USTDA Supports E-Government Efforts in Brazil

(USTDA) RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On June 30, USTDA awarded a $675,000 grant to the Rio de Janeiro IT Company (PRODERJ) for a feasibility study to develop an implementation plan for a new data center in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

The data center will facilitate communication between Rio's state government agencies and improve their services. Additionally, the feasibility study will review the state's overall IT strategy, providing recommendations and standards to ensure that all future systems coordinate with the new data center. E-government initiatives, such as this, will optimize efficiency and strengthen the state's capacity to promote growth in the region.

"This project is a high priority to the state of Rio de Janeiro and we are proud to support it," stated USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak. "The United States is a world leader in e-government technologies and we are excited to work together with PRODERJ to help develop their systems."

The grant was signed by PRODERJ President Paulo Cesar Coelho Ferreira and by Ms. Gabrielle Mandel, Country Manager for Latin America at USTDA.

U.S. companies are very competitive on the international market for ICT and e-government technologies, and the implementation of the new data center will provide many opportunities for U.S. companies to get involved and generate exports. The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement. The PRODERJ will select the U.S. contractor that will complete the feasibility study.