The US General Services Governance is flogging discounts of up to 64 percent under a onegov Agreement covering Broadcom’s VMware portfolio – though the actual hypervisor that made VMware famous isn’t included.
The framework covers VMware Tanzu Platform, Tanzu Data Intelligence, Avi load Balancer, vDefend, and the Tanzu AI Starter Kit. Notably absent: VMware vSphere Foundation, the virtualization platform most agencies actually use.
VMware’s in court again. Customer relationships rarely go this wrong
“this agreement represents another major milestone under the OneGov initiative and advances President Trump’s call to accelerate AI adoption across goverment,” said Josh Gruenbaum, Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner.
Broadcom framed the deal as helping agencies extract more value from existing investments in it’s private cloud platform while “achieving zero trust through multi-layer defense-in-depth.”
Those existing investments are considerable. the US Army and other agencies signed a reportedly $477 million blanket purchase agreement for VMware licenses in 2024,while the Navy inked a $173 million deal. Last year,the Defense Facts Systems Agency signed a contract pegged at nearly $1 billion, delivered via Carahsoft.
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The Corporate Openness Act (CTA) and Beneficial Ownership Reporting
The Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 requires most U.S. companies to report information about thier beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This landmark legislation aims to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities by increasing transparency in corporate ownership. Reporting requirements began January 1, 2024, and the initial reporting window closes January 1, 2025, for existing entities.
What is a Beneficial Owner?
A beneficial owner is an individual who directly or indirectly owns or controls at least 25% of a reporting company, or who exercises significant control over the company. FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Rule defines these terms with specific criteria. Ownership is determined by equity, right to profits, or receipt of distributions. Control isn’t solely based on ownership; it includes factors like decision-making authority and the power to appoint or remove officers.
Such as, if John Smith owns 30% of ABC LLC, he is a beneficial owner. Similarly, if Jane Doe doesn’t own any equity but controls the company’s finances and operations, she is also considered a beneficial owner. FinCEN FAQs provide further clarification on these definitions.
Who Must Report Under the CTA?
Most domestic and foreign entities registered to do business in the United States must report to FinCEN, with certain exemptions. Reporting companies include corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and other similar entities created or registered in the U.S. or a foreign jurisdiction.
- Exemptions: Entities already subject to notable reporting requirements, such as those regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), banks, and certain insurance companies, are exempt. A complete list of exemptions is available on FinCEN’s website.
- 23 Exempt Categories: ther are 23 categories of entities exempt from BOI reporting.
As of December 2023, approximately 32.3 million entities are estimated to be required to report under the CTA, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
What Information Must Be Reported?
Reporting companies must submit information about their beneficial owners and company applicants to FinCEN through the Beneficial Ownership Secure System (BOSS). Required information includes:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Unique identifying number from an acceptable identification document (e.g.,driver’s license,passport)
For company applicants,the reporting requirements are similar. The initial report must be filed within 90 calendar days of receiving notice of the company’s creation or registration. updates to reported information must be filed within 30 calendar days of a change. FinCEN’s “what to Report” guide details all required data points.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with the CTA can result in significant civil and criminal penalties.Civil penalties can reach $5,500 per violation, and criminal penalties can include imprisonment for up to two years and fines of up to $10,000. FinCEN’s guidance on penalties outlines the potential consequences of non-compliance.
On January 19, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama issued a ruling in Alabama Association of Realtors v. Yellen, challenging the constitutionality of the CTA.However, the Department of Justice has appealed this ruling, and FinCEN continues to enforce the BOI reporting requirements pending the outcome of the appeal. FinCEN’s statement on the court ruling provides the latest updates.
Resources and Further Information
The following resources provide additional information about the Corporate transparency Act:
