[dogma1138]

It’s not just the amount of money but where that money is going is a problem. You see this issue with procurement all the time if it’s a non standard channel you’ll encounter difficulties.

I would guess that the customer paying HPE directly to fix this wouldn’t be an issue but good luck explaining what a bounty is to procurement and with all the restrictions that come with government tenders it’s even more complicated as you have no idea who is the end beneficiary of that payment is so all the due diligence you have to do can’t be done or is far more difficult.

You also don’t get the usual contractural provisions that provide guarantees and protections for what you purchase this way.