Microsoft wins one battle in challenge to AWS

Microsoft has won a quiet battle in its fight to dig into Amazon Web Services' dominance as a cloud provider in the federal market.

The Navy Installation Command specified AWS as its desired cloud environment in an Aug. 8 solicitation that spells out a new service delivery model for morale, welfare and recreation programs.

Microsoft was quick to respond with a protest to the Government Accountability Office that argued that there was no reason to limit the competition to AWS. The protest was filed Aug. 21 and the Navy quickly backtracked.

The procurement was cancelled Aug. 22. Three days later, Microsoft followed suit and withdrew its protest.

So score one for Microsoft.

It’s an interesting project when you look at the requirements. The Navy wants to modernize its morale programs in the face of reduced budgets. The programs are used by Navy personnel and their families and include libraries, fitness activities, outdoor recreation and community programming.

“Degradation of these programs will have a negative impact on the Department’s ability to meet the regenerative and recreation needs of service members and their families,” the Navy wrote in the solicitation.

The Navy also says the current programs haven’t kept up with the times. On-base programs such as golf, bowling and car hobbies are “expensive and only meet the needs of a small group,” the Navy states.

More of the programs need to be web and mobile enabled, according to the solicitation.

The Navy obviously was thinking this would all be hosted on AWS’ cloud but Microsoft’s protest likely means that the new solicitation will be vendor neutral.