The Short Answer
The Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) is the government's official database for all federal contract actions over $10,000. Agencies are required to report every contract award, modification, and termination within 3 business days.
FPDS contains 120+ data fields per contract action, organized into these categories:
Contract identification (PIID, agency, office)Contractor information (name, UEI, CAGE, location, size)Dollar amounts (obligated, base, options, total)Competition details (competitive vs sole source, number of offers)Set-aside information (8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone)Product/service codes (NAICS, PSC)Performance details (place, period, type of contract)Pricing data (contract type, fee arrangements)
Key Data Categories in FPDS
Contract Identification
| Field | Description | Example |
|-------|-----------|---------|
| PIID | Procurement Instrument Identifier | FA8532-26-C-0001 |
| Agency | Awarding agency | Department of Defense |
| Contracting Office | Specific office | AFLCMC/PK |
| Referenced IDV | Parent IDIQ/BPA if applicable | FA8532-20-D-0100 |
| Date Signed | Award execution date | 2026-02-15 |
| Effective Date | Performance start date | 2026-03-01 |
Dollar Amounts
| Field | What It Represents |
|-------|-------------------|
| **Action Obligation** | Dollar amount of this specific action |
| **Base and Exercised Options** | Current contract value including exercised options |
| **Base and All Options** | Maximum contract value if all options exercised |
| **Total Estimated Order Value** | For IDIQs -- estimated total ordering |
Contractor Information
| Field | Description |
|-------|-----------|
| Contractor Name | Legal entity name |
| UEI | Unique Entity Identifier |
| CAGE Code | Commercial and Government Entity code |
| Contractor Address | Physical location |
| Congressional District | Where the contractor is located |
| Business Size | Small or Other Than Small |
| Business Type | 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, etc. |
| Country of Origin | Domestic vs foreign |
Competition Data
| Field | Values |
|-------|--------|
| **Extent Competed** | Full and Open, Set-Aside, Sole Source, Follow-On |
| **Number of Offers Received** | Actual count of proposals submitted |
| **Type of Set-Aside** | Total SB, 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone, EDWOSB |
| **Fair Opportunity** | Limited sources justification if applicable |
| **Solicitation Procedures** | Negotiated, Sealed Bid, Two-Step, Simplified |
Product/Service Classification
| Field | Purpose |
|-------|---------|
| **NAICS Code** | Industry classification (e.g., 541512) |
| **PSC Code** | Product or service code (e.g., D302 for IT services) |
| **Description of Requirement** | Text description of what was purchased |
| **DoD Claimant Program** | Military program designation if applicable |
Why FPDS Data Matters for Contractors
Market Research
FPDS tells you exactly who is buying what, from whom, at what price, and how often. You can:
Identify agencies spending in your NAICS codeSee which competitors win specific types of contractsAnalyze average contract values and competition levelsTrack recompete timelines based on period of performanceCompetitive Intelligence
How many offers does the average solicitation receive in your market?What percentage of contracts in your NAICS are set aside vs full and open?Which contractors hold the largest market share?Pricing Intelligence
FPDS doesn't show labor rates, but it shows total contract values by NAICS and PSC code, giving you market pricing benchmarks.
How to Access FPDS Data
| Method | Best For |
|--------|---------|
| **FPDS.gov** | Direct queries (complex interface, requires experience) |
| **USASpending.gov** | Simpler interface, links to FPDS |
| **Fed-Spend** | Pre-analyzed intelligence with scoring, alerts, and competitive context |
| **Bulk download** | FPDS provides CSV/XML bulk data for analysts |
FAQ
What data is reported to FPDS?
FPDS captures 120+ data fields for every federal contract action over $10,000, including contractor information, dollar amounts, NAICS/PSC codes, competition methods, set-aside types, performance locations, and contract types. Agencies must report within 3 business days of each contract action.
How often is FPDS updated?
Agencies are required to report to FPDS within 3 business days of each contract action. In practice, most agencies report daily. FPDS data typically lags 1-7 days from the actual contract action date.
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