Microsoft & Buying Solutions - Public Sector Agreement

Public Sector Agreement (PSA09) is the result of an in-depth collaborative procurement engagement between Microsoft and Buying Solutions on behalf of the public sector. It paves the way for future models of software purchasing and will help organisations to meet emerging and future challenges in delivering public service reform.

VALUE, CHOICE AND FLEXIBILITY

Microsoft is offering the potential for public sector organisations to save money while achieving best value in procurement and gaining new tools to improve service delivery to citizens, communities, public safety organisations and partnerships across the public sector.

PSA09 can reduce costs for both existing and new Microsoft customers by up to 16% compared to previous licensing pricing. Public sector customers get the opportunity to address their licensing needs at pricing levels that are not solely based on customer size, but take into account the needs of the organisation, its employees and external partnerships.

TOOLS TO MEET EMERGING CHALLENGES

In building a package-based approach with Buying Solutions, Microsoft is creating a new way of providing public sector workers with the software that they need to perform their work more effectively. This gives the public sector a new model for licensing, addressing its need for transferability, re-use and flexibility.

PSA09 gives the UK taxpayer cost-effective solutions for acquiring the tools that support new and emerging challenges in public service reform such as 'tell me once' where people requiring support from the public services only provide information once and not many times to different public sector organisations. In PSA09, Microsoft is offering value for money, greater choice and licensing flexibility, unique in its public or private sector agreements.

Under PSA09, customers can also continue to choose Microsoft Desktop packages, or choose new Public Sector packages, for their Enterprise Agreement (EA).

VALUE FOR MONEY

PSA09 addresses the changing requirements of public sector organisations over time through two key principles - pay for what is needed, and choose software for different kinds of needs rather than by product alone.

The new agreement provides the opportunity for different statutory partners, such as police forces, fire and rescue services, central Government departments and agencies and local authorities, to collaborate more productively using cost effective new solutions. PSA09 ensures that, through collaborative procurement practice, the whole public sector pays only for what is needed and benefits from the cost savings possible through this - from large Government departments to small local authorities.

GREATER CHOICE

Through PSA09, public sector organisations now have the flexibility to introduce a more varied mixture of Microsoft applications. This will reduce the need to license applications that may be unused, as well as simplifying the licensing packages needed by users.

Eligible organisations will have the option to choose to license by functional requirement thus including all required client and server software licensing for specific business needs - for example, email, collaboration and unified communications. There are additional savings offered on a range of entry-level packages for users who do not need to use the full suite of Microsoft software.

MATCHING BUSINESS NEEDS

The new agreement focuses on matching business needs with cost efficient licensing models, taking into account the changing needs and partnership working challenges faced by public sector organisations. Transferability, re-use and flexibility of licences are key features of PSA09 - helping to save money when organisations or departments merge.

The agreement supports public service delivery through technology by supporting more effective use of ICT for collaboration and secure information sharing.

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

We appreciate that you may have questions about this new Public Sector Agreement - please don't hesitate to contact your Phoenix Account Manager for full details on 0845 265 1265 or email info@phoenixs.co.uk