Contract Data Is Now Online A government watchdog group has launched an online database of federal spending at www.FedSpending.org. The website, operated by OMB Watch, allows users to analyze contract and grant spending. The organization said the database contains itemized information on the more than $12 trillion the federal government has disbursed between 2000 and 2005. President Bush signed legislation last month to create an official spending database, but it is not due to be online until 2008. (SAA, 9/29) “The American people have been in the dark about to whom and where their tax dollars go,” OMB Watch’s executive director, Gary Bass, said. “With FedSpending.org we believe that will change. When you buy something in a store you get a receipt. FedSpending.org is that receipt for government spending – we can examine it and see just what kind of deal we’re getting.” The website’s data comes from the government’s Federal Procurement Data System, the official record of contracts, but it is widely criticized for its inaccuracies. Information on grants comes from the government’s Federal Assistance Awards Data System. FedSpending.org organizes the FPDS data differently and is more user-friendly than the government website, which generally requires some training before it can be used effectively. FedSpending.org allows users to search for a contractor by name, state or congressional district, product or service category, NAICS code and other parameters. Contracts can be sorted by agency, place of performance, product or service, or competition type. The database says only 36.5% of contract dollars were awarded in full and open competition in 2005, down from 44.5% in fiscal 2000. OMB Watch says it will update the database every six months. When the government database goes online, it will be updated continuously. The law requires new contract data to be posted within 30 days of award. The government database will cover all federal spending, not just grants and contracts. OMB Watch said its website cost less than $200,000. Congress has allocated up to $9 million for the site to be construction by OMB.