How To Connect

Connect your MCP client to GovBlitz in three steps:

  1. 1. Subscribe and receive your gb_ API key
  2. 2. Add the server configuration below to your client
  3. 3. Restart your client and start querying federal contract data

Claude Desktop

Recommended: Custom Connector with OAuth

Claude Desktop Custom Connectors support OAuth authentication. Add GovBlitz in a few clicks:

  1. 1. In Claude Desktop: Customize → Connectors
  2. 2. Click + next to Connectors → Add custom connector
  3. 3. Enter:
    Name: GovBlitz
    URL: https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp
  4. 4. Leave Advanced settings empty (OAuth is automatic)
  5. 5. Click Add
  6. 6. You'll be redirected to authorize:
    • • Existing subscriber: Paste your gb_ API key
    • • New user: Start a 3-day free trial via Stripe, then $10/month + usage. The day before it ends we email you a cancel link.
  7. 7. Enable per chat via + on the composer → Connectors

OAuth 2.1 + PKCE: Claude Desktop acts as the OAuth client. GovBlitz is the authorization server. Your credentials are never sent to Anthropic. The authorization page validates your API key or creates a new subscription.

Alternative: Local Bridge via mcp-remote

If you prefer to use Bearer tokens directly (no OAuth flow), use mcp-remote as a local stdio bridge. Requires Node.js.

  1. 1. Open Claude Desktop
  2. 2. Go to Settings → Developer
  3. 3. Click Edit Config to open claude_desktop_config.json

Config file location:

  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add this configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "govblitz": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"
      ],
      "env": {
        "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer gb_YOUR_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Important:

  • • Replace gb_YOUR_KEY with your actual API key
  • • No space around the colon in Authorization:\${AUTH_HEADER}
  • • Put Bearer value in env, not inline in args (Desktop does not escape spaces properly, especially on Windows)
  • • Fully quit Claude Desktop (macOS: Cmd-Q, Windows: quit from tray). Closing the window is not enough.

Verify: click + on the chat box → Connectors, or check Developer settings for MCP logs.

Claude Code

Claude Code (CLI) is a separate product from Claude Desktop. Install GovBlitz via the CLI:

claude mcp add --transport http govblitz https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Codex

Configuration File

Add to ~/.codex/config.toml:

[mcp_servers.govblitz]
url = "https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "GOVBLITZ_API_KEY"

Then export your API key as an environment variable:

export GOVBLITZ_API_KEY=gb_your_api_key_here

CLI

codex mcp add govblitz --url https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp \
  --bearer-token-env-var GOVBLITZ_API_KEY

Verify with /mcp in Codex.

Grok Bot

Grok Bot supports public HTTPS MCP servers. Add GovBlitz as a custom connector:

  1. 1. Tell Grok Bot: "Add a custom MCP connector"
  2. 2. Provide these details:
    Name: GovBlitz
    URL: https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp
    Header: Authorization: Bearer gb_YOUR_KEY

The connector will appear in your Grok Bot conversation after confirmation.

Note: grok.com/connectors Custom MCP is separate from Grok Bot's inline connector flow.

Manus

Settings Method

  1. 1. Open Manus
  2. 2. Go to Settings → Integrations
  3. 3. Select Custom MCP Servers
  4. 4. Click Add Server
  5. 5. Fill in:
    Name: GovBlitz
    Transport: HTTP
    URL: https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp
    Auth: Bearer gb_YOUR_KEY
  6. 6. Click Save and wait for tools to load

Alternate: Connectors

Go to Connectors → Add connectors → Custom MCP → Direct configuration, then use the same values above.

Cursor

Add to Cursor Settings → MCP or mcp.json:

{
  "name": "govblitz",
  "type": "http",
  "url": "https://mcp.govblitz.com/mcp",
  "auth": {
    "type": "bearer",
    "token": "YOUR_API_KEY"
  }
}

Available Tools

Federal Tools (Base Plan)

ToolDescription
search_opportunitiesSearch federal contract opportunities (SAM.gov notices)
get_opportunityGet full details for a specific opportunity
recent_changesTrack recently modified opportunities
search_awardsSearch contract awards by company, agency, or NAICS
get_awardGet detailed award information by contract number
search_contractsSearch FPDS prime contract transactions
get_contractGet contract details by PIID
lookup_entityLook up registered SAM entities by UEI or CAGE
search_entitiesSearch SAM entities by name, NAICS, or location
check_exclusionCheck if an entity is debarred or suspended
lookup_agencyFind federal agency information by name or code

State & Local Tools (Add-On Required)

ToolDescription
search_state_bidsSearch TX, GA, and UT state bid listings (NYC if entitled). Requires a state add-on ($10/mo each).

State add-ons: Subscribe to TX, GA, or UT in your dashboard. $10/mo each, cancel anytime.

  • • Texas: Texas ESBD statewide (state agencies and Texas SmartBuy members)
  • • Georgia: Georgia Procurement Registry (statewide + local)
  • • Utah: Utah Public Procurement Place / U3P (statewide + locals)

Example Prompts

Federal

"Show me active cybersecurity opportunities from DHS with deadlines in the next 30 days"

"Who are the top 5 contractors winning NASA awards this year?"

"Look up Lockheed Martin's SAM registration and check for exclusions"

"Find all 8(a) set-aside opportunities for NAICS 541330 posted this week"

State & Local (with add-on)

"Show me Georgia GPR construction bids due in the next 2 weeks"

"Find all Texas IT solicitations with 'cybersecurity' in the title"

"Search state bids in all my subscribed states due after March 1"

Billing

$10/month base plan includes 1,000 MCP tool calls

$0.01 per additional call above 1,000

$10/month per state add-on (TX, GA, or UT)

Usage resets on the first day of each month. Each request to any tool (federal or state) counts as one call.

State add-ons appear as separate subscription items and can be added or removed anytime from your dashboard.

View your current usage at https://mcp.govblitz.com/api/usage (requires Bearer auth).

Data Sources

Federal (Base Plan)

Federal tools use GovBlitz data sourced from:

  • • SAM.gov contract opportunities (daily refresh)
  • • FPDS prime contract transactions (FY2025+)
  • • SAM entity registry (~887K registered firms)
  • • Federal exclusion lists (debarment/suspension)
  • • SAM Award Notices

State & Local (Add-Ons)

  • • Texas: Texas ESBD. Covers state agencies and Texas SmartBuy members. Daily import of posted solicitations.
  • • Georgia: Georgia Procurement Registry (statewide + local open events). Daily import.
  • • Utah: Utah Public Procurement Place / U3P (statewide and political subdivisions). Daily import.