diff --git a/eng/Version.Details.xml b/eng/Version.Details.xml
index 409e5e84ea..539ed85390 100644
--- a/eng/Version.Details.xml
+++ b/eng/Version.Details.xml
@@ -9,37 +9,37 @@
 -->
 <Dependencies>
   <ProductDependencies>
-    <Dependency Name="dotnet-ef" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="dotnet-ef" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.InMemory" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.InMemory" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Relational" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Sqlite" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.SqlServer" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Tools" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore.Design" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/efcore</Uri>
-      <Sha>5588c482759853e7133057c78924872575a5b336</Sha>
+      <Sha>46a6e9bf6ffe3949f71c87786a53f147e04c931d</Sha>
     </Dependency>
     <Dependency Name="Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Abstractions" Version="5.0.0-rc.2.20467.14">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/runtime</Uri>
@@ -308,17 +308,17 @@
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/runtime</Uri>
       <Sha>7b7dad97a9b835a6d049ad9d4a86691c60e218bd</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Arcade.Sdk" Version="5.0.0-beta.20465.7">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Arcade.Sdk" Version="5.0.0-beta.20467.6">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/arcade</Uri>
-      <Sha>fa0486ddb04a76341d822903c8977fb9fa088d1e</Sha>
+      <Sha>b63ea25b8dc50bb3dfcef128d415254bd5ca4dc8</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Build.Tasks.Installers" Version="5.0.0-beta.20465.7">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Build.Tasks.Installers" Version="5.0.0-beta.20467.6">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/arcade</Uri>
-      <Sha>fa0486ddb04a76341d822903c8977fb9fa088d1e</Sha>
+      <Sha>b63ea25b8dc50bb3dfcef128d415254bd5ca4dc8</Sha>
     </Dependency>
-    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Helix.Sdk" Version="5.0.0-beta.20465.7">
+    <Dependency Name="Microsoft.DotNet.Helix.Sdk" Version="5.0.0-beta.20467.6">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/arcade</Uri>
-      <Sha>fa0486ddb04a76341d822903c8977fb9fa088d1e</Sha>
+      <Sha>b63ea25b8dc50bb3dfcef128d415254bd5ca4dc8</Sha>
     </Dependency>
     <Dependency Name="Microsoft.Net.Compilers.Toolset" Version="3.8.0-3.20458.6" Pinned="true">
       <Uri>https://github.com/dotnet/roslyn</Uri>
diff --git a/eng/Versions.props b/eng/Versions.props
index b1fc156f0d..639f148b5f 100644
--- a/eng/Versions.props
+++ b/eng/Versions.props
@@ -131,16 +131,16 @@
     <!-- Only listed explicitly to workaround https://github.com/dotnet/cli/issues/10528 -->
     <MicrosoftNETCorePlatformsPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20467.14</MicrosoftNETCorePlatformsPackageVersion>
     <!-- Packages from dotnet/efcore -->
-    <dotnetefPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</dotnetefPackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreInMemoryPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreInMemoryPackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreRelationalPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreRelationalPackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlitePackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlitePackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlServerPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlServerPackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreToolsPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreToolsPackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCorePackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCorePackageVersion>
-    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreDesignPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20466.3</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreDesignPackageVersion>
+    <dotnetefPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</dotnetefPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreInMemoryPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreInMemoryPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreRelationalPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreRelationalPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlitePackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlitePackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlServerPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreSqlServerPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreToolsPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreToolsPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCorePackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCorePackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreDesignPackageVersion>5.0.0-rc.2.20468.1</MicrosoftEntityFrameworkCoreDesignPackageVersion>
     <!-- Packages from dotnet/arcade -->
-    <MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion>5.0.0-beta.20465.7</MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion>
+    <MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion>5.0.0-beta.20467.6</MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <!--
 
diff --git a/eng/common/sdk-task.ps1 b/eng/common/sdk-task.ps1
index e159c6f184..f55c43c6f4 100644
--- a/eng/common/sdk-task.ps1
+++ b/eng/common/sdk-task.ps1
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ try {
       $GlobalJson.tools | Add-Member -Name "vs" -Value (ConvertFrom-Json "{ `"version`": `"16.5`" }") -MemberType NoteProperty
     }
     if( -not ($GlobalJson.tools.PSObject.Properties.Name -match "xcopy-msbuild" )) {
-      $GlobalJson.tools | Add-Member -Name "xcopy-msbuild" -Value "16.5.0-alpha" -MemberType NoteProperty
+      $GlobalJson.tools | Add-Member -Name "xcopy-msbuild" -Value "16.8.0-preview3" -MemberType NoteProperty
     }
     if ($GlobalJson.tools."xcopy-msbuild".Trim() -ine "none") {
         $xcopyMSBuildToolsFolder = InitializeXCopyMSBuild $GlobalJson.tools."xcopy-msbuild" -install $true
diff --git a/eng/common/templates/steps/perf-send-to-helix.yml b/eng/common/templates/steps/perf-send-to-helix.yml
index e003fe2ef2..8427de59cd 100644
--- a/eng/common/templates/steps/perf-send-to-helix.yml
+++ b/eng/common/templates/steps/perf-send-to-helix.yml
@@ -19,12 +19,18 @@ parameters:
   DisplayNamePrefix: 'Send job to Helix' # optional -- rename the beginning of the displayName of the steps in AzDO 
   condition: succeeded()                 # optional -- condition for step to execute; defaults to succeeded()
   continueOnError: false                 # optional -- determines whether to continue the build if the step errors; defaults to false
+  osGroup: ''                            # required -- operating system for the job
             
