Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
Plain Language Summary
# Summary of HR 5457: Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act **What It Does:** This bill requires all federal agencies and intelligence agencies to catalog and better manage the software they use and purchase. Agencies must create a detailed inventory of their software, document how they acquired it, track all associated costs and fees, and understand any restrictions on how it can be used. They must then use this information to develop a management plan aimed at reducing waste by consolidating duplicate software licenses, improving purchasing practices, and requiring approval before departments use software the agency has already paid for. **Who It Affects:** The bill affects federal agencies, intelligence agencies, and their departments.
Indirectly, it could benefit taxpayers by potentially reducing government spending on redundant software licenses and improving how tax dollars are spent on technology. **Current Status:** The bill passed the House and is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. It has bipartisan support focused on government efficiency and fiscal responsibility, with no major partisan controversy surrounding its goals of reducing wasteful spending and improving oversight of federal software spending.
CRS Official Summary
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets ActThis bill requires federal agencies and Intelligence Community (IC) elements to assess their software inventory and develop software management plans.The bill requires each agency and each IC element to complete a comprehensive assessment of the software paid for by, in use at, or deployed throughout the agency or element. 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 and IC element 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
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.