PSC recommends DOD make multiple cloud awards, pursue changes to policy

The Professional Services Council is advising the Defense Department to consider making multiple cloud computing awards next year, as well as change how it budgets for and secures cloud services.

In a Nov. 17 letter to Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, PSC Executive Vice President Alan Chvotkin writes: "DOD today has a tremendous opportunity to access innovation and the best ideas that the private sector has to offer." In September, Shanahan directed DOD to accelerate its adoption of commercial cloud computing.

"However, the government faces procurement policy and regulatory barriers to acquiring commercial cloud-based or 'as-a-service' offerings," Chvotkin continues.

Attached to the letter is PSC's recommendations for how DOD should pursue cloud computing technologies responding to an Oct. 31 request for information posted by the department's Cloud Executive Steering Group.

The RFI indicates DOD is considering making a single firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract award next summer, but PSC is recommending DOD not limit itself to one award.

"DOD is heterogeneous and comprises organizations that vary greatly in terms of size and specific mission needs," PSC's response states. "DOD should at least consider a multi cloud contract should RFP responses indicate an advantage to doing so."

The council also believes the Defense Information Systems Agency, "as the lead IT combat support agency, must be directly involved in the acquisition strategy for specific contract requirements." DISA is not currently playing a direct role in the Cloud Executive Steering Group's deliberations.

PSC's recommendations also focus on fostering competition and ensuring DOD avoids "vendor lock-in" to take advantage of rapid innovation in the commercial cloud marketplace.

"DOD should acquire cloud services and deploy cloud capabilities where necessary, such that DOD organizations have the ability to migrate their services and capabilities to another [Cloud Service Provider] later," the response states.

The RFI also indicated the Pentagon would pursue changes to policies and regulations to accelerate cloud adoption, if necessary. PSC's recommendations highlight several changes that could be made, chief among them how DOD budgets for services technologies like cloud. The council recommends DOD work with the White House's Office of Management and Budget "to adapt fiscal law to accelerate cloud adoption and IT modernization."

Additionally, PSC recommends the Pentagon create "a more agile security requirements framework" for cloud technologies.