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DefenceGate

How we collect and classify

What happens to a notice between the source and this site, and where the limits are.

From source to screen

  1. Step 1

    Collect

    Each source is fetched on a schedule through its public interface. The raw payload is kept before anything else is done to it.

  2. Step 2

    Normalise

    Fields are mapped to one shape: title, buyer, country, dates, value, codes. Contact persons’ names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers are removed.

  3. Step 3

    Classify and link

    Each notice is checked for defence and dual-use signals and linked to the same notice on other sources where a shared reference exists.

Every change is kept

When a source publishes a changed version of a notice, we store it as a new version and record which fields changed. Earlier versions are not overwritten. The timeline on a record shows what changed and when we observed it, which is not necessarily when the source made the change.

What “defence” and “dual-use” mean here

The label is an automated indication built from separate signals. Strong signals can qualify a notice alone, weaker ones need a partner, and a civil-looking product code on its own does not qualify.

  • The legal basis of the procedure, for example Directive 2009/81/EC on defence and security procurement.
  • The product classification (CPV), where military and civil groups are told apart.
  • The buyer, against a curated list of defence buyers.
  • Security clearance or confidentiality requirements stated in the notice.

The result is not a legal determination and not a statement about export control, eligibility or the procurement regime that applies. It can be wrong in both directions.

Linking the same notice

The same procurement is often published on TED and on a national portal. Where both carry the same TED reference we link them and show one record. We never merge two records on a similar name alone.

Translation and normalisation

Where a source publishes in another language we show the original title next to our English title. Normalised fields, translated titles and the defence label are ours and are not part of the original notice. Amounts are shown in the currency the source states and are never converted.

Limits

  • Collection is scheduled, not real time. The status page shows when each source last ran.
  • A source can fail, change format or publish late. A run that fell short is marked partial.
  • Not every portal is covered, and below-threshold procurement is often not published centrally.
  • A notice that does not parse is set aside instead of being guessed. It is not shown.