Murray Comments on Disputed DOD Cloud Computing Contract

08 September 2020 Washington Business Journal News

Partner Frank Murray was quoted in a Washington Business Journal article, “What’s next for controversial JEDI contract? First comes bias, then contract evaluation allegations,” about the Defense Department’s recent decision to reaffirm Microsoft Corp.’s award of its blockbuster cloud computing contract, which archrival Amazon Web Servicesis contesting.

Because Amazon Web Services has sought to prove its claim of political bias and interference in the contract award by deposing President Trump and several current and former Pentagon officials, Murray said there’s a good chance the judge hearing the case will decide next whether to allow those depositions.

“That would generally need to be decided before you went on to other merits of the case,” he said. “To the extent that they are given that opportunity, or additional documents are ordered, that would define the administrative record that the rest of the briefing was based off of or at least could provide the evidence that they could then argue.”