I recently posted about FedSpending.org, a tool to use when you are looking for analysis on where the federal government spends its money. Most, if not all, of the data relating to contracts comes from the Federal Procurement Data System or FPDS-NG. The “NG” stands for “Next Generation”. It’s kind of strange to still refer to the system this way given it has been open to the public since December 2004 although perhaps that is still next generation when you measure things in government years.
The FPDS is the central repository of information on federal contracting. It is owned, controlled and run by the federal government. While I suggest most of the time you look at FedSpending for your federal intelligence needs there may be occasions where you also need to search the FPDS.
In particular FPDS will provide you with slightly more up-to-date information on contracts. FedSpending is only updated every 6 months so if you are looking for information on recent awards or contracts you will probably be better off navigating the less user friendly / search friendly FPDS.
One thing to note is that certain agencies within the federal government are exempt from reporting to the FPDS including, the US Postal Service, Congress (including the Government Accountability Office and Congressional Research Service), the entire U.S. federal judicial court system, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Federal Aviation Administration. The U.S. Mint and the Transportation Security Administration are not required to report to FPDS, but do so anyway.
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