The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has released cloud contract templates for making it easier for government agencies to move forward toward development; they can set up commercial contracts with external IT providers while buying cloud services.
“The cloud contract templates provide buyers and sellers with a common contractual baseline which is consistent with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and government policies,” the DTA stated.
“The templates are suitable for Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, services, or solutions that may include minor variations and basic support services to assist in transition and implementation.”
The Digital Transformation Agency has developed two cloud contract templates: a cloud sourcing contract template and a cloud services minimum terms template.
The first template, i.e., cloud sourcing contract template provides government agencies with a governance framework to purchase cloud services and products; an outline of the buyer and seller obligation and includes the risk of using cloud products and services; and model clauses that revolve around security, data management protections, and information.
“The cloud services minimum terms template has been developed in response to user research which told us that a full model contract is not suitable in all situations,” the DTA said.
“The minimum terms template is intended for use in an approach to market and seeks to clarify the minimum terms of any agreement which the government is able to accept.”
The Digital Transformation Agency announced that the contracts have not been designed to “necessarily replace the need for professional legal advice, but they make the early stages of agreeing terms easier.”
The new contracts are an additional thing to DTA’s entire suite wherein there are already many digital sourcing contract templates. These were introduced to replace the SourceIT Plus model contract, which was governed by the Department of Finance.
Add to it, the Digital Transformation Agency in February 2018, published the Secure Cloud Strategy. The publication acted as a source to guide government agencies to develop their own cloud strategies.