Inside the Transportation Department's technology transformation

"The Transportation Department will soon run on Google Workspace, fulfilling part of the department's "1DOT IT" strategy to unify and strengthen the sprawling 55,000-employee department and completely modernize its IT infrastructure. As first reported by Nextgov/FCW, Transportation inked a five-year contract in September worth up to $89 million to move from Microsoft's collaboration suite to Google's cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools - Gmail, Docs, Meet and more - and also incorporate Google's popular AI tools, Gemini and NotebookLM."

""The 71% discount on pricing got us to the table," Albright said in a recent interview with Nextgov/FCW, noting general parity between products like Microsoft Outlook and Google Gmail. "But when you start looking at it with the AI engines and so forth, that's where we saw things as kind of the separation-type factor," Albright said. "We wouldn't basically be looking at Google just from purely a cost perspective, that's not the driver. That's a byproduct of potential savings. But we're really looking at the technology enablement, and enabling factors associated with that product.""

"The department is moving toward that technology enablement as quickly as possible. Transportation migrated initial users to Workspace within 30 days and provided agency-wide access to Gemini and NotebookLM within 60 days. Stephen Serrao, senior advisor to the chief information officer at the Transportation Department, said he anticipates a "global go-live" for 12,500 DOT-proper employees in February 2026 and a subsequent rollout shortly after for the Federal Aviation Adm"

The Transportation Department will migrate to Google Workspace to unify 55,000 employees and modernize its IT under the "1DOT IT" strategy. A five-year contract worth up to $89 million will move users from Microsoft's collaboration suite to Gmail, Docs, Meet, and will incorporate Google AI tools Gemini and NotebookLM. Google offered a steep discount via a OneGov GSA agreement, with a cited 71% price reduction prompting engagement. Technology enablement and AI capabilities were the primary drivers beyond cost savings. Initial users migrated within 30 days and agency-wide access to Gemini and NotebookLM occurred within 60 days. A global go-live for 12,500 DOT-proper employees is planned for February 2026, followed by a subsequent FAA rollout.

Read at Nextgov.com