting geographically distributed operations. 

Leveraging Strategic Procurement Advantages 

The Data Protection Bundle is readily available through General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contracting, providing Federal buyers with the streamlined procurement process they understand and trust. This availability is enhanced by Carahsoft’s partnership with Commvault to offer additional savings of up to 60% off manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP)—savings that stack on top of existing GSA Schedule discounts that agencies have historically leveraged. 

While the focus remains on end-of-fiscal-year procurement opportunities, Commvault has committed to honoring this pricing structure through the end of the calendar year, providing agencies with flexibility in their planning and implementation timelines. 

Supporting Widespread Federal Adoption 

Commvault’s platform is already deployed across numerous Federal agencies, spanning both Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian organizations. Many of these agencies utilize Commvault to protect shared environments through a single unified platform, demonstrating the solution’s ability to scale across diverse Government requirements while maintaining the security boundaries and operational control that Federal organizations require. 

This existing Federal footprint provides new adopters with confidence in the platform’s proven ability to meet government-specific mandates while offering opportunities for knowledge sharing and best practice development across agency lines. 

Federal agencies looking to strengthen their data protection capabilities while maximizing end-of-fiscal-year budget efficiency should evaluate how Commvault’s comprehensive bundle addresses their mission-critical requirements. With proven FedRAMP High authorization, substantial cost savings and streamlined GSA procurement, this solution offers a strategic pathway to enhanced data security and operational efficiency. 

Visit Commvault’s FedRAMP page to discover how this end-of-fiscal-year opportunity can strengthen your agency’s data protection strategy and deliver significant cost savings. 

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Commvault we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Effective Government CX Strategy: Aligning Technology, Culture and Purpose for Mission Success 

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Citizens expect fast, seamless, personalized service. Customer experience (CX) is at the heart of every agency, impacting satisfaction, engagement and trust in Public Sector institutions. At the opening keynote during the 2025 CX and Engagement Summit, thought leaders from the General Services Administration (GSA), the Veteran’s Experience Office (VEO), GovExec, Adobe and The White House discussed centering CX initiatives to meet mission objectives, decrease costs and improve operational efficiency. 

Carahsoft and its partners, such as  Calabrio, Figma, Granicus, Help Scout, Liferay and NetDocuments, are equipped to connect agencies with the latest technology for CX solutions. 

The Strategy Behind Effective CX 

CX-centered solutions improve operations and reinforce trust in Public services. Brian Chidester, the Head of Global Strategy and Innovation at Adobe, emphasized that customers expect the same standards from Government service that they do of leading private companies. Poor CX can result in dissatisfaction, reduced engagement and erosion of trust in Public institutions. 

But CX is not merely about satisfaction. A customer’s experience correlates to operational efficiency, cost savings and service effectiveness. When well-designed, centering CX enables agencies to reduce duplication, minimize support needs and improve system interoperability. 

Constance Sayers, the President of GovExec, discussed the importance of engaging with customers in the face of decreasing trust in Government systems. By centering CX, Public agencies can prove their reliability and effectiveness. 

There are a few main ways to center CX strategies. Public institutions can: 

  1. Empower Public agencies and services 
  1. Leverage modern tools to deliver efficient, user-centric experiences 
  1. Employ both skilled personnel and relevant technology to provide faster, inclusive and reliable service 

CX must be grounded in outcomes. By starting with a measurable goal, agencies can determine how well strategies and technology meet user needs. Technology such as advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing all enable real-time decision-making and proactive service delivery. Operational goals, such as reducing call volume or wait time, can be directly addressed through CX.  

Achieving Mission Objectives Through CX-Centered Planning 

Maria Roat, the Former US Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer for the Executive Office of the President, emphasized that CX must be a mindset across all teams and departments. To improve mission-related outcomes, proficient staff with specialized skills and experience are essential to seeing continuous improvement. Teams should begin with a clear, defined concept of their mission objectives and desired end-state. Policy constraints and operational hurdles should be taken into account when designing a strategic process to accomplish objectives. Roat advises team leaders  to conceptualize their goals into a single sentence to maintain focus on the mission. By questioning existing procedures, teams can overcome outdated policies and misaligned priorities that create roadblocks to progress. By overcoming barriers and prioritizing preparation and realistic planning, agencies can ensure continued, long-term success for CX initiatives and beyond.  

Sonny Hashimi, the Former Commissioner of Federal Acquisition Service in the GSA, echoes this point, attesting that effective CX begins with understanding the “why;” which issue is being addressed, and who the audience is. Processes cannot be effectively updated without measuring the progress. By defining clear goals and tracking their progress, teams can improve CX by fulfilling grounded outcomes that are measured by how well they meet user needs. By embedding CX into core operations to ensure services are designed around user needs and not internal processes, agencies can offer seamless service. 

