As a database developer and open government advocate, few things are as frustrating to the development of robust data sets and accountability tools as the lack of access to reliable, unique identifiers for government contractors.
To solve this problem, the Central Contractor Registration Database should be made immediately available to the public, including DUNS numbers and DUNS corporate ownership relationship. Having a taxpayer supported database of corporate contractors unavailable to the public and using proprietary vendor IT system is untenable in 2009.
A DUNS Number is a corporate identifier assigned by the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. It is like a corporate social security number and is the private and public sector to make it easier to track credit worthiness. While any business can get a DUNS Number for free, it costs money to gain access to Dun & Bradstreet database of DUNS Number. (This database also contains information regarding the relationship among DUNS Numbers, e.g. corporate ownership of subsidiaries, facilities, etc.) D&B claims this database as the companies own intellectual property.
The problem is not that D&B claims this database as their property. The problem is that D&B has government-sponsored monopoly on the IDs the government uses for tracking corporate government vendors...and the public cannot gain access to this piece of the D&B DUNS Number database even though we pay for it.
Since 2003, the federal Office of Budget and Management has required all government contractors to have a "DUNS Number" assigned via Central Contractor Registration (CCR.gov). I'm fairly certain this contract (http://bit.ly/12zeSU) relates to an expansion of the CCR/DUNS work.
Because the public does not have unfettered access to this database of unique identifiers is not possible for third parties, particularly non-profits, academics, and citizens to leverage this identifier in their own workings with data. A government data set might include a corporations DUNS Number, but without the corporate relationship information, the relationships among corporations and basic disambiguation of entities must be manually re-done time and time again.
Making the DUNS Number for corporate contractors available to all, or better, available in a RESTFUL manner on CCR.gov (example: ccr.gov/id/xxxxxxx) would provide the same functionality that Amazon URLs do for books and IMDB.com does for movies.
Alternatively, the US government should stop using proprietary identifiers and simply leverage Web URLs from CCR.gov to provide the same information. A vendor such as Dun & Bradstreet could be employed to manage the system, but the system itself for tracking government contractors with unique identifiers should be public and non proprietary.
Comments (4)
A little unclear what is really wanted here. Is the suggestion related to(1) the ability of contractors to opt out of public display; (2) the specific use of B&B; or (3) tracing of the ownership chain? I don't think URLs would be useful as these may change over time.
Hey could we also ask that these contractors be given a webpage? I think interface wise that might be easier for normal citizens than just the restful setup and will be just as usable...
they could also aggregate all contracts that way too...
thanks Greg!
michael.heffner:
What is really wanted here is free, widely available, IDs for government contractors.
Currently, those IDs exist. A contractor must get a unique ID from ccr.gov. However, that database if IDs is not public even though it is publicly open to search. These IDs should be public.
Greg
I concur. D&B is a monopoly and although the database they created should be theirs, the data put into the CCR and other government websites should be easier to access. There are many small businesses, such as mine, or non-profits that do not have the money to pay for D&B services. A business may be too small to get a decent federal contract, but then these small business should have an easment to D&B information.
I find it odd that D&B is supposed to be the way to track business credit but you need to 'buy' the credit status first. It is a closed system. At least with our personal credit there are three agency's and it is standard practice for creditors to use the system. Then for better or worse you have a credit score.
It would be nice to access the businesses currently doing business with the Federal Government who could subcontract out work. I know this information exists in the Federal websites--somewhere, but it is not easy to find. You could give someone a full time job just to do daily searches. This is not practical for small and start up businesses.
It seems plausible that with the advance of technology, a better, cohesive system could be utilized. If the intent of the CCR, which I do understand is a the Federal Gov's yellow book of potential contractors, and all the other 'bid sites' is to obtain business contracts with the small companies as well as the large, then it should be easier for small companies to get on the subcontractor/vendor radar of the large corporations who receive the majority of Fed. Gov. bids.
In the end I believe this conversation is about leveling a playing field. Which is really needed in this economy.
Donna