quisition Officer, the Chief Data Officer, and General 
Counsel of the agency, or the equivalent officials of the 
agency, shall complete a comprehensive assessment of the 
software paid for by, in use at, or deployed throughout 
the agency, which shall include— 
(1) the current software inventory of the agen-
cy, including software entitlements, contracts and 
other agreements or arrangements of the agency, 
and a list of the largest software entitlements of the 
agency separated by provider and category of soft-
ware; 
(2) a comprehensive, detailed accounting of— 
(A) any software used by or deployed with-
in the agency, including software developed or 
built by the agency, or by another agency for 
use by the agency, including shared services, as 
of the date of the comprehensive assessment, 
including, to the extent identifiable, the con-
tracts and other agreements or arrangements 
used by the agency to acquire, build, deploy, or 
use such software; 
(B) information and data on software enti-
tlements, which shall include information on 
any additional fees or costs, including fees or 
costs for the use of cloud services, that are not 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
included in the initial costs of the contract, 
agreement, or arrangement— 
(i) for which the agency pays; 
(ii) that are not deployed or in use by 
the agency; and 
(iii) that are billed to the agency 
under any contract or business arrange-
ment that creates duplication, or are other-
wise determined to be unnecessary by the 
Chief Information Officer of the agency, or 
the equivalent official, in the deployment 
or use by the agency; and 
(C) the extent— 
(i) to which any software paid for, in 
use, or deployed throughout the agency is 
interoperable; and 
(ii) of the efforts of the agency to im-
prove interoperability of software assets 
throughout the agency enterprise; 
(3) a categorization of software entitlements of 
the agency by cost, volume, and type of software; 
(4) a list of any provisions in the software enti-
tlements of the agency that may restrict how the 
software can be deployed, accessed, or used, includ-
ing any such restrictions on desktop or server hard-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
ware, through a cloud service provider, or on data 
ownership or access; and 
(5) an analysis addressing— 
(A) the accuracy and completeness of the 
comprehensive assessment; 
(B) agency management of and compliance 
with all contracts or other agreements or ar-
rangements that include or reference software 
entitlements or software management within 
the agency; 
(C) the extent to which the agency accu-
rately captures the total cost of software enti-
tlements and related costs, including the total 
cost of upgrades over the life of a contract, 
cloud usage costs, and any other cost associated 
with the maintenance or servicing of contracts; 
and 
(D) compliance with software license man-
agement policies of the agency. 
(b) CONTRACT SUPPORT.— 
(1) AUTHORITY.—The head of an agency may 
enter into 1 or more contracts to support the re-
quirements of subsection (a). 
(2) NO
CONFLICT
OF
INTEREST.—Contracts 
under paragraph (1) shall not include contractors 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
with organizational conflicts of interest, within the 
meaning given that term under subpart 9.5 of the 
Federal Acquisition Regulation. 
(3) OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE.—Over the 
course of a comprehensive assessment, contractors 
hired pursuant to paragraph (1) shall maintain oper-
ational independence from the integration, manage-
ment, and operations of the software inventory and 
software entitlements of the agency. 
(c) SUBMISSION.—On the date on which the Chief In-
formation Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Acquisi-
tion Officer, the Chief Data Officer, and General Counsel 
of an agency, or the equivalent officials of the agency, 
complete the comprehensive assessment, the Chief Infor-
mation Officer shall submit the comprehensive assessment 
to the head of the agency. 
(d) SUBSEQUENT SUBMISSION.—Not later than 30 
days after the date on which the head of an agency re-
ceives the comprehensive assessment under subsection (c), 
the head of the agency shall submit the comprehensive as-
sessment to— 
(1) the Director; 
(2) the Administrator; 
(3) the Comptroller General of the United 
States; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(4) the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and 
(5) the Committee on Oversight and Account-
ability of the House of Representatives. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—In order to ensure the utility 
and standardization of the comprehensive assessment of 
each agency, including to support the development of each 
plan and the report required under section 4(e)(2), the 
Director, in consultation with the Administrator, shall 
share information, best practices, and recommendations 
relating to the activities performed in the course of a com-
prehensive assessment of an agency. 
(f) INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.—For each element 
of the intelligence community, a comprehensive assess-
ment described under subsection (a) shall be— 
(1) conducted separately; 
(2) performed only by an entity designated by 
the head of the element of the intelligence commu-
nity, in accordance with appropriate applicable laws; 
(3) performed in such a manner as to ensure 
appropriate protection of information which, if dis-
closed, may adversely affect national security; and 
(4) submitted in summary form, not later than 
30 days after the date on which the head of the ele-
ment of the intelligence community receives the as-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
sessment, by the head of the element of the intel-
ligence community to— 
(A) the Director; 
(B) the Select Committee on Intelligence 
of the Senate; and 
(C) the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 
SEC. 4. SOFTWARE MODERNIZATION PLANNING AT AGEN-
CIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Information Officer of 
each agency, in consultation with the Chief Financial Offi-
cer, the Chief Acquisition Officer, the Chief Data Officer, 
and the General Counsel of the agency, or the equivalent 
officials of the agency, shall use the information developed 
pursuant to the comprehensive assessment of the agency 
to develop a plan for the agency— 
(1) to consolidate software entitlements of the 
agency; 
(2) to ensure that, in order to improve the per-
formance of, and reduce unnecessary costs to, the 
agency, the Chief Information Officer, Chief Data 
Officer, and Chief Acquisition Officer of the agency, 
or the equivalent officers, develop criteria and proce-
dures for how the agency will adopt cost-effective ac-
quisition strategies, including enterprise licensing, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
across the agency that reduce costs, eliminate excess 
licenses, and improve performance; and 
(3) to restrict the ability of a bureau, program, 
component, or operational entity within the agency 
to acquire, use, develop, or otherwise leverage any 
software entitlement (or portion thereof) without the 
approval of the Chief Information Officer of the 
agency, in consultation with the Chief Acquisition 
Officer of the agency, or the equivalent officers of 
the agency. 
