Preparations for JWCC-Next by DISA gather momentum, as Olympus and JOE projects gain traction
The Defence Department has announced plans for the next version of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Computing (JWCC) contract, known as JWCC-Next. This new contract is expected to significantly expand and improve cloud service offerings for military services and defense agencies.
Integrating Third-Party Vendors for a Holistic Cloud Ecosystem
The key change in JWCC-Next is the integration of third-party vendor services alongside hyperscale cloud providers, such as AWS, Microsoft, Google, and Oracle. This move aims to provide a more comprehensive and seamless cloud environment tailored to warfighter needs. By allowing access to third-party vendors within large hyperscale cloud provider ecosystems, military users can utilise not only the core cloud infrastructure but also the broader range of services offered by these vendors without having to contract separately.
Broadening the Spectrum of Cloud Service Providers
JWCC-Next is also expected to expand the types of cloud service providers and services by including more participation from third-party vendors tied to these hyperscale providers. This approach reflects lessons learned from the current JWCC contract, which initially focused primarily on providing straightforward access to major hyperscalers.
Enhancing Warfighter Capabilities
The integration of third-party vendor services is designed to enhance warfighter capabilities by simplifying contracting and access to various cloud solutions under one umbrella contract. This approach is expected to enable support for new and diverse IT and cloud engineering services, including cybersecurity and financial management related to cloud adoption.
Timeline and Partnerships
The solicitation for JWCC-Next is planned for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with contract awards expected in early 2027, to ensure there is no overlap with the current JWCC contract that could extend until 2031 if all options are exercised. The Defence Department is working closely with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense Acquisition and Sustainment on JWCC-Next.
The Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) is actively seeking new partnerships, including with small businesses, to provide a wide range of IT and cloud engineering services to support this expanded cloud ecosystem.
Current JWCC Contract Performance
Since its award in November 2021, the current JWCC contract has seen over $3 billion in task orders awarded to military services and defense agencies. The Army has mandated the use of the JWCC contract vehicle for all new cloud acquisitions at the secret and unclassified levels.
Ongoing Initiatives
The Defence Department's initiatives, such as the JOE capability and Olympus, are also playing a significant role in this transition. The JOE initiative, which brings commercial cloud services to commands located outside the continental United States, is expected to result in a seven-month reduction from the beginning to getting the authority to operate (ATO) of a capability when migrating to the cloud.
The Olympus initiative, DISA's infrastructure-as-code, is transitioning to a Defense working capital fund capability starting October 1, making it available for mission partners to buy. This managed service format of Olympus aims to provide better and easier security and eliminate the need for military services and defense agencies to have the expertise to implement, maintain, and update the infrastructure.
In conclusion, JWCC-Next represents a significant step forward in the Defence Department's cloud strategy, aiming to open up the contract to more hyperscale cloud service providers and expand the types of providers who can win a spot. This move is expected to provide a more comprehensive, flexible, and secure cloud environment for military services and defense agencies, enabling them to better support warfighters in the digital battlefield.
The integration of third-party vendors in JWCC-Next is aimed at providing a more comprehensive and seamless cloud environment, utilizing not only the core cloud infrastructure but also the broader range of services offered by these vendors.
The expansion of cloud service providers and services through third-party vendors will enable support for new and diverse IT and cloud engineering services, including cybersecurity and financial management related to cloud adoption.
