JWCC Next Targets Longer-Term, More Flexible Cloud Approach

The next generation of the Defense Department’s cloud computing capabilities is near, building upon the foundation laid by 2022’s Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract vehicle. JWCC Next, the new program, aims to extend the contract, engage with industry and strategic partners and address evolving national security cloud demands.

“Now that we know what works on JWCC, it’s kind of like that next step,” Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) JWCC Program Manager Alee Long told GovCIO Media & Research in an interview. “It’s scratching under the surface a little bit more to define what our strategic partners need.”

JWCC’s timeline is in flux, but DISA intends to release a draft request for proposals within a year, before soliciting bids, John Hale, product management and development chief at the agency, said in March. Long acknowledged the challenges of any large-scale procurement, revealing a proactive approach to iterate and refine through JWCC Next.

“The current contract for JWCC, the last option year, ends in December 2027,” Long told GovCIO Media & Research. “What we have previously done with the four hyper scale CSPs [Amazon Web Services, Google, Microsoft and Oracle] is how we are looking at all opportunities going forward.”

“We’re not taking anything off the table, but are definitely reevaluating that strategy,” she added.

Security remains a paramount concern for JWCC Next, Long emphasized. DISA works with the Intelligence Community to maintain the necessary cybersecurity standards for contractors and government cloud systems, Long said. This partnership involves leveraging the IC’s experiences and best practices in navigating the complex security landscape of interconnected cloud environments.

“[IC cybersecurity standards are] important for our strategic partners. We know the third-party marketplace has been a concern for a lot of our strategic partners, and we have definitely started the real in-depth conversations on how to make that possible, some things able to be done on the current contract,” Long said. “Those conversations have just started for JWCC Next, so we haven’t defined what it’s going to look like yet. Those topics are definitely shaping how this next acquisition is going to look and how it’s going to be adopted.”

DISA is developing JWCC Next continually, and the program is subject to acquisition sensitivities and the changing technology environment, Long said. JWCC Next has a longer contract duration and DISA is exploring a more in-depth understanding of evolving cloud demands for it, she said.

“We’re looking at market research, engagements with industry, engagements with our strategic partners, to really understand cloud demands,” said Long of the aim to eliminate initial blockers and ensure commercial parity with emerging technologies. “How can we help them with their cloud and ensure that we have a contract vehicle that meets that need?”

Long said leaders will measure JWCC Next’s implementation success through factors such as Pentagon leadership direction and cloud adoption rates guided by the DOD CIO office. Ongoing dialogue with industry and mission partners is vital, Long said, to make sure it remains agile and responsive to technological advancements in the marketplace.

“It’s something that we’ve really relied on the CSPs to help us, and we take a look at cloud demand. What are they seeing? What are the trends? And then kind of trickle that back … What needs do they have?” said Long. “I think the collaboration with all of those stakeholders has really been important. And it took us a while to build those relationships at the beginning, but we’re in a really great spot now.”