WASHINGTON—Today, Reps. Gerry Connolly, Pat Fallon and Nancy Mace reintroduced the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act (SAMOSA Act) in the 119th Congress. This important, bipartisan bill will help agencies better manage their software spending, save taxpayer dollars, improve cybersecurity and promote innovation in government IT contracts.
The federal government spends $300 billion on software procurement but has failed to leverage its purchasing power to negotiate better deals due to “vendor-lock” practices. SAMOSA would encourage competition, security and efficiency in the government’s software estate.
“By confronting the flaws with the IT procurement process, the federal government can foster more competitive, secure and cost-effective software, ultimately benefiting both agencies and taxpayers. NetChoice strongly urges Congress to get this bipartisan effort across the finish line this year, and we praise Reps. Connolly, Fallon and Mace for their leadership on this issue to protect our nation’s cybersecurity and taxpayer dollars,” said Amy Bos, NetChoice Director of State and Federal Affairs. “By ending vendor lock-in, the federal government can save billions, improve cybersecurity, and ensure the best technology solutions are available to government agencies.”
Legacy vendors use predatory licensing schemes and procurement practices to freeze out competition, driving up costs and putting national security at risk—while taxpayers foot the bill. It’s time for the government to open the door to real competition, demand accountability and stop rewarding failure.
Read the reintroduced SAMOSA Act here.
Read more about the consequences of vendor lock to taxpayers and government efficiency here.
Check out a new one-pager from NetChoice on the SAMOSA Act here.