OCDS data standard released
Tim Davies
- We've improved the structure of the schema, elaborating on budget elements in planning, and transactions in implementation, and making clearer in the documentation the links between tenders, awards and contracts.
- We've made naming of fields much more consistent, and have updated the documentation of fields.
- We've incorporated a number of additional fields, and updated the definition of existing fields, in response to demand side feedback.
- We've published code lists for all the restricted value fields, as well as details on which code lists can be extended.
- We've introduced an extensions mechanism, for adding new fields and structures by writing a simple JSON patch against the schema, supporting communities to carry out secondary standardisation of particular elements.
- In response to publisher feedback on the importance of flat serializations we've proposed a model for representing the data in CSV, Excel and Data Packages, and have commissioned a tool that creates a flat data template from the schema, as well as converts from CSV/Excel -> JSON
- In response to feedback from our field mission in Mexico we've introduced a 5-star schema for assessing the technical quality of publication, and a basic, intermediate, advanced rating of fields that publishers might include.
Press release: New data standard to transform government procurement in the world - Open Contracting Data Standard launches globally today
18 November 2014
Governments around the world are adopting and implementing a new data standard that has launched today and which seeks to make public procurement more robust, transparent and accessible. Countries at the forefront of this process include: Canada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and the UK.
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) - a product of the Open Contracting Partnership, developed by the World Wide Web Foundation through a project supported by Omidyar Network and the World Bank - will shine a light onto how trillions of dollars of public money are spent, helping to fight corruption, improve service delivery and enhance market efficiency.
Challenge
Every year, governments worldwide spend more than 9.5 trillion USD on contracts but when, where and how the money is spent in the contracting process is, at the moment, largely invisible.
Now, for the first time, governments are being given the tools to open their contracting data in a consistent, visible and accessible way. Through the OCDS, governments are able to be more effective, to drive growth and to increase public engagement and trust in their contracting systems.
About the Standard
The first version of the OCDS sets out key documents and data that should be published at each stage of a contracting process, alongside a fully documented open data specification.It was created through a year-long development project, looking at the existing supply of contracting data in over 15 countries, and working with users of contracting data to understand their needs. It ensures contracting data that is published is accessible and consistent for everyone to compare and analyze, and promotes a fairer playing field for businesses.
The ongoing development of the Standard will be led by the Open Contracting Partnership, which will continue to collaborate with publishers and users as they adopt the Standard to further develop specifications and guidance.
Gavin Hayman, incoming Executive Director of the Open Contracting Partnership said:
"It is time to end secret deals between companies and governments to make sure public resources are spent openly, effectively and efficiently. Having accessible, comparable data covering the key items of information in a deal is key to achieving this objective."
Anne Jellema, CEO of the World Wide Web Foundation said:
"Corruption adds an estimated $2.3 trillion to the cost of government contracts every year. This new standard is a big step forward in the fight to eliminate fraud and waste in public procurement, enabling contracts to be published online in a transparent, consistent and user-friendly format so that anyone can monitor them."
Laura Bacon, principal on the Government Transparency policy and advocacy team at Omidyar Network, said:
“Omidyar Network congratulates the open contracting team on the launch of its Open Contracting Data Standard. This technical standard has the potential to make contracting data more accessible and searchable around the globe, and we are pleased that early adopting governments will pioneer this specification. An open contracting process holds the promise of more engaged citizens, improved services, and more accountable governance.”
The benefits of open contracting
- For government - open contracting creates a fairer system, results in more robust and reliable contract outcomes and delivers efficiency, as well as provides the potential to increase trust and transparency with the public.
- For non-governmental organisations (NGOs)/data businesses - open contracting enables them to access and review details of public contracting processes and to monitor spending to ensure that citizens are getting the best outcomes
- For businesses - open contracting increases transparency by allowing them to access data, analyse markets and grow more efficient and more competitive. They can bid for government contracts on a level-playing field.
- For the general public - by making contracting data available to be analysed and interpreted, governments enable citizens to see how and why their money is being spent, creating the opportunity for the public to get involved in decision making.
Robert Hunja, Director for Public Integrity and Openness of the World Bank and the Chair of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Open Contracting Partnership said:
"The path to a better future for all begins with an informed citizenry. Making contracting data more open builds trust between citizens and governments and allows them work together to ensure public resources are spent in the best way possible.”
Jeni Tennison, Technical Director of the UK Open Data Institute and OCP Advisory Board member said:
“Publishing open contracting data does not just help increase transparency and accountability, but also provides a vital source of information that can be incorporated into decision making by governments and businesses”.
The OCP is inviting governments and businesses to adopt and implement the standard to publish contracting data, and it is asking NGOs and citizens to access, monitor and use the data published.
The Standard is available at http://standard.open-contracting.org
About the OCP: (www.open-contracting.org) The Open Contracting Partnership is a collaborative effort founded in 2012 aimed at increasing disclosure and participation in all stages of public contracting, including tendering, performance, and implementation. The Open Contracting Partnership focuses on ensuring that governments are as effective and efficient as they can be, that private sector can grow and prosper, and that citizens receive the goods and services that they need and deserve.
About the World Wide Web Foundation: (www.webfoundation.org) Established by the inventor of the Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the World Wide Web Foundation seeks to establish the open Web as a global public good and a basic right, creating a world where everyone, everywhere can use the Web to communicate, collaborate and innovate freely. Represented by more than a dozen nationalities working from hubs in London, Washington DC and Cape Town, the World Wide Web Foundation operates at the confluence of technology and human rights, targeting three key areas: Access, Voice and Participation.
About Omidyar Network: (www.omidyar.com) Omidyar Network is a philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their lives. Established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam, the organization invests in and helps scale innovative organizations to catalyze economic and social change. Omidyar Network has committed more than $730 million to for-profit companies and non-profit organizations that foster economic advancement and encourage individual participation across multiple initiatives, including Consumer Internet & Mobile, Education, Financial Inclusion, Government Transparency, and Property Rights.