People-First CX Initiatives 

At the closing keynote “The Future of Government Customer Experience,” Barbara C. Morton, the Deputy Chief Veterans Experience Officer at the VEO of the Department of Veterans Affairs, discussed how active listening and CX are intrinsically tied. Listening to veterans, survivors and their families empowered the VEO with actionable items to improve their CX. The VA CX Office was established on that very principle, using data and insights to embed CX into everyday programs, services and trainings. In action, this looks like offering services that customers can directly interact with, ensuring users do not “fall between the seams.” CX teams utilize feedback to identify service gaps and implement cross-functional action plans. Technology can be used to amplify human-centered service by improving speed and accuracy. AI, for example, has enabled the VA to scale its services to maximize efficiency. Human-centered design ensures that service design and delivery begin with the lived experiences of customers. Morton attests that in a democracy, to serve is to listen; CX is foundational to Government legitimacy. By tuning in to customer stories, the VEO and other agencies maintain focus on people, not just processes.    

By prioritizing customer experience, agencies can ensure their work reflects both their internal values and the communities they serve. 

To learn more about the topics discussed at the 2025 CX & Engagement Summit, view the session recordings, on-demand. To learn more about the technologies that can help meet your agency’s mission statement, take our Carahsoft’s CX Buyer’s Guide Quiz, or visit our CX and engagement solutions portfolio.  

Powering the OneGov Mission with a New GSA Offer for Slack

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The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has set a bold new direction for Federal procurement with its OneGov Strategy—a transformative mission to modernize how the Government buys and uses technology. The goal is clear: act as one unified enterprise to reduce costs, improve security, enhance productivity and eliminate the fragmented, agency-by-agency purchasing of the past.


Achieving this vision requires powerful, secure and commercially available tools that can be acquired and deployed with minimal friction. Salesforce is supporting the OneGov mission by making Slack’s FedRAMP-authorized collaboration platform more accessible and affordable for every Federal agency.

Unifying Agencies to Operate as a Shared Enterprise


A core tenet of the OneGov strategy is breaking down silos to help the Government function as a single, coordinated enterprise. Slack is purpose-built for this reality. By moving communication from isolated inboxes into organized, searchable channels, Slack creates a transparent environment for collaboration. More importantly, Slack Connect extends this capability across agency lines, allowing for secure, real-time collaboration with other Government entities and external partners. This directly addresses the OneGov goal of unifying the Federal workforce, ensuring that inter-agency teams can operate with the same speed and alignment as internal ones, all within a controlled and auditable platform.

Enhancing Productivity and Accelerating AI Adoption


The OneGov initiative calls for agencies to leverage modern technology to enhance efficiency. Slack delivers on this with powerful, user-friendly features, such as:

  • Workflow Builder, which empowers teams to automate routine processes like approvals and status updates without writing a single line of code, freeing up personnel for mission-critical work.
  • Slack AI, which provides a secure pathway to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. Agencies can instantly leverage AI to summarize complex discussions, get immediate answers from internal knowledge bases and draft communications more efficiently.

These tools provide the tangible productivity gains and advanced capabilities needed to build a smarter, more effective Government.

Reducing Costs Through Centralized, Streamlined Procurement


The Salesforce and GSA agreement for Slack is a prime example of the OneGov strategy in action. By establishing a single, Government-wide agreement with transparent, pre-negotiated pricing, we are helping the GSA eliminate duplicative contracts and leverage the full buying power of the Federal Government.


Through November 30, 2025, your agency can access this strategic offer via the GSA Schedule (Contract: 47QSWA18D008F). With no minimum quantities and pricing structured to be Government Purchase Card (GPC) friendly, this offer dramatically reduces procurement friction and empowers teams to quickly acquire the tools they need to support their mission.

This GSA promotion is more than a discount; it is an opportunity to align your agency’s collaboration strategy with the forward-thinking vision of OneGov. It’s a chance to equip your teams with a best-in-class platform that is secure, efficient and cost-effective.


Carahsoft and our partners are committed to helping you navigate this streamlined procurement process. We are ready to provide a quote, schedule a personalized demo and help you realize the full potential of Slack in achieving your agency’s modernization goals.


