Microsoft gets the jump on its competitors with government

Under the terms of the four-year volume sourcing arrangement (VSA), most federal government agencies will have access to Microsoft Desktop Professional software, which includes Microsoft Office and Windows Vista. The agreement also enables most federal government agencies to purchase additional products from Microsoft under a pre-agreed pricing arrangement. The Department of Defence is expected to be the first federal government agency to take advantage of the new agreement to license Microsoft technologies.

A central coordinated procurement arrangement is consistent with the approach suggested by Microsoft to the Gershon Review in 2008. Microsoft had noted that there were a range of opportunities for the government to realise efficiencies and cost savings by leveraging existing investments, standardising desktops and optimising the government’s existing ICT infrastructure.

“This VSA creates significant opportunities and is an agreement that will benefit all organisations involved,” said Pip Marlow, Public Sector Director, Microsoft Australia. “We welcome the government taking this first step towards building a more coordinated, efficient and secure ICT infrastructure and look forward to delivering the benefits of our partnership over the coming years.”