A European partnership has launched a tender aimed at overcoming obstacles to the adoption of cloud computing by the public sector.

The Cloud for Europe project is seeking suppliers for three framework lots, worth a total of €4m to provide research and development services.

The aim is to reduce barriers to the use of cloud computing by public bodies, particularly addressing security concerns.

Mauro Draoli, project manager at lead procurer Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale, said, “This announcement marks the beginning of a significant opportunity for potential procurers and suppliers to learn from the experience of the Cloud for Europe project in enabling the procurement of cloud computing services by European public administrations.”

The first lot relates to solutions that ensure “easy and reliable” brokerage of cloud services provided by national cloud service providers.

Lot two is aimed at archiving and storage cloud services “that meets governments and citizens requirements on privacy and security of stored data”.

The final lot will seek solutions that meet requirements imposed upon cloud services by national or international legislation.

Each lot will have three phases – solution design, prototype development and the development of first products and services.

The deadline for submission is 20 February 2015.

The Cloud for Europe project supports public sector cloud use as a collaboration between public authorities and industry, partly funded by the European Commission under the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP7).

It started in June 2013 and runs until November 2016.