diff --git a/.azure-pipelines/buildAndPackage.yml b/.azure-pipelines/buildAndPackage.yml
index ad8e81eea..d398126dc 100644
--- a/.azure-pipelines/buildAndPackage.yml
+++ b/.azure-pipelines/buildAndPackage.yml
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ trigger:
       - gradlew.bat
       - readme.md
       - settings.gradle
+      - Scripts/*
 
 pr: none
 
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ steps:
       settings.gradle
       gradle.properties
       **/gradle/wrapper/*
+      Scripts/getLatestVersion.ps1
     TargetFolder: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/'
 
 - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
diff --git a/.azure-pipelines/prValidate.yml b/.azure-pipelines/prValidate.yml
index cdd049d0e..64bbf4c0b 100644
--- a/.azure-pipelines/prValidate.yml
+++ b/.azure-pipelines/prValidate.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-# Build and test Java Core to make sure a valid pull request is being made 
+#Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+#Licensed under the MIT License.
+#Build and test Java Core to make sure a valid pull request is being made
+#Validate that the versions dont conflict with those online in case a pull request is made to main or master
+
 pr: 
   branches:
     include:
@@ -18,6 +22,7 @@ pr:
       - gradlew.bat
       - readme.md
       - settings.gradle
+      - Scripts/*
 
 trigger: none # disable triggers based on commits.
 
@@ -62,4 +67,4 @@ steps:
     title: '$(Build.DefinitionName) failure notification'
     text: 'This pipeline has failed. View the build details for further information. This is a blocking failure. '
   condition: and(failed(), ne(variables['Build.Reason'], 'Manual'))
-  enabled: true
\ No newline at end of file
+  enabled: true
diff --git a/Scripts/getLatestVersion.ps1 b/Scripts/getLatestVersion.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..515408f88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Scripts/getLatestVersion.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+# Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+# Licensed under the MIT License.
+
+<# 
+.Synopsis
+    Retrieve the latest version of the library
+.Description 
+    Retrieves the latest version specified in the Gradle.Properties file
+    Uses the retrieved values to update the enviornment variable VERSION_STRING
+#>
+
+.Parameter propertiesPath
+
+Param(
+    [parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
+    [string]$propertiesPath,
+)
+
+#Retrieve the current version from the Gradle.Properties file given the specified path
+$file = get-item $propertiesPath
+$findVersions = $file | Select-String -Pattern "mavenMajorVersion" -Context 0,2
+$findVersions = $findVersions -split "`r`n"
+
+$majorVersion = $findVersions[0].Substring($findVersions[0].Length-1)
+$minorVersion = $findVersions[1].Substring($findVersions[1].Length-1)
+$patchVersion = $findVersions[2].Substring($findVersions[2].Length-1)
+$version = "$majorVersion.$minorVersion.$patchVersion"
+
+#Update the VERSION_STRING env variable and inform the user
+Write-Host "##vso[task.setVariable variable=VERSION_STRING]$($version)";
+Write-Host "Updated the VERSION_STRING enviornment variable with the current Gradle.Properties, $version"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Scripts/validateMavenVersion.ps1 b/Scripts/validateMavenVersion.ps1
index 282567a45..f591d5e1e 100644
--- a/Scripts/validateMavenVersion.ps1
+++ b/Scripts/validateMavenVersion.ps1
@@ -43,9 +43,17 @@ $bintrayAPIurl = "https://api.bintray.com/search/packages?name=$packageName"
 $jsonResult = $web_client.DownloadString($bintrayAPIurl) | ConvertFrom-Json
 $bintrayVersion = [version]$jsonResult.latest_version
 
+#If the api calls return empty then this library cannot be compared to the online versions
+#may proceed with the pull request
+if(($mavenVersion -eq $null) -and ($bintrayVersion -eq $null))
+{
+    Write-Information "This package does not exist yet in the online repository, therefore there are no versions to compare."
+    return
+}
+
 #Inform host of current Maven and Bintray versions
-write-host 'The current version in the Maven central repository is:' $mavenVersion
-write-host 'The current version in the Bintray central repository is:' $bintrayVersion
+Write-Host 'The current version in the Maven central repository is:' $mavenVersion
+Write-Host 'The current version in the Bintray central repository is:' $bintrayVersion
 
 #Warn in case Maven and Bintray versions are not the same.
 if($mavenVersion -ne $bintrayVersion){