How Bellum builds its intelligence layer
Bellum currently synchronizes official Department of Defense prime contract-award records from USAspending. For contract awards, the USAspending spending-by-award API maps its Award Amount field to cumulative total_obligation; Bellum therefore labels that number “cumulative obligations.” Total Outlays is stored separately where the source reports it. Bellum market categories are derived classifications layered over source NAICS, PSC and description fields and are always distinguished from official source fields.
USAspending notes that Department of Defense contract award data can be published with a 90-day delay. Bellum therefore treats the newest source-dated records as reported public data, not a real-time census of current contracting activity.
Bellum’s FY 2026 budget layer uses manually verified rows from the official DoD Comptroller P-1 procurement and R-1 RDT&E exhibits. Source amounts are published in dollars in thousands; Bellum converts those values to dollars only where explicitly labeled for display or metrics. The v0.4 budget seed is curated and not presented as complete exhibit coverage.
Last successful source retrieval observed 2026-10-11 16:47:49 UTCPractical interpretation rules
Bellum’s primary value is not the largest possible unqualified count; it is a bounded research view that keeps source definitions visible. An award action is not a confirmed cash payment; a potential contract ceiling is not an obligated amount; a fiscal-year budget request is not an enacted appropriation. A market classification can be a derived grouping rather than a government-reported market total.
- Worked examples of obligations, outlays, ceilings and budgets
- Seven-step award verification process
- Company identity and market comparison methodology
- Record coverage and refresh information
How should researchers cite Bellum analysis?
Identify the exact Bellum page, source record identifier where available, the date accessed, financial measure, unit, fiscal-year period and stated coverage. Bellum-derived classifications are analytical statements and should not be quoted as official government classifications.