New data tool offers deep dive into New York state contract data

New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli on Tuesday announced the launch a new data dashboard that allows users to search through data on state agency and public authority contracts.

The new tool, called Contracts by the Numbers, allows users to search and sort by agency or authority, vendor and contract type — including contracts that are reviewed and not reviewed by DiNapoli’s office. The tool was designed to improve government transparency, allowing users to see who has the biggest and most contracts with New York state government.

Independent reviews of contracts by the comptroller’s office is an essential and important deterrent to waste, fraud and abuse, according to a news release from DiNapoli’s office. The reviews are part of the process for most state agency contracts in New York and are generally applied to those with values exceeding $50,000. Certain state public authority contracts valued at more than $1 million are also subject to comptroller review if they are either awarded noncompetitively or paid from state appropriations.

The new dashboard shows the average time it takes the comptroller’s office to review contracts, and the resulting cost savings the reviews provide. In 2023, the comptroller’s office reviewed 26,081 agency contract transactions totaling $163.2 billion, according to the news release.

The new dashboard is the latest addition to DiNapoli’s open government initiative, Open Book New York, which seeks to publish data that shows how taxpayer money is spent. The comptroller’s website offers several other searchable dashboards, including state and local spending trackers and the financial information of more than 500 state and local public authorities dating back to 2007.

“Transparency is the hallmark of good government, and my office strives to provide the public with in-depth data to keep track of where their tax dollars are being spent,” DiNapoli said in the news release. “This tool will help the public, advocates, and researchers, as well as subcontractors, MWBEs, and other entities looking to do business with the state readily access information about state contracts. During Sunshine Week we emphasize the importance of open government, and I hope this initiative will help keep the public informed.”