Swiss Court stops Federal Contract with Microsoft

Ade writes: "Looks like the challenge to the Swiss Administrative Court concerning the government contract given to Microsoft without any public bidding was successful: The court has issued a temporary injunction against the Federal Office of Buildings and Logistics (BBL), effectively stopping the CHF 14M (£8M; $15M)-contract to deliver licenses and support for software used on government computers for the next three years. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung has the details (article in German).

According to Swiss Government practices, any contract over CHF 50'000 has to undergo a public call for offers. The BBL cited "no serious alternatives" as the reason which this contract never did."