FPDS Query Library
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Generic String04

A free-text generic string attribute in the Award-level Generic Tags segment of the FPDS record. It stores a reusable supplemental value and is not a standard core award field; the actual meaning depends on the agency or workflow that populated it.

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

Variable Overview

FPDS Query Variable
content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04
Title
Generic String04
FPDS Path
award/genericTags/genericStrings/genericString04
Description
A free-text generic string attribute in the Award-level Generic Tags segment of the FPDS record. It stores a reusable supplemental value and is not a standard core award field; the actual meaning depends on the agency or workflow that populated it.
Business Meaning
This field can carry custom metadata used to support agency-specific procurement analysis, classification, or downstream reporting. It matters when analysts need to preserve nonstandard labels or filter on supplemental award attributes that are not captured in core FPDS elements.
Example Value
Example value

FPDS Compare

FPDS Query Variable
content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04
FPDS XML Path
award/genericTags/genericStrings/genericString04
Mapping Type
flattened_fpds_xml_field
Comparison Summary
FPDS Query flattens the original nested FPDS XML path 'award/genericTags/genericStrings/genericString04' into the SQL-ready variable 'content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04'.

Use Cases

  • Dictionary lookup and field explanation
  • SQL filtering and grouping
  • Analytical reporting and reusable query building

Common Usage

  • Filtering awards by a custom agency-defined tag
  • Grouping transactions by a supplemental business label
  • Supporting reusable analytic rules or data quality checks

Common Mistakes

  • Assuming the value has a government-wide standard meaning
  • Using it as a validated code without confirming local documentation or observed values

Query Guidance

Use it as a text filter or grouping field only after profiling distinct values and confirming the agency’s convention. In SQL, compare against exact observed strings, normalize case/whitespace if needed, and avoid joining it as if it were a stable coded key unless you have a maintained lookup table.

SQL Examples

Preview values

SELECT
    content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04 AS generic_string04
FROM fpds.data
WHERE content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04 IS NOT NULL
LIMIT 25

Top values

SELECT
    content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04 AS value,
    count() AS record_count
FROM fpds.data
WHERE content__award__genericTags__genericStrings__genericString04 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.