 
 steps:
-  - powershell: $(Build.SourcesDirectory)\eng\common\msbuild.ps1 $(Build.SourcesDirectory)\eng\common\performance\${{ parameters.ProjectFile }} /restore /t:Test /bl:$(Build.SourcesDirectory)\artifacts\log\$env:BuildConfig\SendToHelix.binlog
-    displayName: ${{ parameters.DisplayNamePrefix }} (Windows)
-    env:
+- template: /eng/pipelines/common/templates/runtimes/send-to-helix-inner-step.yml
+  parameters:
+    osGroup: ${{ parameters.osGroup }}
+    sendParams: $(Build.SourcesDirectory)/eng/common/performance/${{ parameters.ProjectFile }} /restore /t:Test /bl:$(Build.SourcesDirectory)/artifacts/log/$(_BuildConfig)/SendToHelix.binlog
+    displayName: ${{ parameters.DisplayNamePrefix }}
+    condition: ${{ parameters.condition }}
+    continueOnError: ${{ parameters.continueOnError }}
+    environment:
       BuildConfig: $(_BuildConfig)
       HelixSource: ${{ parameters.HelixSource }}
       HelixType: ${{ parameters.HelixType }}
@@ -42,27 +48,3 @@ steps:
       WaitForWorkItemCompletion: ${{ parameters.WaitForWorkItemCompletion }}
       Creator: ${{ parameters.Creator }}
       SYSTEM_ACCESSTOKEN: $(System.AccessToken)
-    condition: and(${{ parameters.condition }}, eq(variables['Agent.Os'], 'Windows_NT'))
-    continueOnError: ${{ parameters.continueOnError }}
-  - script: $BUILD_SOURCESDIRECTORY/eng/common/msbuild.sh $BUILD_SOURCESDIRECTORY/eng/common/performance/${{ parameters.ProjectFile }} /restore /t:Test /bl:$BUILD_SOURCESDIRECTORY/artifacts/log/$BuildConfig/SendToHelix.binlog
-    displayName: ${{ parameters.DisplayNamePrefix }} (Unix)
-    env:
-      BuildConfig: $(_BuildConfig)
-      HelixSource: ${{ parameters.HelixSource }}
-      HelixType: ${{ parameters.HelixType }}
-      HelixBuild: ${{ parameters.HelixBuild }}
-      HelixTargetQueues: ${{ parameters.HelixTargetQueues }}
-      HelixAccessToken: ${{ parameters.HelixAccessToken }}
-      HelixPreCommands: ${{ parameters.HelixPreCommands }}
-      HelixPostCommands: ${{ parameters.HelixPostCommands }}
-      WorkItemDirectory: ${{ parameters.WorkItemDirectory }}
-      CorrelationPayloadDirectory: ${{ parameters.CorrelationPayloadDirectory }}
-      IncludeDotNetCli: ${{ parameters.IncludeDotNetCli }}
-      DotNetCliPackageType: ${{ parameters.DotNetCliPackageType }}
-      DotNetCliVersion: ${{ parameters.DotNetCliVersion }}
-      EnableXUnitReporter: ${{ parameters.EnableXUnitReporter }}
-      WaitForWorkItemCompletion: ${{ parameters.WaitForWorkItemCompletion }}
-      Creator: ${{ parameters.Creator }}
-      SYSTEM_ACCESSTOKEN: $(System.AccessToken)
-    condition: and(${{ parameters.condition }}, ne(variables['Agent.Os'], 'Windows_NT'))
-    continueOnError: ${{ parameters.continueOnError }}
diff --git a/eng/common/tools.ps1 b/eng/common/tools.ps1
index 37a3a3d680..60066083b3 100644
--- a/eng/common/tools.ps1
+++ b/eng/common/tools.ps1
@@ -312,9 +312,15 @@ function InitializeVisualStudioMSBuild([bool]$install, [object]$vsRequirements =
     return $global:_MSBuildExe
   }
 
-  $vsMinVersionReqdStr = '16.5'
+  # Minimum VS version to require.
+  $vsMinVersionReqdStr = '16.8'
   $vsMinVersionReqd = [Version]::new($vsMinVersionReqdStr)
 
