Maddocks has assisted the Federal Government’s Digital Transformation Agency in establishing a new agreement with Amazon Web Services.

The new AWS agreement builds on the benefits of an earlier arrangement signed in 2019, including:

• Driving efficiencies through a standardised contracting framework
• Support for Australian Public Service technology / cloud upskilling
• Strengthening contractual terms and conditions, including ethical supplier conduct
• Expanding benefits to all levels of Government including local councils, State and Federal Governments and all public sector entities.

The Maddocks team was led by Partner Caroline Atkins, with Senior Associate, Belinda Chapman and lawyer, Sanjana Ramesh Kumar.

The new arrangement harnesses the bulk-buying power of the Federal Government and the States and Territories.

The DTA’s announcement highlights the agreement’s impact and its capacity to support service delivery in areas such as transport, health, education, and taxation. It also outlines how the new AWS arrangement will drive better contract performance, vendor accountability and maximise value.

The whole-of-government arrangement has been established with an initial three-year term, providing flexibility, value for money, and continuity of existing services. It will reduce the time, effort, and resources required to procure AWS services, supporting individual agencies in negotiations.

The arrangement is a contracting framework with pre-negotiated terms and conditions, with agencies still required to undertake an approach to market to ensure a competitive outcome.

The Maddocks team assisted the Digital Transformation Agency with drafting and negotiating the legal terms of the agreement, and also advised on the implementation of the new arrangement.