Research Questions
Structured inquiry paths for specific investigation topics — snow removal, housing money, vendor-to-council relationships, and similar trails that need both procurement data and source verification.
Where Did Snow Removal Money Go?
Start with payment descriptions and contract captions that mention snow, plowing, salt, ice, or roadway emergencies. Then separate storm-response money from year-round paving and maintenance.
Agencies To Watch
Checklist
Search for snow, plow, salt, de-icing, and emergency roadway terms separately.
Compare payment timing against weather events and emergency procurement periods.
Check whether the same vendors also held broader paving or facilities contracts.
Payments From PASS
Official payment dataset from DC Open Data.
Contracts From PASS
Official contract and solicitation dataset from DC Open Data.
OCF Data And Reports
Official Office of Campaign Finance landing page for contributions, expenditures, and affiliated-entity searches.
Open archive history
Use archived captures when official pages change over time.
Where Did DC Housing Money Go After It Left The Agency?
Trace housing payments from DHCD and related agencies into project entities, development partnerships, and any oversight reports tied to affordability or loan monitoring.
Agencies To Watch
Checklist
Map each vendor or project entity to the specific housing program named in the payment description.
Check whether the same names appear in oversight reports on the Housing Production Trust Fund.
Use archived project pages or agency pages to preserve descriptions that may later disappear.
Payments From PASS
Official payment dataset from DC Open Data.
DC Auditor
Official auditor site for housing oversight reports.
Internet Archive Wayback Machine
Use archived captures to compare vendor sites, agency pages, and report pages over time.
Open archive history
Use archived captures when official pages change over time.
Did Vendors Or Affiliates Also Show Up In DC Council Finance Records?
Use campaign-finance search as a second layer after the payment trail. Vendor names, parent entities, principals, and affiliated entities often need to be searched separately.
Agencies To Watch
Checklist
Search the exact vendor name first, then aliases, parent companies, and principal names.
Review affiliated entity records before treating a near-match as the same organization.
Visualize the relationship only after the finance record and payment record are both sourced.
OCF Data And Reports
Official Office of Campaign Finance landing page for contributions, expenditures, and affiliated-entity searches.
OCF Contributions & Expenditures
Use the Contributions & Expenditures search to check whether a vendor or affiliate appears as a donor or payee.
OCF Affiliated Entity Search
Use the Affiliated Entity Search to connect committees, businesses, and associated names.
Open archive history
Use archived captures when official pages change over time.