FPDS Query Library
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Signed Date

The date the contract award was signed in the FPDS award record. It marks the formal execution date of the agreement, distinct from solicitation, obligation, or performance dates.

Family: Award
Category: Dates
Data Type: string
Semantic Type: attribute
Mapping: flattened_fpds_xml_field
AI Confidence: high

Variable Overview

FPDS Query Variable
content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate
Title
Signed Date
FPDS Path
award/relevantContractDates/signedDate
Description
The date the contract award was signed in the FPDS award record. It marks the formal execution date of the agreement, distinct from solicitation, obligation, or performance dates.
Business Meaning
This field is a core anchor for award timing, allowing analysts to place contracts in the correct fiscal period and measure procurement activity by award date. It supports trend analysis, cycle-time studies, and reconciliation against other award milestones.
Example Value
1979-08-31 00:00:00
Observed Non-Null Count
111,509,025

FPDS Compare

FPDS Query Variable
content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate
FPDS XML Path
award/relevantContractDates/signedDate
Mapping Type
flattened_fpds_xml_field
Comparison Summary
FPDS Query flattens the original nested FPDS XML path 'award/relevantContractDates/signedDate' into the SQL-ready variable 'content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate'.

Use Cases

  • Dictionary lookup and field explanation
  • SQL filtering and grouping
  • Analytical reporting and reusable query building
  • Timeline, cohort, and period analysis

Common Usage

  • Fiscal year and quarter grouping
  • Award timing and trend analysis
  • Sequencing against solicitation, obligation, or modification dates

Common Mistakes

  • Treating signed date as performance start date
  • Comparing the raw string without converting to a date type

Query Guidance

Parse the field to a date/timestamp and filter or group on the converted value, e.g., WHERE signed_date BETWEEN DATE '2024-10-01' AND DATE '2025-09-30'. Use it for award-level chronology and join it carefully to other date fields when building lifecycle analyses.

SQL Examples

Preview values

SELECT
    content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate AS signed_date
FROM fpds.data
WHERE content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate IS NOT NULL
LIMIT 25

Top values

SELECT
    content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate AS value,
    count() AS record_count
FROM fpds.data
WHERE content__award__relevantContractDates__signedDate IS NOT NULL
GROUP BY value
ORDER BY record_count DESC
LIMIT 25

Each dictionary item includes SQL-ready examples generated alongside the variable metadata, allowing immediate use in FPDS Query for filtering, aggregation, and analysis.