Find Defense Department’s military contracts online

Each Monday, The Eagle highlights a government record that is available to the public. Open records help people keep government in check and help them better understand how government affects their lives.

For a complete list of You Oughta Know columns, go to www.kansas.com/oughta.

The records: Military contracts issued by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Why you’d want them: To learn more about military spending. The department announces contracts valued at $6.5 million by 5 p.m. weekdays.

Where you get them: Go to www.defense.gov/contracts. Information goes back 30 days, and older contracts are available by clicking on the archives.

How much do they cost: The information is free.

Deb Gruver

This story was originally published September 2, 2013 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Find Defense Department’s military contracts online."