ISW029F - Multi Supplier Framework Agreement for the provision of Microsoft Solution Renewals and Associated Services

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The contract encompasses the provision of Microsoft Solution Renewals and associated services for various Microsoft Agreement types. The scale of the framework is significant, with an estimated total value of up to €1 billion, indicating a broad scope of potential services and renewals.

The contractor's day-to-day activities include:

• Provision of Microsoft Solution Renewals under various agreements, including:

• Enterprise Agreement (EA)

• Enterprise Agreement Subscription (EAS)

• Server Cloud Enrollment (SCE)

• Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)

• Select Plus Agreement

• Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) Agreement

• Microsoft Cloud Agreement (MCA)

• Microsoft Enrolment for Education Solutions (EES) Agreement

• Microsoft Open Value Subscription Agreement for Education Solutions (OVS-ES)

• Microsoft Open Value Agreement

• Microsoft Open Value Subscription Agreement

• Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA)

• Associated Licensing Services, which include:

• Software Asset Management (SAM) services related to Microsoft Solutions.

• Azure cost optimisation and consumption management (FinOps) advisory, including budgeting, alerts, underuse identification, and optimisation dashboards using Microsoft tooling.

• Security and compliance services regarding licensing, including entitlement mapping and governance guardrails.

• Pre and post-sales advisory and support for Microsoft licensing and renewals, including support for true-up and reconciliation.

• Management of the deployment of Microsoft Solutions, including handover, entitlement assignment, version governance, and upgrade activities.

The framework excludes certain services, such as data migration, bespoke model training, and non-Microsoft related products or services. The focus is strictly on renewals and additional licenses for existing Microsoft Solutions already deployed by Framework Clients.

3. Background & buyer context

This procurement aligns with the Office of Government Procurement's mandate to source goods and services for the public sector efficiently. The framework aims to streamline the renewal process for existing Microsoft Solutions, ensuring that public sector entities can maintain their software and services without interruption. The strategic driver is to enhance operational efficiency and compliance across public sector organisations that rely on Microsoft products.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Bidders must meet the following eligibility and selection criteria:

• Turnover requirement: Minimum average annual turnover of €29,000,000 for each of the three financial years immediately preceding the date of publication of this RFT.
• Insurance:
• Employer’s Liability: €11.5 million limit for any one claim.
• Public Liability: €4.25 million limit for any one claim.
• Professional Indemnity: €4.25 million limit for any one claim.
• Cyber Insurance: €2.5 million limit for any one claim.
• Product Liability: €4.25 million limit for any one claim.
• Crime Insurance: Minimum limit of €2 million for any one loss.
• Certifications: Not specified for this tender.
• Past experience: Not specified for this tender.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

5. Award criteria & scoring

Bids will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

The evaluation will follow the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) principle, focusing on both price and quality.

6. Submission requirements

Bidders must produce the following documents:

• Method statement / response document: Use the named template, adhering to any specified page limits.
• CVs: Provide CVs for key personnel, with a specified page count.
• Pricing schedule: Format must follow the named template.
• Case studies: Include a specified number of case studies with a defined value range.
• Declarations: Complete necessary declarations, including ESPD, Bona Fides, Tax clearance, and Conflict of Interest.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: Responses must be submitted via eTenders, following specific format rules.

7. Key dates & process

8. Contract terms that matter

Key contract terms include:

• Term + extension structure: Not specified.
• Payment terms: Not specified.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified.
• Termination clauses: Not specified.
• IP ownership: Not specified.
• Sub-contracting rules: Not specified.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

Notable risks and concerns include:

• The turnover requirement of €29 million may limit participation to larger firms, potentially excluding smaller businesses.
• The absence of specified geographic constraints could lead to a broader pool of bidders, but the lack of clarity on facility constraints may introduce uncertainty.
• The framework's focus on renewals and associated services may disadvantage firms that do not have existing relationships with Microsoft or prior experience in similar contracts.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is primarily suited for larger firms with established experience in Microsoft solutions and significant financial resources.

• Credible bidders: Firms with a minimum annual turnover of €29 million and experience in Microsoft licensing and renewals.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Not specified, but firms may consider partnerships to meet eligibility criteria.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Estimated at several days to prepare comprehensive documentation.
• Pwin signal: The incumbent strength and the scale of the framework may indicate a competitive environment, with potential advantages for established players.

11. Where to dig deeper

• RFT filename: ISW029F - Microsoft Solutions RFT.docx
• eTenders CFT ID: 7693450
• Contact email: Not specified
• Important attachments:
• Appendix 1: Requirements and Specifications
• Appendix 2: Pricing Schedule
• Appendix 5: Framework Agreement