+  # If the version of msbuild is going to be xcopied,
+  # use this version. Version matches a package here:
+  # https://dev.azure.com/dnceng/public/_packaging?_a=package&feed=dotnet-eng&package=RoslynTools.MSBuild&protocolType=NuGet&version=16.8.0-preview3&view=overview
+  $defaultXCopyMSBuildVersion = '16.8.0-preview3'
+
   if (!$vsRequirements) { $vsRequirements = $GlobalJson.tools.vs }
   $vsMinVersionStr = if ($vsRequirements.version) { $vsRequirements.version } else { $vsMinVersionReqdStr }
   $vsMinVersion = [Version]::new($vsMinVersionStr)
@@ -349,23 +355,28 @@ function InitializeVisualStudioMSBuild([bool]$install, [object]$vsRequirements =
       $xcopyMSBuildVersion = $GlobalJson.tools.'xcopy-msbuild'
       $vsMajorVersion = $xcopyMSBuildVersion.Split('.')[0]
     } else {
-      #if vs version provided in global.json is incompatible then use the default version for xcopy msbuild download
+      #if vs version provided in global.json is incompatible (too low) then use the default version for xcopy msbuild download
       if($vsMinVersion -lt $vsMinVersionReqd){
-        Write-Host "Using xcopy-msbuild version of $vsMinVersionReqdStr.0-alpha since VS version $vsMinVersionStr provided in global.json is not compatible"
-        $vsMajorVersion = $vsMinVersionReqd.Major
-        $vsMinorVersion = $vsMinVersionReqd.Minor
+        Write-Host "Using xcopy-msbuild version of $defaultXCopyMSBuildVersion since VS version $vsMinVersionStr provided in global.json is not compatible"
+        $xcopyMSBuildVersion = $defaultXCopyMSBuildVersion
       }
       else{
+        # If the VS version IS compatible, look for an xcopy msbuild package
+        # with a version matching VS.
+        # Note: If this version does not exist, then an explicit version of xcopy msbuild
+        # can be specified in global.json. This will be required for pre-release versions of msbuild.
         $vsMajorVersion = $vsMinVersion.Major
         $vsMinorVersion = $vsMinVersion.Minor
+        $xcopyMSBuildVersion = "$vsMajorVersion.$vsMinorVersion.0"
       }
-
-      $xcopyMSBuildVersion = "$vsMajorVersion.$vsMinorVersion.0-alpha"
     }
 
     $vsInstallDir = $null
     if ($xcopyMSBuildVersion.Trim() -ine "none") {
         $vsInstallDir = InitializeXCopyMSBuild $xcopyMSBuildVersion $install
+        if ($vsInstallDir -eq $null) {
+            throw "Could not xcopy msbuild. Please check that package 'RoslynTools.MSBuild @ $xcopyMSBuildVersion' exists on feed 'dotnet-eng'."
+        }
     }
     if ($vsInstallDir -eq $null) {
       throw 'Unable to find Visual Studio that has required version and components installed'
diff --git a/global.json b/global.json
index 45e64bf2ec..8efcac913b 100644
--- a/global.json
+++ b/global.json
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
   },
   "msbuild-sdks": {
     "Yarn.MSBuild": "1.15.2",
-    "Microsoft.DotNet.Arcade.Sdk": "5.0.0-beta.20465.7",
-    "Microsoft.DotNet.Helix.Sdk": "5.0.0-beta.20465.7"
+    "Microsoft.DotNet.Arcade.Sdk": "5.0.0-beta.20467.6",
+    "Microsoft.DotNet.Helix.Sdk": "5.0.0-beta.20467.6"
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/Installers/Windows/Wix.targets b/src/Installers/Windows/Wix.targets
index 0ac1995a46..eb4adf4c30 100644
--- a/src/Installers/Windows/Wix.targets
+++ b/src/Installers/Windows/Wix.targets
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly Condition="'$(MSBuildRuntimeType)' == 'Core'">$(NuGetPackageRoot)microsoft.dotnet.build.tasks.installers\$(MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion)\tools\netcoreapp2.0\Microsoft.DotNet.Build.Tasks.Installers.dll</MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly>
+    <MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly Condition="'$(MSBuildRuntimeType)' == 'Core'">$(NuGetPackageRoot)microsoft.dotnet.build.tasks.installers\$(MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion)\tools\netcoreapp2.1\Microsoft.DotNet.Build.Tasks.Installers.dll</MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly>
     <MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly Condition="'$(MSBuildRuntimeType)' != 'Core'">$(NuGetPackageRoot)microsoft.dotnet.build.tasks.installers\$(MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersPackageVersion)\tools\net472\Microsoft.DotNet.Build.Tasks.Installers.dll</MicrosoftDotNetBuildTasksInstallersTaskAssembly>
   </PropertyGroup>