Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
Plain Language Summary
# Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act (S. 1956) **What it would do:** This bill would require federal agencies to take inventory of all the software they use and pay for, then create plans to manage those software assets more efficiently. Agencies would need to document what software they own, how much it costs (including hidden fees), what contracts they have, and whether different software systems can work together. They would then develop strategies to cut costs, consolidate duplicate software purchases, and prevent individual offices from buying software without approval from higher-ups. **Who it affects:** All executive branch federal agencies (departments, military branches, and other government offices) would be required to comply.
Indirectly, this could affect taxpayers by potentially reducing wasted government spending on redundant or unnecessary software licenses. **Key provisions and status:** The bill focuses on three main goals: getting a clear picture of current software spending, creating cost-saving plans, and establishing approval processes to prevent wasteful purchases. Currently, the bill is in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The legislation is sponsored by Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and addresses broader concerns about government accountability and efficient use of taxpayer money in federal technology spending.
CRS Official Summary
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets ActThis bill requires federal agencies to assess their software inventory and develop software management plans.The bill requires each agency (which includes any executive department, military department, or other establishment in the executive branch) to complete a comprehensive assessment of the software paid for by, in use at, or deployed throughout the agency. The assessment must include information such as (1) the current inventory of software; (2) contracts and other arrangements used to acquire, build, deploy, or use the software; (3) costs and fees not included in the initial contract or agreement; and (4) the interoperability of the software and restrictions on its use.Each agency must use their assessment to develop a plan to consolidate software entitlements, develop procedures for cost-effective acquisition strategies, and restrict subordinate entities from using any software entitlement without approval. (A software entitlement is software that has been purchased, leased, or licensed by or billed to an agency and that is subject to use limitations.) Such plans must be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress. Within two years of enactment, OMB must submit recommendations to Congress regarding government software procurement policies and practices to • increase the interoperability of software licenses, • consolidate licenses when appropriate, • reduce costs, • improve performance, and • modernize the management and oversight of agency software. The GAO must report on certain related topics, including governmentwide trends in agency software asset management practices and comparisons of such practices among agencies.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.