Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Walsall Council
Civic Centre, Darwall Street
Walsall
WS11TP
UK
E-mail: procurement@walsall.gov.uk
NUTS: UKG38
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
WP4165 Microsoft Unified Support Services
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72266000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Software consultancy services
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
411 663.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKG38
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Council now requires an equivalent modern and comprehensive support solution for the full Microsoft product set. Core components of the Council's technology environment, such as user authentication, rely entirely on Microsoft platforms. For example, all user logins are held within Azure Active Directory. If Azure Active Directory were to fail, staff would be unable to access the Council's network, which would in turn block access to all systems including the critical systems listed above. It is therefore essential that the Council can access direct, timely and authoritative support from Microsoft at any time in order to prevent, mitigate or quickly resolve any major issues.
The Council needs a support agreement for Microsoft technologies and services to ensure continuity of service.
The support agreement shall provide:
24/7 technical support; giving the Council direct access to Microsoft Support Services which will respond to critical issues within 30 minutes.
as needed advisory services
on-demand (customer initiated) health assessments and operational surveys
Technical training paths (customer initiated)
In addition, the support agreement will provide:
An Enhanced Designated Engineering (EDE) for 200 hours which can be used to help the Council to get the most value from existing and future investment in Microsoft technology. The Council will proactively contract manage usage of this through monthly reporting and ensure value for money is obtained.
120 Hours Access to Microsoft's Dart -Detection and Response Team, is a specialized cybersecurity unit within Microsoft that focuses on incident response and proactive security services.
A sub-2-hour response time is within the SLA, hours may also be used proactively (previously this was a separate product quoted at 100K per annum)
2 Days of custom workshops on any subject
In year 1 a series of delivery focused AI workshops designed to accelerate adoption and maximize the value of Microsoft 365 Copilot
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
There is only one provider that meets the needs of the Council for these services.
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section V: Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
28/01/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Microsoft Limited
01624297
Reading
UK
NUTS: UKJ11
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot:
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 411 663.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Walsall Council
Walsall
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
23/02/2026