Ready to join the OneGov movement and transform how your agency collaborates?
Contact our Salesforce team at Carahsoft today or call us at (877) SFDC-007 to learn more and take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Carahsoft Technology Corp. is The Trusted Government IT Solutions Provider, supporting Public Sector organizations across Federal, State and Local Government agencies and Education and Healthcare markets. As the Master Government Aggregator for our vendor partners, including Salesforce we deliver solutions for Geospatial, Cybersecurity, MultiCloud, DevSecOps, Artificial Intelligence, Customer Experience and Engagement, Open Source and more. Working with resellers, systems integrators and consultants, our sales and marketing teams provide industry leading IT products, services and training through hundreds of contract vehicles. Explore the Carahsoft Blog to learn more about the latest trends in Government technology markets and solutions, as well as Carahsoft’s ecosystem of partner thought-leaders.

Using Modern, Agile Dashboards to Power Today’s Government Programs

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Nearly every federal agency is currently tackling a major IT modernization project. The need for functional, transparent, and user-friendly project management systems has never been higher. But tracking, managing, and overseeing these projects can be difficult for the agencies involved. Projects like the Federal IT Dashboard that the General Services Administration (GSA) successfully relaunched in March 2022 is an example of how a unified, user-friendly, and cost-effective dashboard can give agencies the tools they need to manage an expanding portfolio of projects. This ambitious project, taken after the previous dashboard had aged and become too costly to maintain, is a big step forward for the agency.

The GSA wanted to create a one-stop, accessible version of the resource, which gave agencies the insight they needed to understand and better manage their IT portfolios and investments. Their investment in a contemporary, easy-to-use dashboard is a testament to the role that a powerful, modern dashboard system plays in government program management. A well-built dashboard delivers an overview of the agency or program’s state of affairs, giving agencies the visibility they need to make informed decisions.

Atlassian Dashboards Management Blog Embedded Image 2022The Value of a Single View Across Complex Programs

One of the biggest advantages a dashboard can bring to an agency is the ability to zoom in and out of complex, multi-faceted programs and projects. This interactivity lets agencies gain insight into their project and program structures at multiple levels.

Dashboards also help with project tracking, transparency, and accountability across internal and external stakeholders. The dashboard becomes an interactive map, allowing users to dive into the details at each level of the projects they contain, giving leaders the big-picture view they need to see the impacts of a multi-faceted project.

Custom dashboards are built for an agency with a specific use in mind. While these solutions offer incredible levels of customization, they can often be costly to develop and maintain. Fortunately, there are other options that are easy to use, quick to implement, and more cost-effective than their custom counterparts. Powerful enterprise dashboard platforms are one such option. They deliver a secure, easy-to-use, simple-to-understand viewpoint that can scale from the 10,000-foot view across the program portfolio to individual tasks in a single project.

The ideal platform can bi-directionally integrate with one or more instances of the agency’s favorite project management tool to deliver an aggregated, strategic, enterprise view of everything happening across those projects and programs. It’s also important to have native integration on top of a preferred project management platform. This can bring visibility to the work being done across multiple projects and programs and delivers insights that a standalone project management tool couldn’t, such as tracking overall operational performance and measuring risk.

Working with modern commercial software can help agencies of all sizes use informative, easy-to-use dashboards, helping teams connect strategies with their technical execution at a glance. As a strategic portfolio management tool, powerful dashboard platforms that integrate with a world-class project management tool let agencies see the bigger picture without having to invest in costly tools that are built from scratch and outdated as soon as they are deployed.

Here at Atlassian, we’re celebrating the modern, agile approach to project dashboards, and we encourage agencies to consider adopting similar solutions in the spirit of financial and developmental efficiency. Our mission is to help unleash the potential of every team. We believe effective dashboards can be a key component in bringing agency teams together to help them achieve their missions. 

Download our whitepaper “Jira Align: Key Steps Toward an Adaptive, Efficient, and Effective Government” to learn how Atlassian is helping agencies meet their mission requirements!

The Technology Modernization Fund’s Projects for Zero Trust Innovation

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In the wake of the 2019 pandemic and its long-lasting effects, most agencies have begun adapting new security standards to meet changing needs. The 2017 government action plan, The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF), aims to aid federal agencies with funding in order to accelerate the thorough completion of projects. While the TMF did not directly award grants for pandemic relief, many of its cybersecurity projects meet critical needs that were enhanced by the pandemic and working from home. Three of its major projects are centered around helping departments accelerate the transition to zero trust, the most effective security strategy. These projects focus on Zero Trust Architecture in the US Department of Education (EDU), Advancing Zero Trust with the GSA, and Zero Trust Networking with OPM.

Zero Trust Architecture

One project is the TMF’s funding of Zero Trust Architecture for the EDU. The TMF will invest $20 million into the department over a two-year span to strengthen the zero trust architecture in order to increase the security of citizen data maintained by the department.[1] This includes over a hundred-million students and borrowers that the EDU supports. The project’s goal is to improve security of data through strategy, architecture, design, and implementation roadmaps. The department will also have a catalog of services with Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) technologies.

