The Pentagon’s landmark cloud-computing contract, the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC), has received more than a dozen orders valued at over $200 million since its inception less than a year ago. The JWCC, a potential $9 billion deal, was selected to involve Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle for various levels of security designations. An additional 13 orders are in the process, reflecting what Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner of the U.S. Air Force termed a “success story.” The work under JWCC could continue through 2028.
Key Points:
- JWCC Awards and Future Plans: Since its launch, the JWCC has awarded 13 different cloud task orders, amounting to over $200 million, and has an additional 13 orders in the pipeline.
- Participating Companies and Scope: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle were chosen to provide cloud services under JWCC for unclassified, secret, and top-secret designations. The four companies are competing for jobs and are guaranteed $100,000 each.
- Transition and Prioritization: The Pentagon’s Chief Information Officer, John Sherman, instructed defense agencies and military services to prioritize JWCC, including for the nation’s most sensitive data. Existing cloud services are set to transition to JWCC upon expiration.
- Background and Structure: The JWCC succeeds the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) arrangement, which was scuttled after allegations of political interference. The new contract consists of a three-year base and one-year options, potentially extending the work to 2028.
