Perplexity’s government alliance accelerates secure, multi-model AI adoption across US federal agencies

Perplexity has secured a landmark partnership with the US GSA, offering federal agencies accessible, enterprise-grade AI via a streamlined, cost-effective agreement aligned with government security and modernisation goals.

Perplexity has secured a landmark government-wide partnership with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), marking a significant step in expanding accessible, enterprise-grade AI capabilities across federal agencies. Through this agreement, Pe...

rplexity’s Enterprise Pro for Government AI platform will be available to all federal agencies via the GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS IT) at a nominal cost of just 25 cents per agency for up to 18 months. This unique arrangement is described by the GSA as the first direct contract of its kind between a major AI provider and the federal government without relying on third-party resellers, streamlining procurement processes and offering agencies faster, simpler adoption routes.

The agreement aligns with the White House’s AI Action Plan and GSA’s OneGov strategy, both aimed at accelerating the deployment of secure AI solutions within government operations while consolidating buying power to reduce duplication and lower costs. It reflects a broader recognition that AI-based tools can play an essential role in driving modernization, improving research and drafting capabilities, and supporting faster, more informed decision-making at all levels of government.

One of the defining features of Perplexity’s Enterprise Pro for Government offering is its multi-model architecture. Agencies can choose from a variety of leading AI models, including Perplexity’s own, OpenAI’s GPT, Anthropic’s Claude, and Google’s Gemini. This model-neutral approach addresses federal concerns about vendor lock-in and risk concentration, enabling agencies to select the most appropriate AI for each specific task and maintain continuous access even if one model experiences outages or compatibility issues. The platform also integrates seamlessly with agency internal systems such as SharePoint, OneDrive, and Outlook, linking AI capabilities with both external internet-scale knowledge bases and internal datasets.

Security stands at the forefront of this initiative. Perplexity claims it is the first publicly available AI platform to provide secure-by-default assurances to all federal users, including those without a direct subscription or contract. The platform holds a prioritized status in FedRAMP’s new AI authorization pathway, known as FedRAMP 20x Low, which is designed to accelerate the security review process for AI cloud services. According to FedRAMP guidance, eligible services must offer enterprise-grade security features such as single sign-on, role-based access control, and stringent data separation policies ensuring customer data used for AI training remains within agency control. Perplexity plans to complete its FedRAMP authorization by early 2026, a move expected to reduce administrative overheads for agencies seeking approved AI tools.

Federal use cases for Perplexity’s platform are broad and range from routine research and summarisation to supporting critical decision-making where rapid information retrieval can have operational and policy implications. Tens of thousands of federal users already rely on the platform daily, underscoring its growing role in government workflows. However, despite eased procurement and promising technical capabilities, agencies must still navigate challenges related to integration with legacy IT environments, governance of AI behaviour, and the establishment of clear oversight frameworks, particularly for sensitive or high-consequence applications.

The pricing model under the MAS contract, essentially free for the initial 18 months, facilitates early pilot programmes and proofs of concept, which may encourage federal agencies to explore and expand their AI capabilities with lower financial risk. Over the long term, negotiated pricing commitments aim to keep the service sustainable for government operations, signalling a commitment to enduring partnership rather than a short-term engagement.

This agreement not only exemplifies Perplexity’s strategic entry into the federal sector but also advances the government’s broader goals of fostering secure, transparent, and vendor-diverse AI ecosystems. As agencies adopt such platforms, ongoing attention to governance, auditing, and technological integration will be crucial to ensuring dependable AI results and maintaining public trust.

Overall, the Perplexity-GSA partnership represents a pioneering step in governmental AI adoption, combining innovation with practical procurement reforms and robust security frameworks to meet the evolving needs of federal agencies across the United States.

Source: Noah Wire Services