This 'JEDI' was awarded as sole-source contract. No, it's not that JEDI.
By
Nick Wakeman
The Army has awarded its own "JEDI" effort as a sole-source contract, but it just isn't the JEDI we are all used to talking about.
JEDI has been awarded as a $3.8 million sole source contract to Nexus Life Cycle Management LLC, but don’t get too excited because it’s not the JEDI we’re all used to talking about.
This JEDI is an Army contract for Joint Enterprise Data Interoperability software, not the Defense Department’s Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure cloud contract still mired in a court fight.
But when you see the acronym JEDI on FedBizOpps, it tends to catch your eye.
For the Army contract, Nexus will supply software to close interoperability and logistics data sharing gaps between U.S. joint services, coalition partners and non-DOD entities, according to the solicitation documents.
The Army went with a sole-source award to Nexus because the software is used for planning exercises and seven are coming up next year, but planning must start this year. Nexus is the only company with access to U.S., DOD and NATO networks and has the needed interoperability capabilities, the Army said.
It takes two years to get the approvals for access to the networks, so waiting is not an option with exercises coming next year.
The Army says it will look to compete the work in the future if it can find other companies with the right qualifications.
As for the acronym, don’t think that the Army stole the JEDI acronym. I found a 2017 reference to JEDI as standing for Joint Enterprise Data Interoperability.
But whether it’s the Army or DOD, I think George Lucas is the only one who can say anything about who first coined the term JEDI.