How to Use the Data.gov Catalog MCP in AutoGen

Q: How do I register the Data.gov Catalog MCP Server tools in AutoGen?

Install autogen-extmcp and use the mcpservertools helper with your Vinkius server URL. Pass the generated tools list directly into your AssistantAgent constructor.

Q: Does the Data.gov Catalog MCP Server support Streamable HTTP in AutoGen?

Yes. You can configure StreamableHttpServerParams with your Vinkius endpoint, allowing your AutoGen agents to stream tool execution results during multi-turn conversations.

Q: How does the agent get raw, unmodified harvest data?

The agent calls getharvestrecordraw using the unique harvest record ID. This returns the exact source payload as originally received from the publishing agency, before any translation occurs.

Let your AutoGen agents debate and verify federal datasets using this MCP Server.

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Connect Data.gov Catalog MCP to AutoGen

Create your Vinkius account to connect Data.gov Catalog to AutoGen and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Data.gov Catalog with AutoGen

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Perplexity

Debate dataset validity across AutoGen agents

This MCP Server allows multiple AutoGen agents to collaborate and cross-reference federal data sources. One agent can run `search_datasets` to find candidate files, while a separate verification agent calls `get_harvest_record` to check the data's ingestion history. Since the agents communicate in a structured loop, they'll debate whether a dataset meets your project's compliance standards. They resolve conflicts by analyzing real metadata instead of relying on pre-trained assumptions.

Resolve spatial boundaries via agent consensus

When searching geographic data, your query agent uses `search_locations` to find the correct location ID. A geographic specialist agent then runs `get_location_geometry` to inspect the boundary coordinates before approving the spatial filter. This multi-agent verification prevents bad queries from hitting your database. By separating the location search from the geometry evaluation, you ensure that only validated GeoJSON boundaries are passed to your processing pipeline.

Analyze agency publishing patterns programmatically

Set up a research agent to pull the entire list of publishers using `get_organizations`. An analyst agent then calls `get_keywords` to map out which terms are trending across different federal departments. The agents compile these inputs to build a detailed report on agency activity. By letting the performance agent monitor API usage, your AutoGen setup avoids hitting rate limits during large-scale metadata harvesting.

Setup guide

Set up Data.gov Catalog MCP in AutoGen

Prerequisites

Python 3.10+ installed
autogen-ext[mcp] package
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Install AutoGen with MCP
Run pip install "autogen-ext[mcp]" autogen-agentchat. The MCP extension includes mcp_server_tools for stateless tool access.
2

Fetch tools from the MCP
Call mcp_server_tools(SseServerParams(url=...)) with your Vinkius endpoint. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Run your agent
Pass the tools to AssistantAgent and call agent.run(). The agent invokes Data.gov Catalog tools and returns structured results.

agent.py

from autogen_ext.tools.mcp import SseServerParams, mcp_server_tools
from autogen_agentchat.agents import AssistantAgent
from autogen_ext.models.openai import OpenAIChatCompletionClient

server_params = SseServerParams(
    url="https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
)

tools = await mcp_server_tools(server_params)

agent = AssistantAgent(
    name="Data.gov Catalog_assistant",
    model_client=OpenAIChatCompletionClient(model="gpt-4o"),
    tools=tools,
)

result = await agent.run("List recent Data.gov Catalog data")
print(result.messages[-1].content)

Get your connection token →

Prerequisites

Python 3.10+ installed
autogen-ext[mcp] + autogen-agentchat
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Install dependencies
Same packages as above. McpWorkbench is ideal when your agent needs stateful sessions across multiple tool calls.
2

Use McpWorkbench as context manager
Wrap your agent in async with McpWorkbench(...) to maintain shared state and resources. The workbench manages the full MCP session lifecycle.
3

Run with workbench
Pass workbench=workbench to your agent. State is preserved across multiple tool calls within the same session.

agent.py

from autogen_ext.tools.mcp import McpWorkbench, SseServerParams
from autogen_agentchat.agents import AssistantAgent
from autogen_ext.models.openai import OpenAIChatCompletionClient

server_params = SseServerParams(
    url="https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
)

async with McpWorkbench(server_params) as workbench:
    agent = AssistantAgent(
        name="Data.gov Catalog_assistant",
        model_client=OpenAIChatCompletionClient(model="gpt-4o"),
        workbench=workbench,
    )

    result = await agent.run("List recent Data.gov Catalog data")
    print(result.messages[-1].content)

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Data.gov. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Data.gov Catalog MCP in AutoGen

Install `autogen-ext[mcp]` and use the `mcp_server_tools` helper with your Vinkius server URL. Pass the generated tools list directly into your `AssistantAgent` constructor.

Yes. The adapter handles schema conversion and tool execution across your entire agent group, allowing different agents to call `search_datasets` and `get_organizations` in the same conversation thread.

Yes. You can configure `StreamableHttpServerParams` with your Vinkius endpoint, allowing your AutoGen agents to stream tool execution results during multi-turn conversations.

The agent calls `get_harvest_record_raw` using the unique harvest record ID. This returns the exact source payload as originally received from the publishing agency, before any translation occurs.

No. Vinkius provides a zero-trust, ephemeral environment where your catalog search queries and harvest records are processed purely in-memory. No query history or retrieved metadata is ever stored or logged on our infrastructure.

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