The Department of Energy has made progress improving software license management but still does not adequately manage the acquisition and maintenance of computer software licenses, the department’s inspector general has said.
It said programs and sites routinely paid more than necessary when acquiring software licenses and generally had not maintained an inventory of software to assist with management of licenses.
Software purchase data on sample of products revealed that programs and sites spent approximately $600,000 more than necessary during a three-year period, according to the IG.
It said license prices were also often greater than established government-wide acquisition contract prices available to all federal agencies, and none of the federal and contractor sites visited were able to provide a complete inventory of software licenses.
Further, contrary to OMB guidance, Energy continues to use a fragmented approach without a formal process for ensuring that software purchases were coordinated between headquarters and/or field sites, the IG said.