Advancing Zero Trust

The TMF has awarded $29,802,431 to go toward the US General Services Administration (GSA) for advancements in zero trust.[1] As the GSA’s shared services support millions of users and hundreds of facilities, it is vital for the agency to advance their cybersecurity architecture. Through its TMF funding, the GSA intends to focus on three main areas:

  1. Users and Devices: The GSA aims to replace directory designs to meet new demands of telework and multi domain, hybrid cloud architecture. It will implement virtualization with security strategies, (including a single-sign-on multi-factor authentication option,) in order to:
    • Increase cybersecurity identification and protection
    • Add both equitable, online identity verification and in-person options for improved accessibility to vulnerable populations
    • Reduce the barriers to Login.gov by expanding the website features for both current and future users.
  2. Networks: By leveraging SASE solution and upgrading public buildings’ security network, the GSA hopes to add micro segmentation to secure networks.
  3. Security Operations: The GSA intends to adopt increased machine learning and artificial intelligence driven algorithms. This would help connect diverse data sources, highlight system threats, and provide managerial oversight.

Carahsoft TMF Zero Trust Blog Embedded Image 2022Zero Trust Networking

Finally, the TMF has allotted $9.9 million towards accelerating the adaptation of zero trust networking in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).[1] The OPM hopes to improve cybersecurity architecture across data, identity, devices and endpoints, network and environment, and application workload areas. They aim to use the TMF funds to reduce the surface area for attacks and increase managerial visibility over networks. In doing so, they will improve the security of data and privacy protections for over two million civilian federal employees.

Increased financial assistance allows companies to implement vital security measures. In 2015, OPM experienced a security breach for their personnel systems, which led to the loss of more than 20 million personnel records.[2] In order to solidify their systems, the OPM conducted research on zero trust before ever receiving funding. As a result of the TMF’s aid, the OPM can now implement this latest security architecture faster than anticipated. OPM has created five different teams to execute this: architecture engineering, cloud operations, service management, service automation, and migration.[3]

Government Services for the People

TMF is vital to accelerating and improving agency projects. With the extra funding, organizations can afford better oversight measures, such as non-company experts. The variety of security measures, such as managerial oversight, smaller attack surface areas, micro segmentation, and identity verification, that TMF aids are all vital to the changing work landscape. Even features such as expanding website attributes will enhance public connection to government agencies in a post-COVID-19 landscape. With this increased connection, the federal government can better achieve its goal of being for and by the people.

 

View Adobe’s Experience Cloud Demo page for more insights on Technology Modernization Fund and cybersecurity.

 

[1] “Investments: Advancing Zero Trust” The Technology Modernization Fund. https://tmf.cio.gov/projects/#advancing-zero-trust

[2] “The Awards Focus on Zero Trust and Include a Major Investment in the Login.gov Federal Digital Identity Solution,” FCW. https://fcw.com/security/2021/09/7-new-tmf-awards-include-one-classified-project/259192/

[3] “Technology Modernization Fund support awarded to 7 new agency IT projects,” FedScoop. https://www.fedscoop.com/opm-speeding-zero-trust-tmf/

Modernizing Cybersecurity & MultiCloud Services with TMF

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What is TMF?

The Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) is an action plan created as part of the 2017 Modernizing Government Act. The goal is to have a funding vehicle that would aid agencies in accelerating project completion. This is enacted via a loan which will be repaid based on individual project agreements. In order to implement and perfect technology modernization, the Technology Modernization Board (TMB) prioritizes projects that engage several agencies at once, address security gaps, and improve the public’s access to services. The TMB is responsible for eighteen different projects across ten federal agencies, seven of which were awarded American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to address urgent IT modernization challenges.

How it Works

The fund is overseen by the TMB, which is comprised of government IT officials and cybersecurity experts with expertise in technology, transformation, and operations. The board reviews IT-related project proposals submitted by government agencies to determine which projects deserve funding, and how much. Priority is given to proposals which meet certain criteria [1] such as improving security, increasing operational efficiency, and adapting scalable technology. Since its inception, the TMB has loaned hundreds of millions of dollars to agencies and programs such as Foreign Labor Application Gateway and Farmers.gov. Technology modernization proposals are sent to the board through a two phased approval process.

The first phase is the Initial Project Proposal (IPP). IPPs act as a low burden prescreening for both agencies and the Board. Agencies submit a rough outline of their project proposal, while only approved and unique projects go to the Board for review. In their proposal, agencies must discuss a general plan process and whether project funding has been explicitly denied or restricted by Congress.

