Amazon JEDI appeal ‘likely to succeed’, says US judge
Judge claims the DoD “improperly evaluated” a Microsoft price scenario
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Amazon’s appeal to challenge the US Department of Defense’s decision to award the$10bn JEDI contractto Microsoft will likely succeed according to a US judge.
The opinion by US Court of Federal Claims Judge Patricia Campbell-Smith wasrecently unsealedafter she issued an order blocking further work on the contract until Amazon’s court challenge is resolved back in February.
While Amazon has claimed that the contract wasawarded to its rival Microsoftas a result of US President Donald Trump’s influence, Campbell-Smith’s opinion did not mention Trump or address Amazon’s claims of improper influence. Instead it focused on how the Pentagon assessedMicrosoft’s data storage in one price scenario out of six.
According to Campbell-Smith, Amazon is “likely to succeed on the merits of its argument that the DoD improperly evaluated” a Microsoft price scenario. She believes that Amazon will be able to show that Microsoft’s scenario is not “technically feasible”.
JEDI contract appeal
In a recent statement, Microsoft spokesperson Frank X. Shaw explained why he believes that the company will be able to move forward with its work on the JEDI contract, saying:
“The decision disagreed with a lone technical finding by the Department of Defense about data storage under the evaluation of one sub-element of one price scenario. We have confidence in our technology, our bid, and the professional staff at the Department of Defense.
“We believe that we will ultimately be able to move forward with the work. Time matters because those who serve our country urgently need access to this essential modern technology.”
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Amazon was initially viewed as the front-runner to win the contract but the companyfiled a lawsuitin November after it was awarded to Microsoft instead.
The company’s lawsuit claims that the Defense Department’s decision was full of “egregious errors” which were a result of “improper pressure from President Donald Trump”.
The US President has mocked Amazon’s CEOJeff Bezoson multiple occasions and he has also publicly criticized the ecommerce company as well as Bezos' newspaperThe Washington Post.
ViaReuters
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
Scammers are using fake copyright infringement claims to hack businesses
HPE reveals critical security bug affecting networking access points
From Dishonored to Mafia: Definitive Edition, some of my favorite games are free right now for Amazon Prime members
