What Microsoft's Supplier Questionnaire Actually Requires
June 30, 2026 deadline. Both baseline year and current year data are required.
If you supply Microsoft, you've probably got this year's questionnaire on your desk and June 30 circled. The path through it is clearer than it looks once you know what Microsoft is actually asking for.
The short version: Microsoft's most recent cycle required a GHG inventory (Scope 1, Scope 2, and three specific Scope 3 categories) reported for both a baseline year and the current year; a service-level allocation of those emissions to the Microsoft engagement, also for both years; and a documented emissions reduction plan. Plus independent verification of the data.
On that last one, independent verification doesn't have to mean a full third-party audit. Microsoft built a lighter route into the program, a consultant letter, which is usually the right fit for small and mid-size suppliers.
Below is what each piece actually asks for and how Bespoke ESG handles the full engagement for suppliers without an in-house sustainability team.
What the Questionnaire Asks For
1. A GHG inventory. Scope 1 (fuel), Scope 2 (electricity, both location-based and market-based), and three Scope 3 categories from Microsoft's most recent cycle: Purchased Goods & Services (Cat. 1), Business Travel (Cat. 6), and Employee Commuting (Cat. 7). Reported for both a baseline year and the current year.
2. Service-level accounting (SLA). A portion of your total emissions allocated specifically to your Microsoft engagement, reported for both a baseline year and the current year. Details below.
3. A documented emissions reduction plan. A credible target and path tied to the baseline year.
Service-Level Accounting in Detail
A company-wide GHG inventory tells Microsoft your total footprint. What Microsoft really wants to know is how much of that footprint is tied to the work you do for them. That's what service-level accounting answers.
SLA allocates a portion of your total emissions specifically to the Microsoft engagement, using a reference unit that fits your business model.
Most companies haven't segmented their emissions this way before. It takes a clear view of how your operations map to the Microsoft contract plus an underlying inventory that is solid enough to support the allocation.
The Consultant Letter Route
Microsoft requires independent verification, and there are two routes to satisfy it.
The first is a full third-party audit. The second is a consultant letter. If a qualified external consultant runs your GHG inventory and SLA calculations, that same consultant can issue the letter using Microsoft's own template, and it satisfies the verification requirement without a separate audit.
One firm handles the inventory, the allocation, and the verification letter in a single engagement. No separate auditor. Bespoke ESG issues this letter for Microsoft suppliers and for small and mid-size service firms. It's usually the fastest way to meet the verification requirement.
What to Do Right Now
If you haven't measured emissions yet: Start a GHG inventory. Gathering utility bills, travel records, headcount, and procurement spend takes time, and it's the foundation for everything else.
Inventory but no SLA: Allocate a portion of those emissions specifically to your Microsoft engagement.
Both, but no verification: Get the consultant letter. If the data holds up, verification moves quickly.
Not sure where you stand: Take the supplier readiness check. Five minutes, and you'll see which requirements you've met and where the gaps are.
How We Work With Microsoft Suppliers
Bespoke ESG runs the full engagement: GHG inventory, service-level accounting, and the consultant verification letter. A senior consultant who's led sustainability programs inside Fortune 500s and large startups scopes the work in a 15-minute call. Our team then produces the response using AI tools paired with expert human consultants, so the data holds up under Microsoft's scrutiny. You get a complete, submission-ready package.
Start with the Supplier Readiness Check. Five minutes, and you'll see which Microsoft requirements you've met and which you haven't.
If you've got the questionnaire on your desk, book a 15-minute call and we'll estimate the timeline for completion.