[Okfn-ca] Fwd: [open-government] Introducing the Open Contracting Data Standard!

Diane Mercier diane.mercier at gmail.com
Wed Nov 19 01:07:29 UTC 2014 

PVI | À titre d'information

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Diane Mercier, Docteure en sciences de l'information
Ambassadrice de l'Open Knowledge au Canada
@okfnca | ca.okfn.org



-------- Message transféré --------
Sujet : 	[open-government] Introducing the Open Contracting Data Standard!
Date : 	Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:45:43 -0500
De : 	Felipe Estefan <felipe.estefan.g at gmail.com>
Pour : 	Open Contracting Partnership <partnership at open-contracting.com>



Dear all -

At the Open Contracting Partnership we are thrilled to share with you 
Version 1.0 of the Open Contracting Data Standard 
<http://standard.open-contracting.org/>.Â

The Open Contracting Data Standard 
<http://standard.open-contracting.org>seeks to serve as a guiding best 
practice for all those wishing to disclose or to advocate for the 
disclosure of contracting data. It was developed through a year-long 
process of consultations, and we are grateful to many of you who 
provided key inputs as part of that process.Â

We are hopeful that the Open Contracting Data Standard will help us 
ensure that all public contracting becomes truly public, and by doing 
so, enhance government effectiveness, foster private sector growth, 
empower civil society, and, ultimately, lead to better outcomes for all.Â

If you have questions or comments on theStandard 
<http://standard.open-contracting.org>, or ideas on how it could applied 
in the context of your own work, please don't hesitate to let us know. 
We look forward to continue collaborating with many of you.Â

With best wishes, and with apologies for any cross-postings,

Felipe
--------------------------
@FelipeEstefan
+1 (315) 420-7464Â


    Open Contracting Data Standard launches globally today

*November 18, 2014:Â *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) 
<http://standard.open-contracting.org> - a product of the Open 
Contracting Partnership 
<http://www.open-contracting.org?e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=1>, 
developed by the World Wide Web Foundation 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webfoundation.org&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=2&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>Â through 
a project supported by Omidyar Network 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omidyar.com&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=3&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>Â and 
the World Bank 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldbank.org&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=4&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>Â - 
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 governments - 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 outcomesÂ
  * 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.Â
  * 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.Â

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*Â http://standard.open-contracting.org 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fstandard.open-contracting.org&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=5&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>

*About the OCP: *(www.open-contracting.org 
<http://www.open-contracting.org?e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=6>)*Â 
*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.Â

*About the World Wide Web Foundation*: (www.webfoundation.org 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webfoundatin.org&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=7&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>)Â 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:Â *(www.omidyar.com 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omidyar.com%2F&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=8&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>) 
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.Â

Open Contracting
You can also keep up with Open Contracting on Twitter 
<http://www.open-contracting.org/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fopencontracting&utm_campaign=ocds_announce&n=10&e=dd07b5f4ee805dadedc34b71b173b62d45e392a6&utm_source=opencontracting&utm_medium=email>. 




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