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Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
4/6/2025, 4:53 AM
Summary of Bill HR 2417
One of the key provisions of the bill is the requirement for agencies to establish and maintain comprehensive software asset management plans. These plans must outline the processes and procedures for acquiring, tracking, and managing software licenses and usage. Additionally, agencies must conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with these plans.
The bill also mandates the creation of a centralized software asset management office within each agency to oversee and coordinate software asset management activities. This office will be responsible for developing and implementing policies, procedures, and training programs related to software asset management. Furthermore, the bill requires agencies to report annually to Congress on their software asset management practices, including information on software expenditures, license compliance, and cost savings. This reporting will help improve transparency and accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent on software within the federal government. Overall, the Software Asset Management Improvement Act of 2021 aims to promote efficient and effective management of software assets within federal agencies, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved oversight.
Congressional Summary of HR 2417
Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
This 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.