(b) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The plan of an agency 
shall— 
(1) include a detailed strategy for— 
(A) the remediation of any software asset 
management deficiencies found during the com-
prehensive assessment of the agency; 
(B) the ongoing maintenance of software 
asset management upon the completion of the 
remediation; 
(C) automation of software license man-
agement processes and incorporation of dis-
covery tools across the agency; 
(D) ensuring that officers and employees 
of the agency are adequately trained in the poli-
cies, procedures, rules, regulations, and guid-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
ance relating to the software acquisition and 
development of the agency before entering into 
any agreement relating to any software entitle-
ment (or portion thereof) for the agency, in-
cluding training on— 
(i) negotiating options within con-
tracts to address and minimize provisions 
that restrict how the agency may deploy, 
access, or use the software, including re-
strictions on deployment, access, or use on 
desktop or server hardware and restric-
tions on data ownership or access; 
(ii) the differences between acquiring 
commercial software products and services 
and acquiring or building custom software; 
and 
(iii) determining the costs of different 
types of licenses and options for adjusting 
licenses to meet increasing or decreasing 
demand; and 
(E) maximizing the effectiveness of soft-
ware deployed by the agency, including, to the 
extent 
practicable, 
leveraging 
technologies 
that— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(i) measure actual software usage via 
analytics that can identify inefficiencies to 
assist in rationalizing software spending; 
(ii) allow for segmentation of the user 
base; 
(iii) support effective governance and 
compliance in the use of software; and 
(iv) support interoperable capabilities 
between software; 
(2) identify categories of software the agency 
could prioritize for conversion to more cost-effective 
software licenses, including enterprise licenses, as 
the software entitlements, contracts, and other 
agreements or arrangements come up for renewal or 
renegotiation; 
(3) provide an estimate of the costs to move to-
ward more enterprise, open-source, or other licenses 
that do not restrict the use of software by the agen-
cy, and the projected cost savings, efficiency meas-
ures, and improvements to agency performance 
throughout the total software lifecycle; 
(4) identify potential mitigations to minimize 
software license restrictions on how such software 
can be deployed, accessed, or used, including any 
mitigations that would minimize any such restric-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
tions on desktop or server hardware, through a cloud 
service provider, or on data ownership or access; 
(5) ensure that the purchase by the agency of 
any software is based on publicly available criteria 
that are not unduly structured to favor any specific 
vendor, unless prohibited by law (including regula-
tion); 
(6) include any estimates for additional re-
sources, services, or support the agency may need to 
implement the plan; 
(7) provide information on the prevalence of 
software products in use across multiple software 
categories; and 
(8) include any additional information, data, or 
analysis determined necessary by the Chief Informa-
tion Officer, or other equivalent official, of the agen-
cy. 
(c) SUPPORT.—The Chief Information Officer, or 
other equivalent official, of an agency may request support 
from the Director and the Administrator for any analysis 
or developmental needs to create the plan of the agency. 
(d) AGENCY SUBMISSION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which the head of an agency submits the 
comprehensive assessment pursuant to section 3(d), 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
the head of the agency shall submit to the Director, 
the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability of the House of Rep-
resentatives the plan of the agency. 
(2) INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.—Not later 
than 1 year after the date on which the head of an 
element of the intelligence community submits the 
summary assessment pursuant to section 3(f)(4), the 
head of the element shall separately submit the plan 
of the element to the Director, the Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the Senate, and the Permanent 
Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
Representatives. 
(e) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—The Di-
rector— 
(1) in coordination with the Administrator, the 
Chief Information Officers Council, the Chief Acqui-
sition Officers Council, the Chief Data Officers 
Council, the Chief Financial Officers Council, and 
other government and industry representatives iden-
tified by the Director, shall establish processes, 
using existing reporting functions, as appropriate, to 
identify, define, and harmonize common definitions, 
terms and conditions, standardized requirements, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
and other information and criteria to support agency 
heads in developing and implementing the plans re-
quired by this section; and 
(2) in coordination with the Administrator, and 
not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, submit to the Committee on Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 
of the House of Representatives a report detailing 
recommendations to leverage Government procure-
ment policies and practices with respect to software 
acquired by, developed by, deployed within, or in use 
at 1 or more agencies to— 
(A) increase the interoperability of soft-
ware licenses, including software entitlements 
and software built by Government agencies; 
(B) consolidate licenses, as appropriate; 
(C) reduce costs; 
(D) improve performance; and 
(E) modernize the management and over-
sight of software entitlements and software 
built by Government agencies, as identified 
through an analysis of agency plans. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 5. GAO REPORT. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee 
on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on— 
(1) Government-wide trends in agency software 
asset management practices; 
(2) comparisons of software asset management 
practices among agencies; 
(3) the establishment by the Director of proc-
esses to identify, define, and harmonize common 
definitions, terms, and conditions under section 4(e); 
(4) agency compliance with the restrictions on 
contract support under section 3(b); and 
(5) other analyses of and findings regarding the 
plans of agencies, as determined by the Comptroller 
General of the United States. 
SEC. 6. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS. 
No additional funds are authorized to be appro-
priated for the purpose of carrying out this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:05 Sep 29, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H5457.IH
H5457
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS