• DATA
  • TRENDS
  • TARGETS
  • HUMAN

How to analyze federal spending trends with your AI

Connect your agent to FPDS data once. From there, you can query procurement history and track how agency budgets move over time.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How can I use AI to track federal procurement trends?

Your agent uses the search_contracts tool to pull raw XML data from the FPDS database. It then processes these records to find shifts in agency spending or specific contract patterns. You get clear summaries of historical procurement behavior.

The outcomes of your analysis

Where your data lands

Running this task turns messy XML files into actionable intelligence.

DATA

Cleaned procurement records

The AI pulls raw data and strips away the XML clutter. You get organized lists of contract awards and obligations.

TRENDS

Budget shift detection

Your agent compares historical data points to spot when an agency increases or decreases its spending in specific categories.

TARGETS

Contractor profiling

Identify which companies are winning the most work within specific agencies or timeframes by scanning award histories.

HUMAN

Strategic decisions

The AI provides the data and patterns, but you decide which budget shifts matter for your specific business or research goals.

The workflow

What your AI does when the data arrives.

The AI handles the heavy lifting of data retrieval and pattern recognition.

  1. Fetch raw data

    Your agent queries the FPDS database to grab specific procurement records based on your criteria.

    search_contracts

  2. Parse XML

    The agent reads through the raw XML files to extract meaningful fields like dollar amounts, dates, and agency names.

    search_contracts

  3. Identify patterns

    It looks for recurring spending spikes or changes in how an agency allocates its budget over several quarters.

    search_contracts

  4. Summarize findings

    The agent condenses thousands of lines of contract data into a concise report on spending trends.

    search_contracts

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to begin your analysis.

Starting points

Swap out the agency names or contract types to get specific results.

FPDS Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_Vn3F9Khrx617Z0JdvX67edpDqZJzuGUehIFV9a1Z/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — FPDS capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dod-contracts-fpds-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_Vn3F9Khrx617Z0JdvX67edpDqZJzuGUehIFV9a1Z/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Search for all contracts awarded to the Department of Defense in the last fiscal year.

  • Show me the spending trends for aerospace contracts over the last six months.

  • Which contractors have seen the largest increase in obligations from the Navy recently?

  • Analyze the budget shifts for research and development spending in the Department of Energy.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect DOD Contracts (FPDS) once, then ask.

You only need to link the MCP to your client once. Your credentials stay encrypted, and you can immediately start querying the data.

Connect DOD Contracts (FPDS) to your AI

FAQ

How this task behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI change the data in the FPDS database?

    No. The AI can only read and search the data through the provided tools.

  • 02

    Does the AI create its own contract records?

    No. It only retrieves and analyzes existing records from the federal database.

  • 03

    Can I use this to find specific contract numbers?

    Yes, you can use the search tool to find specific contract identifiers and details.

  • 04

    Will the AI automatically send reports to my email?

    No. The AI provides the analysis within your chat interface; you must handle any external distribution.

  • 05

    Can the AI analyze data from agencies other than the DOD?

    The tool is specifically designed for the DOD procurement data provided in the manifest.

  • More questions about DOD Contracts (FPDS)? The Connector page answers them. See everything the DOD Contracts (FPDS) Connector can do

Connect FPDS to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more