Getting Started

Up and running in 2 minutes

Skills are instruction files that teach Claude how to query government APIs, follow decision frameworks, and produce structured documents. No special syntax needed.

⚠ Turn these on in Claude settings first

Generate memory from chat history Allows Claude to remember relevant context from your chats and projects. Required so Claude can hold onto your API keys across conversations (step 3 below).

Cloud code execution and file creation Lets Claude execute code on a server and create and edit docs, spreadsheets, presentations, PDFs, and data reports. Required for skills to run and for the document-generating tools like SOW/PWS Builder and IGCE Builder Suite.

Install a skill

Unzip the download, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill > drag in each SKILL.md file individually. For skills with a reference companion, install both.

Three free keys cover everything. BLS key from data.bls.gov (500 queries/day). api.data.gov key (1,000 req/hr, covers Per Diem + Regulations.gov). SAM.gov key from SAM.gov (covers entity lookups, exclusions + opportunities).

Tell Claude your keys

Say "Remember my BLS API key is [key]" and Claude stores it for future conversations automatically.

Ask a question

Just ask naturally. If the skill is relevant, Claude reads the instructions and makes the API call. You don't need to know how the API works.

▲ Get more out of Claude

These skills work on any Claude plan, but performance scales with what you're paying for.

Free Works for single-skill lookups. Shorter outputs, occasional refusals on complex prompts.

Pro Meaningfully better output quality, context handling, and willingness to run longer workflows without truncating.

Sonnet Fast and reliable for single-skill lookups and straightforward queries.

Opus Strongly recommended for orchestration skills that run multi-step analysis across several APIs. Use this for the SOW/PWS Builder, IGCE Builder Suite, Market Research Builder, and Grants Budget Builder.

⚙ Troubleshooting

Skill not triggering? Make sure each SKILL.md file is uploaded individually under Customize > Skills. For skills with reference companions, install both.

API errors? Your agency network may block outbound API calls. Try a personal connection. This is a network policy issue, not a skill bug.

Key not working? Tell Claude your key again in the current conversation. Keys are stored in memory and carry forward automatically.

Truncated output? Switch to Opus on a Pro plan. Orchestration skills need the larger context window for full-length deliverables.

For Developers

MCP servers

All 8 API tools are also available as Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. MCP servers provide deterministic tool calls instead of prompt-interpreted API instructions. Compatible with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, Cline, and any MCP client. Install via pip or uvx. No coding required to use them.

⚙ Quick install

Pick any server and add it to your Claude Desktop config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "usaspending": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["usaspending-gov-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Available packages: usaspending-gov-mcp · sam-gov-mcp · ecfr-mcp · gsa-calc-mcp · bls-oews-mcp · gsa-perdiem-mcp · federal-register-mcp · regulationsgov-mcp

82 tools across 8 servers. All free, all open source, all on GitHub and PyPI.

Available Tools

The stack

Claude Skills that query live federal APIs and orchestration skills that combine them into ready-to-use deliverables. All free, all open.

API Data Source Skills · 8 tools · All include MCP equivalents

Skill	Key	Description
USASpending API	No key	Federal contract and award data. PIIDs, vendor awards, transaction histories, agency spending breakdowns.	↓ Download MCP ↗
GSA CALC+ Ceiling Rates	No key	Awarded NTE hourly rates from GSA MAS contracts (230K+ records). Labor category, education, experience, SIN, vendor search.	↓ Download MCP ↗
BLS OEWS Wages	Key required	Market wage data, ~830 occupations across 530+ metro areas. Mean/median and full percentile distributions.	↓ Download MCP ↗
GSA Per Diem Rates	Key required	Federal travel per diem for all CONUS. City/state/ZIP lookups, monthly lodging, M&IE, first/last day 75%.	↓ Download MCP ↗
Federal Register API	No key	All Federal Register documents since 1994. Proposed rules, final rules, notices, executive orders, FAR cases.	↓ Download MCP ↗
eCFR Lookup	No key	Current CFR text, updated daily. FAR/DFARS clauses, version comparison back to January 2017. Flags RFO deviations.	↓ Download MCP ↗
Regulations.gov	Key required	Federal rulemaking dockets. Proposed rules, final rules, public comments, docket histories across every agency.	↓ Download MCP ↗
SAM.gov API	Key required	Entity registration (UEI/CAGE), exclusions/debarment, opportunities, contract awards (FPDS replacement) with PIID lookups and mod histories.	↓ Download MCP ↗

