OMB Watch, financed by a grant from the Sunlight Foundation, both groups dedicated to increasing government “transparency”, established a web site at “fedspending.org.” that allows a variety of searches from congressional districts to contractor to awarding agency.  Some supporters indicate the new site will provide a model for similar efforts being sought by the federal government that has mandated such a site be established by January 1. 2008.  The site is based on two major federal databases – the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), which tracks federal contracts and the Federal Assistance Awards Data System (FAADS), which tracks grants, loans, insurance and direct subsidies like Social Security.  Some critics have raised questions about the reliability and completeness of some of the information due to limitations in the way the government collects data.   

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