The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has signed an agreement to establish the fourth iteration of the whole-of-Government Volume Sourcing Arrangement (VSA) with Microsoft.
According to the Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert the VSA was available to Government agencies to deliver value for money not otherwise available to smaller agencies when purchasing Microsoft products and services.
“This arrangement provides the tools to support Agencies in their transition to a modern IT environment through the adoption of cloud-based services,” Mr Robert said.
He said Agencies were currently in the process of transitioning to cloud.
“[The VSA] enables Agencies to take advantage of Microsoft’s ability to support a hybrid cloud/on-premises environment, which can help make the move to the cloud faster and more efficient,” he said.
He said the arrangement included Government use of the Canberra based Azure cloud; over 1,400 subsidised Azure training places for Australian Government IT workers; as well as funding to support up to 100 new trainees in the ACT over the next two years.
Mr Robert said the new agreement was the first whole-of-Government deal which conforms to the Australian accessible procurement standard, creating opportunities for more inclusive workplaces across the public sector.
More information about the new arrangement can be accessed at this PS News link.