▢

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

SOW/PWS Builder

Structured scope decision workflow that produces a contract-file-ready SOW or PWS .docx, plus a separate chat-only staffing handoff table (labor categories, SOC codes, FTE counts) that feeds the IGCE Builder skills without ever appearing in the document body (FAR 37.102(d) compliant).

1 file / No key required

SOW PWS requirements scope

↓ Download

⌘

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

IGCE Builder Suite

Three orchestration skills that combine BLS, CALC+, and Per Diem to build full IGCEs. FFP uses layered wrap rate buildup. LH/T&M uses burden multiplier pricing. Cost-reimbursement models CPFF, CPAF, and CPIF with fee analysis and statutory caps.
Requires: BLS OEWS, GSA CALC+, GSA Per Diem skills installed

3 files / No key required

FFP T&M CPFF wrap rates

↓ Download

◎

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

Market Research Builder

Turns a NAICS code and requirement description into a full FAR Part 10 market research report. Pulls five years of USASpending data and produces a Word document with vendor landscape, small business availability, competition analysis, and data-driven set-aside recommendations.
Requires: USASpending API skill installed

1 file / No key required

FAR Part 10 set-aside vendors

↓ Download

◆

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

OT Project Description Builder

Milestone-based project descriptions for prototype OT agreements under 10 USC 4021/4022. Structures work around TRL progression phases and go/no-go gates instead of task/subtask CLINs. Handles NDC, small business, traditional (with cost sharing), and consortium-brokered agreements. Produces a .docx and a milestone handoff for the OT Cost Analysis.

1 file / No key required

NEW 10 USC 4021 prototype OT TRL milestones

↓ Download

◆

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

OT Cost Analysis

Should-cost estimates and price reasonableness for OT agreements. Milestone-based pricing citing 10 USC 4021 instead of FAR 15.404. Cost-sharing math per 10 USC 4022(d), consortium fees, fixed-price and cost-type milestones, pre-solicitation budget planning. Formula-driven .xlsx workbooks.
Requires: BLS OEWS, GSA CALC+, GSA Per Diem skills installed

1 file / No key required

NEW 10 USC 4022 cost sharing price reasonableness milestones

↓ Download

⚑

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

Grants Program Description Builder

Program Description section of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for federal grants and cooperative agreements under 2 CFR 200. The grants analog to the SOW/PWS. Walks program officers through a 4-question Program Authority Intake and a 6-block scope decision tree, producing a .docx that drops into the agency's NOFO template plus a chat-only program parameters handoff for the Grants Budget Builder.

1 file / No key required

NEW NOFO 2 CFR 200 cooperative agreement program scope

↓ Download

∑

Claude Skill Opus Recommended

Grants Budget Builder

Federal grant budget estimates aligned to 2 CFR 200 and SF-424A format. Calculates personnel costs with percent-effort, fringe by appointment type, travel via Per Diem, and indirect costs via NICRA or de minimis rate. The cost-side sister skill to the Grants Program Description Builder.
Requires: BLS OEWS, GSA Per Diem skills installed

1 file / No key required

grants 2 CFR 200 SF-424A

↓ Download

Example Prompts

Try these

Copy any prompt and paste it directly into Claude. These work with Pro and Max plans.

USASpending

Show me the top 10 AFRL contracts awarded in FY2025 by dollar value.

