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Saving Taxpayer Dollars: How the Bipartisan SAMOSA Act Aims to Revolutionize Federal Software Purchases
Federal agencies spend billions of dollars annually on software, but often lack clear visibility into what they’ve already purchased. This can lead to wasteful spending through duplicative purchases and limited oversight of contracts. Antiquated processes and reliance on a few massive vendors also contribute to the problem, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions each year.
Fortunately, there’s a bipartisan effort underway to address this issue. A group of Senators, including Gary Peters, Bill Cassidy, Joni Ernst, James Lankford, Thom Tillis, and Ron Wyden, have reintroduced the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets (SAMOSA) Act.
Building on the success of the 2016 MEGABYTE Act, which saved taxpayers over $4 billion by improving software management, the SAMOSA Act aims to go even further. This common sense legislation requires federal agencies to undertake independent, comprehensive assessments of their software licenses and develop specific plans to achieve cost savings.
The insights gained from these assessments will provide Congress, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the General Services Administration (GSA) with the information they need to strengthen oversight, streamline operations, and reduce wasteful spending.
The potential benefits are significant. Experts estimate the SAMOSA Act could save taxpayers an estimated $750 million dollars per year.
But it’s not just about saving money. By improving how the government tracks and manages software, the bill will also help strengthen cybersecurity and promote innovative government operations. It aims to bring government IT procurement into the 21st century, allowing agencies to make needed upgrades to better serve the American people.
Furthermore, the SAMOSA Act seeks to increase competition for government software contracts, empowering agencies and making them less reliant on incumbent vendors. This increased competition is expected to incentivize companies to improve their product quality, security, and value.
The bill has garnered support from various industry groups who recognize the positive impacts of a comprehensive overview of federal software licensing. They see it as a way to enhance agencies’ ability to adopt modern, secure technologies and drive significant cost savings.
By forcing federal agencies to spend taxpayer dollars more wisely, the SAMOSA Act is seen as “government tech policy done right”. Passing this bipartisan bill is a critical step toward achieving substantial cost savings and improving federal software management for the benefit of all Americans.
Tags: SAMOSA Act, federal software, taxpayer money, government waste, software procurement, cybersecurity, government IT, cost savings, bipartisan legislation, government efficiency, Ron Wyden, Gary Peters, Bill Cassidy, Joni Ernst, James Lankford, Thom Tillis