Pre-Market Engagement Questionnaire: Microsoft Enterprise Licensing, CSP Services and Expertise

INTRODUCTION

Mid Ulster District Council is preparing a procurement for the renewal, supply, management and optimisation of its Microsoft enterprise licensing, associated CSP services and specialist Microsoft expertise. This pre-market engagement exercise will help the Council understand available market models, risks, pricing approaches, support arrangements and proportionate requirements before any formal procurement is issued.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE

The objectives are to confirm market interest, test the most suitable agreement route and service model, identify risks or dependencies, understand pricing and governance options, and inform the Council's procurement strategy. This is not a procurement process and responses will not be evaluated as part of any future tender.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Council's Microsoft estate includes Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Teams, Power Platform, Azure, server licensing and associated Software Assurance requirements. Market input is sought on CSP, Enterprise Agreement or other Microsoft agreement routes, billing options, licence optimisation, tenant support, adoption, security and compliance support, escalation and access to qualified Microsoft expertise.

STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS

MUDC wishes to establish a contract with a suitably experienced Microsoft CSP partner to provide:

• licensing renewal, supply and management through CSP, Enterprise Agreement or another suitable route;
• licence optimisation, proof of licence, inventory records, renewal tracking and compliance reporting;
• Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, Teams, Power Platform, security, compliance, identity, endpoint and server licensing expertise;
• support for billing, subscription changes, incidents, Microsoft escalation, account governance and roadmap advice;

The Council also wishes to understand transparent pricing structures, including margins, discounts, billing models, separate professional services rates and how best to separate user subscriptions, device subscriptions, Azure consumption, server licensing, trial/free SKUs and advisory services.

Responses should assist the Council in considering proportionate partner status, accreditations, insurance, service capability, support model and future evaluation balance between price, quality and added value.

5.0 PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT APPROACH

INDICATIVE PROCUREMENT TIMEFRAME

7.0 Indicative milestones: PME published 10th September 2026 ; responses due via eTendersNI by 3.00 pm on 24th September 2026; procurement launch October , contract award December ; licensing renewal / contract commencement 31st January 2027.