Award

Microsoft Unified Support Contract

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

27 Jun 2023 at 11:20

Summary of the contracting process

The Northern Ireland Assembly has awarded a contract for the Microsoft Unified Support Contract to Microsoft following a negotiated procedure without prior publication. The contract, worth £231,000, was signed on June 23, 2023. The contract involves providing service support for the Assembly's Microsoft software environment, including expert advice, 24/7 support, and proactive hours to support product implementation over the next three years.

This procurement process, led by the Northern Ireland Assembly, falls under the IT services category and is aimed at enhancing support for their Microsoft software environment. The direct award method was chosen due to the exclusive nature of Microsoft's services, as they are the sole provider capable of meeting the Assembly's technical requirements. This presents a unique growth opportunity for businesses well-equipped to provide specialised Microsoft-related services and support.

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Notice Title

Microsoft Unified Support Contract

Notice Description

Service support for our Microsoft software environment.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Provide IS Office technical staff with expert advice and assistance in the support of both existing and new Microsoft software products and the ability to request immediate escalation of urgent issues on standard applications with no constraints on the time required. This includes all new applications in-flight, such as Microsoft Defender. The IS Office would have as-needed 24/7 support from Microsoft, supporting the team in a timely manner, improving the overall service. Provide the IS Office time with Microsoft to facilitate additional projects, as required, to ensure the Assembly Commission meets the needs of end users at a pace more aligned to how technology develops. This time will support the creation of a new modern environment that accommodates increased security, modern remote working, future proofing services and an all-round better end user experience. A number of hours have been proposed to advise on projects over the next three years such as the implementation of Microsoft Defender (antivirus), Microsoft Intune (to support mobile device management), migration of on-premise email to M365 (Cloud email), the support of a remote access solution, support with potentially upgrading the Hyper V Firmware, or alternative, support migrating services to the cloud, where applicable and providing support to the Assembly Commission on modernising the workplace, through additional use of the Microsoft technology stack such as SharePoint online and additional use of Teams. This time will also ensure the team receives the necessary training to support the products in use and strategic approach to the technology available. Microsoft provides such support hours in blocks as it provides value for money across economies of scale. Unified Enterprise Support with unlimited reactive hours and approximately 100 proactive hours (to support products already in use), with an additional 300 proactive support hours to support the implementation of new products.

Procurement Information

The Procurement and IS Offices have discussed this requirement in detail. After conducting enquiries, it is very clear that the services which the IS Office wish to purchase are exclusive to Microsoft. They are not offered for resale by any other supplier. There are no other known suppliers who can even offer a similar level of service. Microsoft are the only company who can provide this service and as such, there remains only one option to procure this renewal and that is through a negotiated procedure without prior publication - a direct award. This is provided for in the Public Contracts Regulations (PCR) 2015 - specifically under regulation 32(b)(ii). This allows for contracts to be awarded without competition in circumstances where competition is absent for technical reasons. In this case, the Microsoft unified support renewal is exclusive to Microsoft and cannot be purchased from another provider.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-03dcc4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018227-2023
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£231,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jun 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
22 Jun 20232 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@niassembly.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT4 3XX
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland

Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Stormont
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MICROSOFT

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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