Search government files MCP tool

Search GovTribe government-file metadata, citable URLs, and available snippets/extracts. Use Add_To_Vector_Store, then Search_Vector_Store, when snippets are not enough and full-text retrieval is needed. Use Add_To_Container when a file must be available to hosted shell/container execution for analysis, generated artifacts, or direct file operations.

MCP tool name: Search_Government_Files
Data type: Government file data type
Returns: Government file MCP response
Search modes: Keyword, Semantic
Annotations: Read only, not destructive, idempotent, closed world
Surfaces: GovTribe AI, GovTribe MCP, GovTribe Compact MCP server (through Invoke Search Tool)

Examples

Use these examples as task-shaped tool calls. Examples may combine query, search_mode, filters, sorting, returned fields, resolver calls, and aggregations. When an example resolves a related record first, pass the returned govtribe_id into the target search.

Identifier filters

Use govtribe_ids for GovTribe government file record IDs returned as govtribe_id. Parent-record filters such as federal_contract_opportunity_ids, federal_contract_idv_ids, federal_grant_opportunity_ids, state_local_contract_opportunity_ids, state_local_contract_award_ids, and state_local_contract_idv_ids expect GovTribe record IDs from those parent records. This tool does not resolve raw PIIDs, solicitation numbers, UEIs, or agency codes.

Use metadata filters when the task depends on file-level properties instead of only the file text or parent record. file_source means the source record family that produced the file, such as Federal Contract Opportunity, Federal Grant Opportunity, Federal Contract IDV Award, State and Local Contract Opportunity, State and Local Contract Award, State and Local Contract IDV, or State and Local Contract Vehicle.

Use Search_Government_Files first when metadata, citable URLs, or available snippets are enough. Use Add_To_Vector_Store, then Search_Vector_Store, when snippets are not enough and full-text retrieval is needed. Use Add_To_Container when the file must be available to hosted shell/container execution for analysis, generated artifacts, or direct file operations.

Filter	Use
`posted_date_range`	Limit files by posted date.
`file_format`	Limit files by format values such as `PDF`, `Spreadsheet`, `Document`, `Presentation`, `Image`, `Plain Text`, `Drawing`, or `Other`.
`extension`	Limit files by lowercase extensions such as `pdf`, `xlsx`, `docx`, or `txt`.
`file_source`	Limit files by source record family.
`size_range`	Limit files by indexed file size in kilobytes.

Which government files mention facility modernization?

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "facility modernization",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "updated_at",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date"
    ]
  }
}

Which government files exactly mention "technical support services"?

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "\"technical support services\"",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which recent PDF or spreadsheet files came from federal contract opportunities?

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "posted_date_range": {
      "from": "now-90d",
      "to": "now"
    },
    "file_format": [
      "PDF",
      "Spreadsheet"
    ],
    "extension": [
      "pdf",
      "xlsx"
    ],
    "file_source": [
      "Federal Contract Opportunity"
    ],
    "size_range": {
      "min": 1,
      "max": 25000
    },
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "file_format",
      "extension",
      "file_source",
      "size",
      "posted_date",
      "parent_record"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "cybersecurity modernization, zero trust upgrades, network defense services",
    "search_mode": "semantic",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which files mention or are associated with Leroy Walker?

{
  "tool": "Search_Contacts",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Leroy Walker",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "organization"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "contact_ids": [
      "<leroy_walker_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which files are tied to Department of the Army records?

{
  "tool": "Search_Federal_Agencies",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Department of the Army",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "acronym"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "federal_agency_ids": [
      "<department_of_the_army_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which files are connected to IDV 36F79722D0029?

{
  "tool": "Search_Federal_Contract_IDVs",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "FA823224D0002",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "contract_number",
      "name"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "federal_contract_idv_ids": [
      "<fa823224d0002_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which opportunity files mention on-site training performance work statements?

{
  "tool": "Search_Federal_Contract_Opportunities",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Marine Boatyard Services",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "federal_meta_opportunity_id"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "federal_contract_opportunity_ids": [
      "<marine_boatyard_services_federal_meta_opportunity_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which grant opportunity files discuss tuberous sclerosis complex research?

{
  "tool": "Search_Federal_Grant_Opportunities",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "tuberous sclerosis complex research",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "solicitation_number"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "federal_grant_opportunity_ids": [
      "<tuberous_sclerosis_complex_research_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which files are connected to Los Angeles County?

{
  "tool": "Search_Jurisdictions",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Los Angeles County",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "fips_code"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "jurisdiction_ids": [
      "<los_angeles_county_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which files are connected to Virginia?

{
  "tool": "Search_States",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Virginia",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "usps_code"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "state_ids": [
      "<virginia_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Which state and local opportunity files mention software licenses?

{
  "tool": "Search_State_And_Local_Contract_Opportunities",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "software licenses",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "solicitation_number"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "state_local_contract_opportunity_ids": [
      "<software_licenses_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "govtribe_ai_summary",
      "posted_date",
      "updated_at"
    ]
  }
}

Aggregation examples

Supported aggregations include top_file_sources_by_doc_count, top_extensions_by_doc_count, top_file_formats_by_doc_count, top_parent_record_types_by_doc_count, top_federal_agencies_by_doc_count, top_states_by_doc_count, top_jurisdictions_by_doc_count, and file_size_stats.

What file formats and source families are available for Army files?

{
  "tool": "Search_Federal_Agencies",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "Department of the Army",
    "search_mode": "keyword",
    "fields_to_return": [
      "govtribe_id",
      "name",
      "acronym"
    ]
  }
}

{
  "tool": "Search_Government_Files",
  "arguments": {
    "federal_agency_ids": [
      "<department_of_the_army_govtribe_id>"
    ],
    "per_page": 0,
    "aggregations": [
      "top_file_sources_by_doc_count",
      "top_file_formats_by_doc_count",
      "top_extensions_by_doc_count",
      "top_parent_record_types_by_doc_count",
      "file_size_stats"
    ]
  }
}

Government file MCP response: Review the response shape returned by this tool.
Government file data type: Understand the shared record fields and relationships used by this tool.
Choose a search mode and write queries: Choose keyword or semantic search behavior and shape query values.
GovTribe AI: Review the GovTribe AI surface where this tool can be called.
GovTribe for Agents: Use GovTribe for Agents as the starting point for MCP tools, MCP tool responses, and guides.
MCP servers: Review where this MCP tool can be used.
Invoke Search Tool MCP tool: Review where this MCP tool can be used.
Source identifiers and record matching: Use GovTribe IDs and source identifiers when passing records between tools.

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