Open source software licenses provide government programs with excellent opportunities to reuse software without paying license fees or incurring annual software maintenance fees. From Linux to simulation tools, many programs take advantage of existing open source licenses. Simulation developers have long been free to spend their investment money on a piece of software they give away through open source. Contractors don't have that capability with software developed with government funds, unless they receive special direction. The government, on the whole, endorses the use open source software, but is often hindered by conflicting policies on how to proceed.
What happens when you can't find a piece of open source software to fit your requirements? How can you avoid intellectual property claims that force you to use the original developers for future software modifications? You may be able to solve these problems by paying for a simulation developer to produce an open source software product. The product is made widely available, so any competent developer can enhance it. If the community benefits enough to maintain it, you might be able share your support costs.
This paper describes how JHU/APL was directed to produce a tool as open source software, including the contractual language needed to specify required license terms and accommodate DFARS 252.204-7000, Disclosure of Information. The license selection results are provided and we describe the process for establishing the open source repository. The tool itself was produced and is available as free, open source software today.