# SAM.gov & US Government Contracting MCP server
> Search US federal and state/local contracting data, awards, grants, regulations and vendor-vetting records from public government sources.
- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/sam-gov-us-government-contracting
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: API key
- Category: [Search & Web Data](https://mcp.tc/c/search-web)
- Vendor: Cliwant
- Homepage:
- Docs:
- Repository:
- Package: npm `@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov`
## About
Wraps public US government data sources for contracting work: SAM.gov solicitations, Grants.gov, OpenGov and Bonfire bids, USAspending and FPDS awards, plus regulation sources such as the Federal Register, eCFR and FAR/DFARS. It also covers partner vetting through OFAC sanctions, SAM exclusions, FAC audits, FDIC financials, EPA ECHO, product recalls and CourtListener litigation. The registry lists 153 tools; 26 are shown here.
Runs locally over stdio with npx (@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov) or as a Claude Desktop extension bundle. Most tools need no API key. A few optional or required keys (SAM.gov, Census, FRED, BEA, DOL) are set as environment variables. Independent project, not affiliated with SAM.gov or the GSA.
## What it can do
- Search SAM.gov solicitations and read notice details, contacts and attachments
- Find federal grants and state/local bids on OpenGov and Bonfire
- Analyze federal awards, subawards, expiring contracts and spending over time
- Screen entities against OFAC sanctions and SAM exclusions
- Check FDIC, single-audit, EPA and recall records for vendor vetting
- Search court opinions and dockets on bid protests and False Claims Act matters
- Look up FAR clauses, Federal Register documents, eCFR and NIST 800-53 controls
## Tools (26)
- `sam_search_opportunities`: Search SAM.gov federal solicitations without an API key.
- `sam_get_opportunity`: Full detail for a SAM.gov notice: SOW, contacts, attachments.
- `grants_search`: Search Grants.gov federal grant opportunities.
- `opengov_search_solicitations`: Search state and local bids on OpenGov Procurement.
- `bonfire_search_opportunities`: Search state and local open bids on Bonfire.
- `usas_search_individual_awards`: Line-item federal contract awards by recipient, amount and state.
- `usas_search_awards_by_recipient`: A recipient's win history for an agency and NAICS slice.
- `usas_search_expiring_contracts`: Find contracts expiring soon for recompete tracking.
- `usas_spending_over_time`: Federal spending time series by year, quarter or month.
- `usas_search_subawards`: Subcontracts on prime awards to map the supply chain.
- `fpds_search_awards`: Search FPDS federal procurement award records.
- `ofac_screen_entity`: Screen an entity against OFAC SDN and consolidated sanctions lists.
- `sam_check_exclusions`: Screen against SAM.gov exclusions (debarment).
- `fdic_institution_financials`: FDIC bank financials and health for partner vetting.
- `fac_search_audits`: Search federal single-audit findings from the FAC.
- `echo_search_facilities`: EPA ECHO environmental compliance and enforcement records.
- `openfda_enforcement`: FDA recalls and enforcement actions against a supplier's products.
- `nhtsa_recalls`: NHTSA vehicle and equipment recalls.
- `cpsc_recalls`: CPSC consumer-product recalls.
- `courtlistener_search_opinions`: Search federal court opinions and bid protests on CourtListener.
- `courtlistener_search_dockets`: Search RECAP dockets for False Claims Act and qui tam matters.
- `fed_register_search_documents`: Search Federal Register rules and notices.
- `ecfr_search`: Full-text search of the CFR, including Title 48 (FAR).
- `far_clause_lookup`: Look up FAR and DFARS clause text.
- `nist_800_53_controls`: NIST SP 800-53 security and privacy controls for FedRAMP and CMMC.
- `usas_autocomplete_naics`: Autocomplete NAICS codes to avoid invented codes.
## Example prompts
- "Find active SAM.gov solicitations under NAICS 541512 closing this month"
- "Show contracts expiring soon at the VA in NAICS 541512"
- "Screen this company for OFAC sanctions and SAM exclusions"
- "Look up the FAR clause for subcontracting plans"
## Install
### Claude Code
1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:
```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio sam-gov-us-government-contracting --env "SAM_GOV_API_KEY=" --env "CENSUS_API_KEY=" --env "FRED_API_KEY=" --env "BEA_API_KEY=" --env "BLS_API_KEY=" --env "DOL_API_KEY=" --env "DATA_GOV_API_KEY=" --env "NVD_API_KEY=" -- npx -y @cliwant/mcp-sam-gov
```
2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **sam-gov-us-government-contracting** should show as connected.
Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
### Claude Desktop
1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:
`claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sam-gov-us-government-contracting": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"
],
"env": {
"SAM_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"CENSUS_API_KEY": "",
"FRED_API_KEY": "",
"BEA_API_KEY": "",
"BLS_API_KEY": "",
"DOL_API_KEY": "",
"DATA_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"NVD_API_KEY": ""
}
}
}
}
```
2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
Needs Node.js on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.
### Cursor
[Add to Cursor]() (opens Cursor)
Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):
`mcp.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sam-gov-us-government-contracting": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"
],
"env": {
"SAM_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"CENSUS_API_KEY": "",
"FRED_API_KEY": "",
"BEA_API_KEY": "",
"BLS_API_KEY": "",
"DOL_API_KEY": "",
"DATA_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"NVD_API_KEY": ""
}
}
}
}
```
Needs Node.js on your computer. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
### VS Code
Add it to `.vscode/mcp.json`. VS Code asks for the secret the first time and stores it securely:
`.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
"servers": {
"sam-gov-us-government-contracting": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"
],
"env": {
"SAM_GOV_API_KEY": "${input:sam-gov-api-key}",
"CENSUS_API_KEY": "${input:census-api-key}",
"FRED_API_KEY": "${input:fred-api-key}",
"BEA_API_KEY": "${input:bea-api-key}",
"BLS_API_KEY": "${input:bls-api-key}",
"DOL_API_KEY": "${input:dol-api-key}",
"DATA_GOV_API_KEY": "${input:data-gov-api-key}",
"NVD_API_KEY": "${input:nvd-api-key}"
}
}
},
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "sam-gov-api-key",
"description": "SAM_GOV_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "census-api-key",
"description": "CENSUS_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "fred-api-key",
"description": "FRED_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "bea-api-key",
"description": "BEA_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "bls-api-key",
"description": "BLS_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "dol-api-key",
"description": "DOL_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "data-gov-api-key",
"description": "DATA_GOV_API_KEY",
"password": true
},
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "nvd-api-key",
"description": "NVD_API_KEY",
"password": true
}
]
}
```
Needs Node.js on your computer.
### Devin Desktop
1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):
`mcp_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sam-gov-us-government-contracting": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"
],
"env": {
"SAM_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"CENSUS_API_KEY": "",
"FRED_API_KEY": "",
"BEA_API_KEY": "",
"BLS_API_KEY": "",
"DOL_API_KEY": "",
"DATA_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"NVD_API_KEY": ""
}
}
}
}
```
2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.
### Codex
```bash
codex mcp add sam-gov-us-government-contracting --env "SAM_GOV_API_KEY=" --env "CENSUS_API_KEY=" --env "FRED_API_KEY=" --env "BEA_API_KEY=" --env "BLS_API_KEY=" --env "DOL_API_KEY=" --env "DATA_GOV_API_KEY=" --env "NVD_API_KEY=" -- npx -y @cliwant/mcp-sam-gov
```
Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:
`config.toml`:
```toml
[mcp_servers.sam-gov-us-government-contracting]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"]
env = { SAM_GOV_API_KEY = "", CENSUS_API_KEY = "", FRED_API_KEY = "", BEA_API_KEY = "", BLS_API_KEY = "", DOL_API_KEY = "", DATA_GOV_API_KEY = "", NVD_API_KEY = "" }
```
Needs Node.js on your computer. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
### Gemini CLI
```bash
gemini mcp add -e "SAM_GOV_API_KEY=" -e "CENSUS_API_KEY=" -e "FRED_API_KEY=" -e "BEA_API_KEY=" -e "BLS_API_KEY=" -e "DOL_API_KEY=" -e "DATA_GOV_API_KEY=" -e "NVD_API_KEY=" sam-gov-us-government-contracting npx -- -y @cliwant/mcp-sam-gov
```
This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.
### Any client
Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"sam-gov-us-government-contracting": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cliwant/mcp-sam-gov"
],
"env": {
"SAM_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"CENSUS_API_KEY": "",
"FRED_API_KEY": "",
"BEA_API_KEY": "",
"BLS_API_KEY": "",
"DOL_API_KEY": "",
"DATA_GOV_API_KEY": "",
"NVD_API_KEY": ""
}
}
}
}
```
Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.
Needs Node.js on your computer. Replace the placeholders with your own values.
## Details
- Server version: 1.17.0
- Last checked: 2026-10-04
- Listed: 2026-10-04
- Updated: 2026-10-04
---
Source: https://mcp.tc/i/sam-gov-us-government-contracting (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report