DTA launches MLSP tender

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has launched a request for tender covering the establishment of a whole-of-government panel of Microsoft licensing solutions providers (MLSP).

The DTA is inviting resellers to join the panel as part of round three of the Microsoft Volume Sourcing Agreement (VSA3).

According to the tender, there is a requirement for one or more suppliers to provide MLSP deliverables to the government. The panel well be accessible by all Commonwealth entities including any incorporated entities under control of federal or state governments.

The DTA said it plans to review the operation of the panel annually and may reopen the panel in the future to add additional suppliers and categories.

The key objective is to ensure the government is receiving value for money for its Microsoft licences, after the government revealed it spent over $364 million between FY14 and FY16 on Microsoft licences and software assurance services.

In order to be eligible, resellers will need to provide a statement and letter from Microsoft confirming that the resellers are authorised MLSPs.

Microsoft last week announced it will launch two Azure hyperscale cloud regions in Canberra to provide cloud services to the government, through a partnership with Canberra Data Centres.

The company was one of the first cloud providers to secure approval to handle unclassified data under the Australian Signals Directorate’s new certification process in 2015, and expects to soon secure certification to handle protected data.

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