> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.civicmarketplace.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect with Claude

> Add the CivicMarketplace AI Connector to Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, or Claude Code

Connect CivicMarketplace to [Claude](https://claude.ai) and ask about contracts and suppliers directly in your conversations.

<Note>
  Custom connectors are available on **Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise** plans. On Team and
  Enterprise, an administrator may need to enable connectors for the organization first.
</Note>

The endpoint you'll use:

```
https://mcp.civicmarketplace.com/mcp
```

## Claude.ai (web)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open connector settings">
    Go to **Settings → Connectors** and click **Add custom connector**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the connector details">
    * **Name**: `CivicMarketplace`
    * **URL**: `https://mcp.civicmarketplace.com/mcp`

    Click **Add**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in to CivicMarketplace">
    Click **Connect**. A CivicMarketplace sign-in window opens — log in with your normal account and
    approve the requested permissions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start asking">
    In a new chat, open the tools/connectors menu and confirm CivicMarketplace is enabled. Then ask
    something like *"Search CivicMarketplace for janitorial contracts."*
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Claude Desktop

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Connectors">
    Open **Settings → Connectors**. You'll see your existing connectors grouped under **Web** and
    **Desktop**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a custom connector">
    Click the **+** button at the top of the Connectors panel, then choose **Add custom connector**
    from the menu.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the connector details">
    * **Name**: `Civic Marketplace`
    * **URL**: `https://mcp.civicmarketplace.com/mcp`

    Click **Add**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in to CivicMarketplace">
    Click **Connect**. A CivicMarketplace sign-in window opens — log in with your normal account and
    approve the requested permissions. The connector will then appear under **Web** and show a
    **Disconnect** button once it's linked.
  </Step>

  <Step title="(Optional) Set tool permissions">
    Open the connector to see its **Tool permissions**. CivicMarketplace tools include read tools and
    scoped write tools; each can be set to **Allow**, **Needs approval** (the default), or
    **Disallow**. Leaving them on *Needs approval* means Claude asks before each use.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Claude Code (CLI)

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add the connector">
    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp add --transport http civicmarketplace https://mcp.civicmarketplace.com/mcp
    ```

    This only registers the server — it does **not** sign you in yet. `claude mcp list` will show it
    as `! Needs authentication`, which is expected at this point.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authenticate from inside Claude Code">
    Authentication doesn't happen from `claude mcp add` or `claude mcp list` — it happens inside an
    interactive session. Start Claude Code:

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude
    ```

    Then run the `/mcp` command, select **civicmarketplace**, and choose **Authenticate**. Your
    browser opens the CivicMarketplace sign-in page — log in and approve the requested permissions, then
    return to the terminal.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm it's connected">
    Still in the session, run `/mcp` again — civicmarketplace should now show as connected. From a
    fresh terminal you can also check:

    ```bash theme={null}
    claude mcp list
    ```

    It should now read `civicmarketplace: … - ✓ Connected`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  `claude mcp list` only **reports** status — it never opens the login window. If a server shows `!
        Needs authentication`, run `/mcp` inside `claude` to sign in.
</Note>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The sign-in window doesn't appear or fails">
    Make sure pop-ups are allowed for Claude, and that you're signing in with the same email you use
    for CivicMarketplace. If you recently changed your access, disconnect and reconnect the
    connector to refresh your session.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Claude says it can't find the tools">
    Confirm the connector is toggled on for the current chat (in the tools/connectors menu), then
    try again. Custom connectors must be enabled per conversation in some clients.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I get a permissions or access error">
    The connector only returns data your CivicMarketplace account can access. If you expect to see
    something you can't, contact your account manager — your account may need additional access in
    CivicMarketplace itself.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Example prompts" icon="lightbulb" href="/ai-connector/example-prompts">
    See what you can ask once you're connected.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tools and permissions" icon="shield-check" href="/ai-connector/tools-and-permissions">
    Review the MCP tools and required permissions.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>