Bel Air commissioners approve $51,155 Microsoft 365, Azure and Exchange contract with Dell

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners voted unanimously Sept. 2 to approve contracts with Dell Marketing LP for Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Azure Active Directory Premium P2 and Microsoft Exchange Online totaling $51,155.45. The motion was moved by Commissioner Chismar and seconded by Commissioner Taylor, and the board recorded four aye votes. Town Clerk Michael Krantz told the board the procurement was executed by piggybacking on the Master Agreement between the Midwestern Higher Education Commission and Dell Marketing LP, which staff said is effective through June 30, 2029 and is available to eligible local governments. Krantz provided a cost breakdown and recommended approval. “We recommend approval this evening,” Krantz said, reporting the Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription at about $36,596.55, Azure Active Directory at $14,079.50 and Exchange Online at $479.40, for a combined total of $51,155.45. Krantz described the Azure Active Directory Premium P2 subscription as an enhancement to the town’s cybersecurity posture, offering advanced identity protection and multi-factor authentication to restrict access to authorized users. Chair Eddington and Commissioners Chismar, Taylor and Chance voiced support for the contract as a cybersecurity investment. The board’s formal action was an approval motion; there were no amendments and no public comments on the item. Joshua Fourth, identified in the meeting as the town’s technology manager, was thanked by the board for his role in procurement and technology upkeep.