Overview
FAR 4.602 defines the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) as the central, web-based tool for reporting federal contract actions, serving as the primary source of procurement data for the government, Congress, and the public.
Key Rules
- Purpose of FPDS: The system provides the data necessary for recurring reports to the President, Congress, the GAO, and the public.
- Socio-Economic Tracking: It is the mandatory mechanism for measuring the extent to which small businesses (including various sub-categories like HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB) and AbilityOne nonprofit agencies participate in federal contracting.
- Sustainability Monitoring: FPDS is used to track and assess the acquisition of sustainable technologies, products, and services, including the use of exceptions.
- Policy Assessment: The system measures the effectiveness of management initiatives, such as the use of competition and performance-based acquisitions.
- Data Exclusions: FPDS specifically does not provide reports for subcontracting data, specific funding data, or accounting data.
- Resources: The FPDS website (www.fpds.gov) serves as the official repository for technical guidance, tutorials, and the list of participating agencies.
Practical Implications
- Compliance and Reporting: Contracting Officers must ensure accurate data entry because this information directly impacts an agency’s ability to prove it is meeting federally mandated small business and sustainability goals.
- Public Transparency: Because FPDS data is available to the general public, a contractor’s federal award history is visible to competitors and oversight bodies, making data integrity critical for both the government and the private sector.