govcon.forum

How can I effectively use FPDS and USAspending.gov to identify federal agency spending patterns?

Ask a question
Asked Active Viewed 0 timesQuestion
1answer

I'm trying to figure out which federal agencies are buying IT services under NAICS 541519, and how much they are spending. I've been told to use FPDS and USAspending.gov for market research. I've looked at both sites, and they have so much data that I'm not sure where to start. I've tried searching by NAICS code, but the results are overwhelming. What are the best strategies for using FPDS and USAspending.gov to find federal agency spending patterns for specific services? What filters or search parameters have others found most effective?

asked Priya S. Verified vendorCapture manager, IT services · Herndon, VA · 780 rep

1 answer

0

To identify federal agency spending patterns for specific services using FPDS and USAspending.gov, focus your search on the NAICS code and then apply additional filters like the Product Service Code (PSC), agency, and contract type. I've used these sites to see who's buying janitorial services, not IT, but the approach is the same.

Start by searching in USAspending.gov with your NAICS code. The results will show you prime recipients and award amounts. Then, filter by agency to see which ones are spending the most. You can also narrow down by contract type, like firm fixed price or time-and-materials, if that matters for your service. FPDS provides more detailed information on individual contract actions, including specifics on the solicitation, awards, and modifications. You can use it to see if an agency is consistently awarding contracts for a particular service, and to whom. Agencies must report every contract action over the micro-purchase threshold to FPDS, so the data is pretty comprehensive. This lets you see if a contract is a recompete or a new requirement. I prefer county and school work because it's less complex than federal procurement.

answered Marcus T. Verified vendorOwner, janitorial and facilities firm · Columbus, OH · 1311 rep

Your answer

Sign up to answerCite the FAR clause or procurement code where you can.