GSA Helps Agencies Implement MEGABYTE Act
Rena Schild/Shutterstock.com
The agency is piloting software licensing management as a service.
The General Services Administration is offering other agencies help in managing their software licenses.
In July, President Barack Obama signed the Making Electronic Government Accountable by Yielding Tangible Efficiencies, or MEGABYTE, Act into law. The legislation directs agencies to come up with a central software licensing strategy to reduce duplicative contracts.
» Get the best federal technology news and ideas delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here.
GSA is currently hosting weekly information sessions, grouping software license managers from the 24 chief financial officer agencies, about how the MEGABYTE Act might impact teams. GSA's IT Software Category, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Defense Department's Enterprise Software Initiative are also helping agencies plan their license management strategies.
Those sessions include discussions about tracking savings, centralizing software, managing vendors, and "accurate software inventory data.”
GSA is conducting "software license management as a service" pilots with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, GSA IT and also the Office of Personnel Management, according to a GSA blog post.
Eventually, GSA plans to stand up a community of practice portal software license managers can use to share tips with other agencies; a website with updates on policy and information about technology advancement; and webinars.