Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL)

Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation

Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation (FPDS-NG) is the System tasked to collect data required by FAR 4.6 and one initiative of the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE).

FPDS data provides a basis for recurring and special reports to the President, the Congress, the General Accounting Office, Federal executive agencies, and the general public.

FPDS data is a means of measuring and assessing the impact of Federal contracting on the Nation’s economy and the extent to which Small Businesses, (Veteran-Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, HUBZone, Disadvantaged, and Women-Owned) are sharing in Federal contracts as well as Information for other policy and management control purposes, and for public access.

General Information is available at https://www.fpds.gov .  The computer based training is located at the VA Learning University or https://www.fpds.gov .

As a part of the Presidents Management Agenda, The Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) initiative creates a secure business environment that facilitates and supports cost-effective acquisition of goods and services by federal agencies, while eliminating inefficiencies in the current acquisition environment.  Detailed information is available from E-GOV and Acquisition.gov.

Additional requirements by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP)

Important information for Chief Acquisition Officers and Procurement Executives from the IAE program office.

Procurement Transparency

The taxpayer is entitled to transparency when spending their tax dollars.  Collecting data about Government procurements provides that transparency and a broad picture of the overall Federal acquisition process.  The ability to look at all contracts across many agencies, in greater detail, is a key component in establishing trust in our government and credibility in the professionals who use these contracts.

With a view of Federal spending we can conduct analyses to:

• Structure strategic procurements and save money
• Improve government-wide management
• Establish interoperability with other government-wide data systems

The FPDS-NG Objective

Our collective objective in creating FPDS-NG was to implement a central point for consolidated collection and access of statistical and management information related to government acquisitions.

• FPDS-NG is a searchable repository of millions of federal contact actions.
• FPDS-NG covers over 180 data points on federal contracts over the micro-purchase threshold based on contract data entered at the agency level.

The ability to look at all contracts across many agencies, in great detail, is a key component in establishing trust in our government and credibility in the professionals who use these contracts.

The FPDS-NG data will be increasingly used for other applications down stream.  The increased visibility of data by vendors, the Hill, the press, media organizations, public interest groups, citizens, etc., might prompt difficult questions based on an analysis of information.  It is important that you are prepared for that — you may get fewer requests FOR data but more requests ABOUT your data.

If the data is entered accurately and timely, we can increase the effectiveness, efficiency and credibility of the acquisition process with all of the stakeholders.

Relevant Links

• Federal Procurement Data System—Next Generation
• Acquisition.gov
• Office of Federal Procurement Policy

Take Action to Accomplish the Vision of FPDS-NG

In order to improve data integrity this issue MUST be made a priority at all levels in your agency.  To accomplish the original vision of FPDS-NG, statutory requirements, and the increasing demand for data the following must be done:

• Chief Acquisition Officers and Procurement Executives
  • When the greater part of your data is submitted to FPDS every year, determine the point that you are willing to certify your data is sufficiently inclusive.
  • Require all of your contract specialists to take the existing FPDS computer based training.  For information, go to https://www.fpds.gov/.
  • Ensure that a presentation is made that emphasizes the importance of data entry and data integrity and all surrounding issues at every agency procurement conference, meeting, seminar, etc. in the next year.
  • Watch for upcoming memorandum from OMB Director Joshua Bolten on this topic and disseminate to your senior contracting officers with instructions to distribute to every contract specialist in your agency.
  • Distribute upcoming IAE Newsletter devoted to procurement data entry, integrity, and accountability to every contract specialist in your agency.  It will be available at www.acquisition.gov in the spring.
  • OMB and GSA are planning a video to assist you in getting this important message about data entry and integrity out to your agency.
• Contracting Officers
  • FPDS data must be entered within seven days after an award is made.
  • Data should be cleaned up, corrected, modified, ensuring scope changes are recorded to reflect quality contracting.
  • The objective is to get accurate data into the system, not getting the record ‘accepted.’
  • Assume the data you enter will be easily accessible and used by someone else thus eliminating the calls for basic contract information.

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