The second phase, the Full Project Proposal (FPP), is submitted directly to the Board. FPPs must have a comprehensive description of the proposal, project milestones, and a funding schedule. Agencies should also have a pitch presentation prepared for the Board.

Once funded, TMF projects are reviewed quarterly by the Board to ensure milestones and schedules are met. Corrective action is implemented when necessary to help agencies remain on track, and technical experts are there to provide support to teams to improve capability and fix troubleshoot issues.

TMF’s Importance Today

The TMF process is helpful as it provides greater flexibility to agencies and funds technology modernization efforts by allowing repayment options and payback terms for up to five years. Across the board, government agencies have accelerated modernization efforts because they no longer need to wait for funding. Now, agencies can act and gain funding as the project goes on. Oftentimes, company departments that are overlooked by either the government or their own agency will go through the TMF to gain adequate funding for important projects. This financing shows that accountability and oversight make a difference. It allows agencies to provide new capabilities in a timely manner in a rapidly changing environment. Without the TMF loans, these contributions, delivery, and improvements would not be possible.

Modernizing Zero Trust

One of the eighteen funded projects allows the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to modernize legacy network systems and implement an advanced zero trust architecture [2]. Through technology modernization funds, the GSA will advance zero trust architecture by improving zero trust blocks. Firstly, the GSA will replace directory designs to meet the new expectations of hybrid cloud architecture. These updates will be multi-domain and multi-cloud applicable. Secondly, it will develop modernized enterprise single-sign-on that will include multi-factor authentication. This way, security will be improved by a micro-segmented authentication system that adheres to a zero trust strategy. Lastly, the GSA will add artificial intelligence and machine learning driven algorithms to help detect threats to systems. All together, these measures will help protect government clients’ sensitive information from bad actors.

Carahsoft Cybersecurity & MultiCloud TMF Blog Embedded Image 2022Data Modernization

Another project goal is to modernize the Department of Labor (DOL)’s enterprise data management and analytics capabilities. The aim is to improve the availability and analytic capabilities of data to developers, journalists, researchers, and other federal agencies. Currently, the DOL faces issues with data consistency, quality, and availability. Proposed improvements include incorporating predictive analytics software to report capabilities to the DOL’s IT department, and implementing data management capabilities and to support application programming interface (API). This would share data with both the DOL and the public. These efforts could aid in cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved services [2].

TMF and Multicloud Services

One initiative that the TMF has provided funding for is cloud-based security enhancements. So far, these include funding for:

  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), to complete migration to the cloud for all applications ($500 thousand)
  • To the Department of Energy (DOE), to migrate enterprise emailing to the cloud ($3.7 million)
  • To the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to move critical business systems from on-premises databases to the cloud ($13.8 million) [3]

Single clouded services have limited control and less flexibility. With the combination of two or more public clouds, private clouds, or a combination of both, an agency will gain better control and oversight on the cloud. This will allow a customer’s sensitive information to be better protected. This is especially important in light of 93% of businesses are moving to multi-cloud architecture [4].

The Future of TMF

With the Technology Modernization Fund, government agencies are able to improve their cybersecurity, increase data management capabilities, and support the public they are created to serve. TMF acts as a mitigated process to gaining funding for projects. Due to the implementation of the TMF, improvements in security such as multi-factor authentication, API, zero trust, and segmentation were enacted in the federal government. Because of TMF, government agencies are better able to serve customers by keeping their information secure and meeting their constituents and employees’ needs in a modernized, efficient, and scalable manner.

 

View Adobe’s Experience Cloud Demo page for more insights on Technology Modernization Fund and cybersecurity.

 

[1] “Awarded Projects,” The Technology Modernization Fund. https://tmf.cio.gov/projects/

 [2] Miller, Jason. “Special Report: Benefits of Technology Modernization Fund Validated,” Federal News Network. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/reporters-notebook-jason-miller/2020/11/special-report-benefits-of-technology-modernization-fund-validated/?_sm_au_=iVVnDfDJW3W3ZHZskN1JRKsp6MH81

 [3] Wiggins, Don. “Advance Your Government Mission with Secure Hybrid Multicloud,” Equinix. https://blog.equinix.com/blog/2021/02/16/advance-your-government-mission-with-secure-hybrid-multicloud/

[4]  Parmar, Dipti. “Why Organizations Need a Multicloud Strategy and How to Create One,” The Forecast by Nutanix. https://www.nutanix.com/theforecastbynutanix/technology/why-organizations-need-multicloud-strategy