Inside Google

In a serendipitous synchronicity, the Google Search Appliance (GSA) has debuted as the new search engine on the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)  web site.

Recently a box popped up on an obscure GSA web page titled “Transparency” which reveals that Google has taken over the search spot at the agency.

GSA.gov Launches Google Search

You can now Google search on gsa.gov.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer has integrated Google search capabilities into GSA’s web site. The new search engine is actually a GSA-owned version of Google’s flagship product, which brings key benefits to our site and our customers’ experience. Searchers on gsa.gov will experience the superior speed and quality of Google’s search results.

A particularly exciting feature is Google’s ability to learn what search results people favor and elevate the most popular choices to the top of the list.

GSA’s Google implementation keeps the key features of its predecessor, such as recommended search results, GSA Advantage!™ search results, advanced search, and the option to search other GSA sites.

When I last looked, the search engine on the site was Verity, from Autonomy. In a 2006/2007 E-Government Act of 2002 Annual Status Update, the GSA reported:

The search engine on gsa.gov was built using Verity’s K2 Enterprise search software that has been specifically configured for gsa.gov to include all files intended for public use on the website.  The search results are displayed in order of relevancy to the search criteria. The search also provides recommended results that are custom configured for certain search terms to ensure that the most appropriate results are provided for select search criteria.  Verity’s K2 Enterprise provides response times approximately equivalent to industry best practices.

I have been pecking around in the FedBizOpps.gov database and the USAspending.gov database and the GSA’s eLibrary seeking information on this contract opportunity, to no avail. Why is this so difficult? Any help would be appreciated.

Coincidentally,  Google is seeking GSA’s stamp of approval of its cloud computing security. A timely certification will position the Internet search giant ahead of its competition for US CIO Vivek Kundra’s mandate on the future of government cloud computing.