Following a recent Request for Proposals (RFP), Christchurch-based Cyclone Computer Company Ltd (Cyclone) has been selected as the Department of Education’s software licensing partner.

The request was for a vendor to partner in providing software products for the government agency, and Cyclone was announced as the nominee.

The purpose of the partnership was stated to provide services for the procurement of Microsoft software and non-Microsoft software for the Ministry’s business needs and for New Zealand schools.

Details of the RFP point out that the ministry employs around 5,000 people at 40 sites, and in the school sector there are around 2,500 schools with over 800,000 students and 90,000 employees.

The ministry also runs several computer programs that support approximately 2,400 public and integrated schools. Some of these include the ongoing centralized software agreements and the TELA+ (Digital Devices for Principals and Teachers) program.

Cyclone was identified as having both the ability and capacity to undertake the task and was contracted as a Ministry partner to achieve better management control, risk reduction and cost savings on the software products. They are currently the only manager of the TELA+ system and have held this responsibility for four years. This program provides procurement, leasing, support and end-of-life management for more than 54,000 aircraft currently in this fleet.

The development is led by Cyclone National Licensing Manager Tracey Thomson, who says the new appointment will enable Cyclone’s team of licensing specialists to better provide portal-based licensing asset management and support for the wide range of applications required in the sector.

Cyclone also currently acts as the preferred software license provider for all polytechnics and most universities involved. They will assume the new role of the ministry as of July 1, 2022.

Cyclone was established in 1993 as a PC assembler. Over time, they have evolved into a reseller of technologies widely used in the corporate, education, and government sectors. They have a range of technology partners including Acer, Microsoft, Lenovo and Apple.

Regularly recognized for its educational partnerships, the company was named HP Educational Partner of the Year for five consecutive years from 2015 to 2019. Cyclone is also a Work & Income Registered Vendor.

Leigh Gibbard currently serves as Managing Director and Graham Prentice as Managing Director for All of Government and Apple. Cyclone has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and they serve organizations across the country.