Location filtering
Choose location field values for GovTribe Search_* MCP tools when filters accept GovTribe IDs, codes, or geocoded location text.
Use location filters when a GovTribe MCP search request needs to narrow results by place of performance, vendor location, state, county, city, ZIP code, jurisdiction, or another geography.
Choose the location meaning
First decide what the location represents. Different search tools expose different location concepts.
| Location meaning | Use this when | Common fields |
|---|---|---|
| Place of performance | The work happens in a location, regardless of where the buyer or vendor is based. | place_of_performance_ids |
| Vendor location | The organization is based, registered, or enriched at a location. | vendor_location_ids |
| State scope | The record belongs to a state-level public-sector market. | state_ids |
| Jurisdiction scope | The record belongs to a county, city, school district, or other jurisdiction. | jurisdiction_ids |
Do not use a location filter as a substitute for a buyer, vendor, or agency filter. For example, a vendor in Virginia and work performed in Virginia are different constraints.
Field value types
Always check the selected MCP tool schema before sending a location filter. Location-like fields can accept different value types.
| Field pattern | Accepted values |
|---|---|
place_of_performance_ids | GovTribe location IDs or location text for countries, cities, ZIP or postal codes, states, territories, or counties. |
vendor_location_ids | GovTribe location IDs or location text for countries, cities, ZIP or postal codes, states, territories, or counties. |
state_ids | GovTribe state IDs or USPS state codes, such as VA. |
jurisdiction_ids | GovTribe jurisdiction IDs or FIPS codes. |
When an earlier result already includes a nested location object, prefer its govtribe_id over repeating free text. Location text matching is US-biased for ambiguous place names. Use Source identifiers and record matching when you need to decide whether a returned value is a GovTribe record ID, source identifier, code, or display label.
Operators
Use <filter_key>_operator when the tool exposes it.
| Operator | Behavior |
|---|---|
in | Include records matching the supplied values. |
not_in | Exclude records matching the supplied values. |
If the operator is omitted, search tools generally use the default include behavior listed on the tool page.
Common location tasks
Search by place of performance
Use place_of_performance_ids when the user cares where contract work, grant work, forecasted work, or opportunity performance will happen.
Tool: Search_Federal_Contract_Opportunities
{
"place_of_performance_ids": ["Virginia"],
"place_of_performance_ids_operator": "in",
"fields_to_return": [
"govtribe_id",
"name",
"place_of_performance",
"federal_agency",
"due_date"
]
}Search by vendor location
Use vendor_location_ids on vendor searches when the user wants organizations in a region, not work performed there.
Tool: Search_Vendors
{
"vendor_location_ids": ["Huntsville, AL"],
"vendor_location_ids_operator": "in",
"fields_to_return": ["govtribe_id", "name", "uei", "location"]
}Search state and local markets
Use state_ids for broad state scope. Add jurisdiction_ids only when the user names a specific local buyer or local-government geography and you have a usable GovTribe ID or FIPS code.
Tool: Search_State_And_Local_Contract_Opportunities
{
"state_ids": ["VA"],
"state_ids_operator": "in",
"jurisdiction_ids": ["51059"],
"jurisdiction_ids_operator": "in",
"fields_to_return": ["govtribe_id", "name", "state", "jurisdictions", "due_date"]
}Exclude a location
Use not_in when the user asks to remove a location from an otherwise useful cohort.
Tool: Search_Federal_Contract_Awards
{
"award_date_range": {
"from": "now-12M/d",
"to": "now/d"
},
"place_of_performance_ids": ["California", "TX"],
"place_of_performance_ids_operator": "not_in",
"fields_to_return": ["govtribe_id", "name", "place_of_performance", "dollars_obligated"]
}Examples
Place of performance by state text:
Tool: Search_Federal_Contract_Awards
{
"place_of_performance_ids": ["Virginia"],
"place_of_performance_ids_operator": "in"
}Exclude one place of performance:
Tool: Search_Federal_Contract_Awards
{
"place_of_performance_ids": ["California", "TX"],
"place_of_performance_ids_operator": "not_in"
}Vendor location by ZIP code:
Tool: Search_Vendors
{
"vendor_location_ids": ["20001"]
}State filter by USPS code:
Tool: Search_State_And_Local_Contract_Opportunities
{
"state_ids": ["VA"],
"state_ids_operator": "in"
}Jurisdiction filter by FIPS code:
Tool: Search_State_And_Local_Contract_Opportunities
{
"jurisdiction_ids": ["51059"],
"jurisdiction_ids_operator": "in"
}Related articles
- MCP tools: Review each tool's filter names, operators, and accepted value notes.
- Search federal contract awards: Review a tool with place-of-performance filtering.
- Search vendors: Review a tool with vendor-location filtering.
- Search state and local contract opportunities: Review state and jurisdiction filters.
- Source identifiers and record matching: Decide when a value is a GovTribe ID, source identifier, or code.