MCP Server

Search US grants + federal contracts (Grants.gov + SAM.gov) from any LLM.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the MCP MCP server?

Connect MCP to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. Search US grants + federal contracts (Grants.gov + SAM.gov) from any LLM. The mcp mcp server is what makes that connection.

What the server does

GrantIQ MCP turns the messy world of US government funding into a clean, agent-ready API. Eight typed tools cover everything from broad keyword search and NAICS-coded contract discovery to deadline radar and historical award lookups. Responses are normalized across both data sources, returned as plain JSON, and cached for 24 hours so repeat queries don't burn rate limit on the upstream agencies.

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • SAM_API_KEY — your SAM.gov key
  • GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKEN — long random string
  • GRANTIQ_DB_PATH — /data/grantiq.db if you mount a Volume (recommended so cache + keys survive deploys)
  • Tier — Price
  • Free — $0
  • Pro$19 / month
  • Pay-as-you-go$0.02 / call
  • search_grants — keyword, agency, amount_min, amount_max, status, limit
  • get_grant_details — opportunity_id
  • search_contracts — keyword, naics_code, agency, set_aside, limit
  • get_contract_details — notice_id
  • match_opportunities — org_description, org_type, focus_areas

Credentials and setup notes

Configuration is passed through the environment: GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKEN, SAM_API_KEY, GRANTIQ_DB_PATH. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Installation

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client.

Where it fits

This sits in the AI and media services group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. MCP's toolset — SAM_API_KEY, GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKEN, GRANTIQ_DB_PATH and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by bch1212; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against MCP's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Worth knowing first

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch MCP.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
SAM_API_KEYyour SAM.gov key
GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKENlong random string
GRANTIQ_DB_PATH/data/grantiq.db if you mount a Volume (recommended so cache + keys survive deploys)
TierPrice
Free$0
Pro**$19 / month**
Pay-as-you-go**$0.02 / call**
search_grantskeyword, agency, amount_min, amount_max, status, limit
get_grant_detailsopportunity_id
search_contractskeyword, naics_code, agency, set_aside, limit
get_contract_detailsnotice_id
match_opportunitiesorg_description, org_type, focus_areas
get_agenciestype (grants / contracts / both)
get_deadlinesdays_ahead

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
SAM_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
GRANTIQ_DB_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use MCP to SAM API KEY.
  • Use MCP to GRANTIQ ADMIN TOKEN.
  • Use MCP to GRANTIQ DB PATH.

Frequently asked questions

It connects MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (SAM_API_KEY, GRANTIQ_ADMIN_TOKEN, GRANTIQ_DB_PATH, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with MCP directly.