Council authorizes cooperative purchasing pathway to test Microsoft Copilot subscription

Kent council on May 20 authorized the IT director to use a state cooperative purchasing contract to acquire technology products, including a planned evaluation of a Microsoft Copilot subscription.

Mike Carrington, the city’s IT director, told the committee staff seek authorization and ratification to purchase through Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) contracts and the NASPO purchasing cooperative that the state maintains with Insight Public Sector Inc. He said the approach offers best-value pricing and contract terms the city would not secure on its own.

Carrington said staff will evaluate Microsoft Copilot in a pilot at an estimated cost of about $5,558 plus tax and will assess operational fit and security compliance before committing to broader purchases. He said any purchases would be within established and approved city budgets and limited to the term of the state contract in effect through April 24, 2027, or any state-authorized extensions.

The council motion authorized the IT director to purchase through the cooperative agreement and to ratify past actions consistent with that authority; the motion passed by voice vote.