1 April 2025
45 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wel ington 6011
PO Box 805, Wel ington
Colin Rogers
Phone: 04 495 7200
[FYI request #30301 email]
Email
: [email address]
Website: dia.govt.nz
Tēnā koe Colin,
Your Official Information Act 1982 request, reference OIA 2425-0845
I am responding to your email of 4 March 2025 to the Department of Internal Affairs (the
Department) requesting the fol owing under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I understand DIA is the lead agency for the AOG Microsoft agreements. I also
understand Microsoft is presenting to agencies an "incentive" to commit to 300 Copilot
licenses in return for training/onboarding costs/consulting and other services relating
to Copilot.
Specifically to DIA:
1. Do you believe this time bound offer from Microsoft for licenses is anti-
competitive?
2. How many agencies have currently "committed" to the offer by Microsoft?
3. What is the average commitment from these agencies?
4. How many of these agencies had budgeted for AI tech in FY25?
5. How many other AI Technologies are available by DIA under AOG Agreements?
6. Wil the agency promote other AI Tech from other suppliers for agency's to
easily consume?
7. Does the lead agency have any views if this offer from Microsoft is anti-
competitive and if not wil they be signing up other AI technology companies to
provide a level playing field for agencies to consume AI?
Response to your request
The Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) is the System Lead for Digital and manages the
All of Government Por�olio of ICT Services (the Por�olio).
The Por�olio provides access to reliable, secure, and fit-for-purpose ICT services, via
Common Capabili�es Contracts, Framework Agreements and Marketplace, and Por�olio
services are available to all public sector agencies and organisa�ons to assist them in
providing safe, resilient and easily accessible services to New Zealanders.
GCDO leverages the Government’s purchasing power as a single unified entity, to negotiate
overarching agreements with both New Zealand and Interna�onal ICT services suppliers, and
the Por�olio sets standardised and consistent requirements, facilita�ng a level playing field
for all suppliers.
This approach ensures equity of access to government procurement opportuni�es and
creates compe��ve tension in the government ICT services market. In rela�on to suppliers,
GCDO must remain impar�al, and it is up to individual agencies what services they procure
and who they procure those services from.
The Microso� Cloud, So�ware and Services Agreement (MCSSA), available through the
Por�olio, is a volume licensing agreement that includes subscrip�on-based, perpetual, and
Cloud services licensing. The consistent and standardised terms nego�ated under the MCSSA
are accessible to all public sector agencies and organisa�ons.
The ‘incen�ve’ proposed by Microso�, offering ‘training/onboarding costs/consulting and
other services relating to Copilot’, in return for agencies committing to 300 Copilot licenses,
falls outside of the MCSSA.
Please find a response to each of your ques�ons below.
Question one
As it is not the func�on of the Act to create opinions or views on a given topic, we are unable
to provide a response to this query under the Act.
Ques�ons two, three, and four
This informa�on is not collated or held by the Department, and GCDO does not have
visibility of independent agency investments outside the Por�olio. Therefore, I am refusing
these parts of your request under sec�on 18(e) of the Act, as the informa�on requested
does not exist.
You could request this informa�on directly from individual agencies. Contact informa�on for
all agencies can be found at:
www.govt.nz/organisa�ons/mail-merge/. Ques�on five
Standalone AI services are not currently offered through the Por�olio. However, ICT services
offered through the Por�olio may have AI func�ons integrated within them. Therefore, I am
refusing these parts of your request under sec�on 18(e) of the Act, as the informa�on
requested does not exist.
Ques�on six
GCDO must remain impar�al in rela�on to individual suppliers and their service offerings.
GCDO’s role is to advise agencies of all the ICT services available to them through the
Por�olio.
Ques�on seven
The Por�olio facilitates a level playing field for both New Zealand and Interna�onal ICT
services suppliers, ensures equity of access to government procurement opportuni�es, and
creates compe��ve tension in the government ICT services market.
It is up to individual agencies which supplier they procure services from. As it is not the
func�on of the Act to create opinions or views on a given topic, we are unable to provide a
response to this query under the Act.
Accessing the Ombudsman
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my decision by the Office of the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Proactive release
We intend to publish our response to your request on our website at:
www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2.
This letter, with your personal details removed, wil be published in its entirety. Publishing
responses increases the availability of information to the public and is consistent with the
Act’s purpose of enabling more effective participation in the making and administration of
laws and policies and promoting the accountability of Ministers and officials.
Nāku noa, nā
Jeremy Cauchi
Director, Ministerial and Monitoring
