SmartBuy May Become First Stop For Software Licenses The SmartBuy program would become a mandatory source for software licenses under a proposal being considered by the Office of Management and Budget. SmartBuy, run by GSA, negotiates governmentwide licensing agreements with software vendors. OMB pushed the program as part of its effort to leverage the government’s buying power through strategic sourcing. GSA says the agreements, signed by 23 companies so far, saved the government $165.8 million last year. But agencies are not required to buy through those agreements. Federal Computer Week reported the Federal Acquisition Regulation councils have approved a rule that would require federal buyers to purchase through SmartBuy, or justify why they did not. The proposed rule is under review by OMB, and could be issued before the Bush administration leaves office. Critics say mandatory use of SmartBuy would reduce competition for those products, and could lead to the government paying higher prices.