Queensland Software Services (QSS) has won a AU$77 million four-year Microsoft software contract with the Queensland government, which will also see the establishment of an Australasian Technology Centre.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates personally phoned Queensland's Deputy Premier and former Communication and Information Minister Terry Mackenroth, to compliment the government on the agreement.
QSS will sub-contract Microsoft to deliver the centre.
The Queensland Agency Agreement is the largest Microsoft software contract signed by the state, as well as the largest licensing arrangement signed by Microsoft in Australia, according to Queensland's Innovation and Information Economy Minister, Paul Lucas.
QSS, a 50/50 joint venture between Data#3 and Powerlan was selected through a competitive tender process.
The four-year contract is for a whole-of-Government Microsoft Enterprise license for the Queensland government and the establishment of a new Australasian Technology Centre (ATC), which will develop specialised solutions for use by governments in Australia.
"Microsoft Australia is pleased to be working with the Queensland government to help drive the effective use of new and innovative technology throughout the Government's agencies," Paul Houghton, Managing Director, Microsoft Australia said.
The ATC will create new IT positions and help train and up-skill government users of Microsoft software in how to better deploy and utilise the software within their agencies.
"The benefits, both to the Beattie Government and the people of Queensland, will be through significantly reduced licence fees, the creation of new jobs and improved services due to common software platforms," Lucas said.
Lucas said better utilisation of common software platforms across state government agencies, ensuring greater efficiencies, would be a major benefit from the arrangement.
Under the terms of the agreement, Queensland Software Services will be responsible for the delivery of Enterprise software licences to government agencies, consulting and training services and for the performance of the ATC.
The negotiations lasted 18 months.
The money used to pay for this software outsourcing would have been better used to implement an open source/free software solution, and the (significant) remainder of the money spent on helping people in Queensland. Private companies can throw away their money, but I object to the government throwing away mine.