Software Licensing Resources for Tribal Environmental Professionals
Introduction
Tribal environmental professionals use tools and technology to perform their work and support the implementation of environmental programs. Software is a necessity and an important component in modernizing and streamlining work. Buying software is not a one-time purchase. Like most technology, software requires an upfront investment and has long-term expenses, including software license renewals, often referred to as operations and maintenance.
Background
A tribal-EPA workgroup examined this topic from the E-Enterprise perspective, focusing on the need for sensible and efficient approaches to software procurement and longer-term costs and needs. Under the E-Enterprise Leadership Council direction, tribal and EPA representatives worked collaboratively and developed two resources that capture optimal solutions for Tribes who use software to operate their environmental programs.
Available Resources
- Software Licensing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): A Resource for Tribal Environmental Professionals (pdf) addresses common issues or questions that Tribes experience when they are purchasing software. This document provides definitions on common terminologies, suggestions on how to fund short and long term software needs through the grant process, as well as suggestions and informational links on technical assistance available to tribal partners.
- A Software Procurement Roadmap for Tribes (pdf) outlines the steps to consider when purchasing a software license to support grant workplan activities. Looking at the entire life cycle of the software licensing process as part of the grants work planning process creates efficiencies, less waste, and less burden. A key takeaway from workgroup discussions is grantees need to build longer-term operations and maintenance costs into their programmatic grant workplans and budgets. This ensures the software can continue to be used in program implementation.
These resources document the key workgroup actions:
- Shared best practices and solutions on obtaining and supporting software.
- Outlined the steps to consider when purchasing a software license to support short-term grant workplan activities and longer-term programmatic needs.
- Identified and learned how other federal agencies and tribal organizations support tribal software needs through technical assistance and training.
- Compiled low or no-cost software options to use in environmental program management.
See the Project Description and Points of Contact for more information about the Tribal Software Licensing project.
See below for additional information:
- More information about using the EPA Environmental Information Exchange Network Program to fund tribal software project work.
- More information on Exchange Network support and training and technical assistance available to Tribes.
- More information about other EPA grant programs.