CSIRO to streamline software purchasing

The CSIRO said the reseller would deliver standardised procurement and support across the organisation -- including improved remote support capability -- for software products from the vendors.

According to tender documents, the CSIRO is planning to tie the reseller to a three year enterprise agreement ending 31 December 2008.

The switch towards a standard enterprise IT delivery model is in line with the statutory authority's move to a 'One CSIRO' culture and capability.

The CSIRO has formed a central IT group that manages service desks, networks, voice services, desktops, database administration and storage across 60 locations nationwide.

Late last year the CSIRO awarded an AU$34 million, four-year contract to Fujitsu to deliver a standard SAP system across the organisation, replacing a myriad of existing tools.

The project encompasses some 7,000 users across Australia.

While CSIRO officials were unavailable for comment by late afternoon, documentation forming part of the tender pack indicated Microsoft software the organisation had either purchased or was planning to purchase included Office Professional, SQL Server, Front Page and Visual Studio .NET Pro Academic.

The CSIRO said the reseller had to be qualified as a Microsoft-Authorised Large Account Reseller to provide software under the agreements that give the CSIRO access to the vendor's products, and approved as an Adobe Licensing Centre under similar agreements with the document specialist.

According to the tender documents, the reseller must provide a Web portal to manage purchasing, licences, technical support and downloading of software.

It must also provide support for accessing the portal and training in the use of reseller services, with service level obligations relating to portal availability during business hours, invoice accuracy and successful licence key download from the portal.