Pulls live award data with vendors, amounts, and descriptions

eCFR

Pull the current text of FAR 15.305 (Proposal Evaluation) and summarize what it requires.

Returns full regulatory text with plain-language summary

PWS + IGCE Pipeline

Build a PWS for a cloud migration and infrastructure modernization contract at NAVWAR. Migrate 5 on-prem applications to AWS GovCloud, 200 internal users, ATO support, 24/7 monitoring in operations phase, base year plus 3 option years, T&M. Then build the IGCE from the staffing handoff.

Generates a FAR-compliant PWS .docx plus a chat-only staffing handoff, then prices it as a complete IGCE

Scope Reduction

I have a PWS for a 15-person contact center with bilingual support, custom AI chatbot, and multi-site deployment. The IGCE came back at $12M/year and my ceiling is $7M. What can I cut?

Analyzes scope and recommends cuts to hit your budget ceiling

Rate Validation

A vendor proposes $195/hr for a Senior Software Developer on an FFP contract in the DC metro. Is that reasonable?

Cross-references BLS wages and CALC+ ceiling rates to position the rate

Market Research

Build a market research report for AFLCMC IT help desk services. NAICS 541512, PSC D399, small business preference. Look at comparable awards from the last 3 fiscal years.

Produces a FAR Part 10 report with vendor landscape and set-aside recommendations

SAM.gov

Look up Leidos in SAM.gov by UEI QVZMH5JLF274. Show me their registration status, CAGE code, physical address, and primary NAICS.

Returns entity registration details, address, and business classifications

FFP IGCE

Build an FFP IGCE for an IT modernization contract at CECOM. 12 labor categories, performance in DC with quarterly travel to San Diego, base year plus 4 option years.

Pulls BLS wages, validates against CALC+, builds wrap rate model, produces multi-sheet workbook

AI Boundaries

What these tools won't do

Every skill in this collection follows one rule: assemble data, structure the document, leave the judgment to the human. Dozens of potential capabilities were evaluated and several were intentionally left out. The full reasoning is in AI-BOUNDARIES.md on GitHub.

Proposal Evaluation Scoring

FAR 15.305 assigns evaluation to qualified panel members. AI-generated ratings would not survive GAO protest scrutiny.

Best Value Tradeoff

Comparing technical merit against price across offerors is the CO's warrant authority under FAR 15.101-1. Not delegable to an algorithm.

Responsibility Determinations

Assembling vendor data (registration, exclusions, award history, risk indicators) is appropriate. Declaring an entity responsible or not responsible is a CO decision under FAR 9.104-1. These tools build the dossier, not the verdict.

Past Performance Ratings

CPARS is controlled-access. Performance ratings require context no public API can provide. An AI evaluator cannot testify to the basis of its assessment.

Negotiation Strategy

Insulting to experienced COs, dangerous for inexperienced ones. These tools provide market data for prep. The table is yours.

OCI Determinations

FAR 9.5 analysis requires legal interpretation and fact-specific inquiry. Public data can surface relationships worth investigating, not make the call.

Protest Risk Prediction

Creates perverse incentives. COs would avoid legitimate actions because an algorithm flagged them. Protest drivers are non-public.

Debarment Recommendations

Quasi-judicial action under FAR 9.4 with due process requirements. Pattern matching is not investigation.

Contract Type Recommender

FAR 16.104 factors are subjective and context-dependent. The tools present the factors. The CO weights them.

Set-Aside Decision Engine

Politically sensitive across every stakeholder group. Set-aside analysis stays embedded in Market Research where it has full context.

AI tools for
federal contracting

Up and running in 2 minutes

MCP servers

The stack

Try these

How they connect

What these tools won't do

Get in touch

contact@1102tools.com

AI tools forfederal contracting

Up and running in 2 minutes

MCP servers

The stack

Try these

How they connect

What these tools won't do

Get in touch

contact@1102tools.com

AI tools for
federal contracting