With prices of Microsoft commercial subscriptions due to rise, Miami-Dade County has negotiated a no-bid deal for a new three-year subscription for all parts of the county except the Sheriff’s Office for $57.3 million. The current three-year deal with Microsoft was for $38 million plus a later-add ed $10 million for growth, cybersecurity features and cloud-based services. With the new renewal, the county contract has a cumulative allocation of $105.6 million and it will expire May 31, 2029. Microsoft services are “serving as the backbone of operational systems throughout the departments and Constitutional offices,” said a memo to commissioners signed by Carladenise Edwards, the county’s chief administrative officer. “By locking in negotiated pricing early,” Ms. Edwards wrote, “the county was able to secure lower rates and achieve cost savings.” The county’s Intergovernmental and Economic Impact Committee approved the contract renewal last week and forwarded it to the full county commission for final action. The price increases, Ms. Edwards wrote, are driven primarily by the integration of artificial intelligence capabilities, namely Copilot, into base licensing; enhanced security and IT management features, “and a shift away from discounted, volume-based enterprise agreements.” The Microsoft applications that the county uses, Ms. Edwards wrote, “are essential to daily operations and any disruption in access would be detrimental in the ability to provide services, both internally and externally.” “Competition for these services is not practicable at this time,” Ms. Edwards wrote, but “the county will be issuing a new competitive solicitation to eliminate the need for a future designated purchase.” The post Microsoft contract with county hits $105 million appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less