Government spending gives insights that tell you not just about competition but cycles. Those who understand, have understood.

These are some of the tools we use in competitor research for our customers - to analyze competitors and understand what they are doing and what they plan to do next.

1. FedSpending - analysis of top US government contracts.
2. FPDS - search for government contracts awarded to your competitors.
3. GovWin - subscription database for detailed information about government contracts.
4. GSA Advantage - an excellent guide to how companies price their products for government contracts (which may be extrapolated, under caveat, to their commercial business).
5. Subsidy Tracker - monitor subsidies being given out by the government to companies.
6. UK Freedom of Information—Within limits, UK FOI requests can reveal details of your competitors' contracts with government agencies (which may be extrapolated, under caveat, to their commercial business).
7. US Freedom of Information - You can submit FOI requests for US activities here; however, the chances of finding helpful competitor information are limited.
8. USA Spending - a comprehensive database of US government contracts.