Microsoft Certified Engineering Support

The Contracting Authority requires the provision of Microsoft Certified Engineering Support services, including advanced technical support, product escalation, and engineering-level assurance for its existing Microsoft enterprise environment. This environment includes Microsoft 365, Azure, identity, and security services, which are critical to the Authority’s operational delivery and are tightly integrated across business functions.

This procurement is being undertaken as a direct award under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, relying on the grounds set out in Schedule 5. Microsoft is the only supplier able to provide: Direct access to product engineering teams Source-level diagnostics and escalation pathways No other supplier can deliver the requirement independently.

Third-party providers are dependent on Microsoft for escalation and therefore Cannot provide equivalent authority or resolution capability. The Contracting Authority has undertaken a proportionate assessment of alternatives and a commercial benchmarking exercise to confirm that the proposed approach represents value for money.