Beijing gov't software procurement: Microsoft faces sudden call-off of order

Sunday afternoon witnessed once again a sudden turn in the plot of a"Full-scale Drama"fighting for Beijing government software procurement between the domestic software producers and dealers with Microsoft Co., an International giant. With a public notice of making correction the procurement office of the Beijing Municipal Government called off the order for goods of almost 30 million yuan from the Microsoft Co. The Company won the order "unexpectedly"on 17 November, causing a great panic among the domestic software producers and dealers. For this, the high-ranking officials, experts of the trade raised a collective query, forcing the Beijing Municipal Government to make its explanation.

Public notice of correction to call off the order for goods

However, what appeared on the official website Sunday afternoon was "a notice of correction in regard of the outcome of the deals about the government procurement item of computer operational system, its accessories for office work and information security between the Beijing Municipal Information Office and the authentic edition supplier". On the ground of the "requirement of the procurer" for correction it asked for calling off the outsourcing item (BKHT2004160-1) of the "authentic edition software for computer operational system and office work". The item is the very big order initially acquired by Microsoft Co. by way of a unitary talk. But now the expected victor the Microsoft Co. is to become an outsider.

Domestic software dealers pick up the hope again

The public notice for correction came to appearance on Sunday, which brought some hope to the domestic software producers and dealers held gloomily under with complaints. Though Kingsoft was listed as one in the namelist for procurement prior to this, said Ge Ke, vice-president of the Kingsoft yet because the Microsoft's big list was ahead of us the space left over for the Kingsoft WPS is only a limited small one. The cancellation of the Microsoft subscription order would be sure to offer a bigger chance to the WPS. Zhao Xiaoliang, President of Red Flag-Linux of the CAS who've been for days in great agitation has now calmed down again at once., and he revealed to the reporter, though up to now he hasn't got the notice concerning the bidding for the operational system he's now getting actively prepared for it in a hope to deliver its Linux operational system into the offices of Beijing Municipal Government.

Ultimate outcome is still hard to foretell

Though the final outcome of the bidding is still under cover the issuance of the public notice cannot indicate that the Microsoft is totally out of the included list. The actual economic, technological strength and the users' habits for the Microsoft software cannot but be taken into consideration by the procuring departments. Besides, a more realistic problem is that the Beijing Municipal government now owns in public, part of the subordinated units are now unable to bring out the original authorization certificates for the use of the software and most of the software products are from the Microsoft Co. To put it plainly, the use of pirated edition of the software does exist in part of the units and the Beijing Municipality will "compensate" the Microsoft Co. by way of procurement from the company.

The reporter learned from some of the domestic software producers and dealers that are in the "namelist of those being included", though their products have been confirmed as one to be procured yet the confirmation with the government procurement office stays only with the product price and no quantity for procurement has so far been finalized. Therefore, the eventual outcome for the procurement is still hard to tell.

By People's Daily Online