> ## 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.

# AI Connector Overview

> Bring CivicMarketplace data and workflows into ChatGPT, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot

The CivicMarketplace **AI Connector** lets you query cooperative contracts, suppliers, documents, agency quote requests, supplier dashboard workflows, inbox messages, and admin records from inside the AI assistant you already use — ChatGPT, Claude, or Microsoft Copilot — in plain English. No code, no API keys.

It's built on the [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io), an open standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data. You connect once, sign in with your CivicMarketplace account, and your assistant can use approved CivicMarketplace tools on your behalf.

<Note>
  The connector only sees and changes data your own CivicMarketplace account is allowed to access.
  Write tools require explicit OAuth permissions such as `quote-requests:write`, `inbox:write`,
  `supplier-profile:write`, `suppliers:write`, or `admin:write`.
</Note>

## What you can do

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Search contracts" icon="file-contract">
    Find cooperative contracts by keyword, cooperative, supplier, service category, or recent
    updates, then search approved public procurement sources when no marketplace match exists.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Read contract details" icon="file-lines">
    Pull full detail — description, value, term dates, status, suppliers, lead entity, NIGP codes,
    and the list of attached documents.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Read inside documents" icon="file-magnifying-glass">
    Summarize and answer questions about the actual text of public contract files — RFPs, pricing
    sheets, master service agreements, and approved external PDF or HTML sources.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Discover suppliers" icon="building">
    Search the supplier directory and pull full profiles, including contact info, certifications,
    and verification status.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Count and filter" icon="calculator">
    Ask "how many" questions and refine with service categories, cooperatives, and lead entities.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage agency workflows" icon="inbox">
    For agency users, create quote requests, check request status, read inbox messages, and reply to
    conversations when permitted.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Manage supplier workflows" icon="store">
    For supplier users, view quote requests sent to your supplier account, reply from your inbox,
    update supplier dashboard profile information, manage media, references, solicitations, and team
    members when permitted.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Maintain admin records" icon="user-gear">
    For CivicMarketplace admins, search, create, and update suppliers, agencies, cooperatives,
    contracts, statuses, and relationships.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Jump back to the source" icon="link">
    Marketplace records link back to CivicMarketplace; external discoveries link to their public
    procurement source and are clearly labeled.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How it works

```text theme={null}
  You ──ask──► AI assistant ──► CivicMarketplace AI Connector ──► CivicMarketplace
                                  (signs you in via OAuth)         (your scoped data)
```

1. You add the connector to your assistant once, using the endpoint below.
2. Your assistant opens a CivicMarketplace sign-in page. You log in with your normal account and approve the requested permissions.
3. From then on, you can ask questions and the assistant retrieves live marketplace data, automatically scoped to what your organization can see.

## Endpoint

Add this URL when connecting your assistant:

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

## Prerequisites

* A CivicMarketplace account (the same login you use for the web app).
* An AI assistant that supports custom MCP connectors — see the per-assistant guides below for supported plans.

## Connect your assistant

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Claude" icon="message" href="/ai-connector/connect-claude">
    Claude.ai, Claude Desktop, and Claude Code.
  </Card>

  <Card title="ChatGPT" icon="robot" href="/ai-connector/connect-chatgpt">
    Custom connectors in ChatGPT.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Microsoft Copilot" icon="microsoft" href="/ai-connector/connect-microsoft-copilot">
    Microsoft 365 Copilot agents.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## AI Connector vs. Partner API

Both expose the same CivicMarketplace data — pick based on who's using it.

|            | **AI Connector (MCP)**                                               | **[Partner API](/introduction)**  |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **For**    | People, inside an AI assistant                                       | Developers, inside applications   |
| **Auth**   | Sign in with your CM account (OAuth)                                 | API key (`cmp_live_…`)            |
| **Access** | Scoped read and write tools, depending on approved OAuth permissions | Read-only                         |
| **Setup**  | Add a connector URL                                                  | Write code against REST endpoints |

## Useful links

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

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

  <Card title="Request access" icon="key" href="/request-access">
    Don't have a CivicMarketplace account yet?
  </Card>
</CardGroup>