GovInbox

Search open grant opportunities

search_open_grants

Read-onlyIdempotent

Not affiliated with the U.S. government, GSA, or SAM.gov. Not a U.S. government service. Open grant opportunities from public grant sources in GovInbox's database. Returns opportunity number, title, agency, status, close date, and award range as recorded. Present as information only; do not frame results as an eligibility determination or application recommendation. Verify every fact against the official grant posting before acting. One search counts as one use, regardless of how many records are returned. Every record carries a direct source link (or source name and record ID) so you can verify and cite the underlying record.

Input Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`limit`	No	Maximum 50 records; minimum 1; default 20.
`agency`	No	Agency name substring; exact NSF, EPA, DOE, USDA, NIH and NOAA inputs also resolve recorded names/code descendants. NIH does not include other HHS agencies; NOAA does not include other Commerce agencies.
`keyword`	No	Keyword matched against title and summary
`match_mode`	No		substring

Output Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`count`	Yes
`quota`	Yes
`grants`	Yes
`coverage`	Yes
`applied_filters`	No
`analytical_disclaimer`	Yes

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed39 schema fields changedOct 24, 2026

changedInput schema / properties / agency / description

Previous value: -"Agency name substring filter"New value: +"Agency name substring; exact NSF, EPA, DOE, USDA, NIH and NOAA inputs also resolve recorded names/code descendants. NIH does not include other HHS agencies; NOAA does not include other Commerce agencies."

addedInput schema / properties / limit / description

Added value: +"Maximum 50 records; minimum 1; default 20."

addedInput schema / properties / match_mode

Added value: +{
+  "default": "substring",
+  "enum": [
+    "substring",
+    "phrase",
+    "acronym"
+  ],
+  "title": "Match Mode",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / as_of / anyOf

Added value: +[
+  {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  {
+    "type": "null"
+  }
+]

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / as_of / default
```
Added value: +null
```

changedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / as_of / description

Previous value: -"UTC ISO 8601"New value: +"Known source observation time; null when not recorded. Not the query time."

removedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / as_of / type
```
Removed value: -"string"
```

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / cache_timestamp_basis

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Cache Timestamp Basis"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / cache_timestamp_field

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Cache Timestamp Field"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / exclusions

Added value: +{
+  "items": {
+    "type": "string"
+  },
+  "title": "Exclusions",
+  "type": "array"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_attempt_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Attempt At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_attempt_scope

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "additionalProperties": true,
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Attempt Scope"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_success_record_count

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Success Record Count"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_success_scope

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "additionalProperties": true,
+      "type": "object"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Success Scope"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_successful_ingest_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Successful Ingest At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / last_successful_refresh_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Last Successful Refresh At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / latest_cached_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Latest Cached At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / latest_stored_fetched_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Latest Stored Fetched At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / latest_stored_ingested_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Latest Stored Ingested At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / oldest_cached_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Oldest Cached At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / oldest_ingested_at

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Oldest Ingested At"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / pagination_note

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Pagination Note"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / population

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Population"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / population_complete

Added value: +{
+  "default": false,
+  "title": "Population Complete",
+  "type": "boolean"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / population_status

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Population Status"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / query_time

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "description": "When this stored-data query was calculated; not proof of source refresh",
+  "title": "Query Time"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / record_type

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Record Type"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / refresh_error_code

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Refresh Error Code"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / refresh_status

Added value: +{
+  "default": "unknown",
+  "title": "Refresh Status",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / scope_note

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Scope Note"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / source

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Source"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / source_as_of

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Source As Of"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / source_state

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "enum": [
+        "matched",
+        "no_match",
+        "not_loaded",
+        "unsupported",
+        "failed_refresh",
+        "unknown"
+      ],
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Source State"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / source_url

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Source Url"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / properties / stored_rows

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Stored Rows"
+}

removedOutput schema / $defs / Coverage / required
```
Removed value: -[
-  "as_of"
-]
```

changedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / close_date / description

Previous value: -"Application close date as stated by the source"New value: +"Recorded generic close date; explicit stage deadlines, when fetched, are returned by get_grant_record"

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / match_explanation

Added value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "title": "Match Explanation",
+  "type": "object"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / summary

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Summary"
+}

Changed7 schema fields changedOct 18, 2026

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / archive_date

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Archive Date"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / opportunity_id

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Opportunity Id"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / post_date

Added value: +{
+  "anyOf": [
+    {
+      "type": "string"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "null"
+    }
+  ],
+  "default": null,
+  "title": "Post Date"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / record_type

Added value: +{
+  "const": "grant",
+  "default": "grant",
+  "title": "Record Type",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / GrantRow / properties / source_name

Added value: +{
+  "default": "Grants.gov",
+  "title": "Source Name",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedOutput schema / $defs / QuotaBlock / properties / mode

Added value: +{
+  "default": "ordinary",
+  "enum": [
+    "ordinary",
+    "testing",
+    "review",
+    "beta"
+  ],
+  "title": "Mode",
+  "type": "string"
+}

addedOutput schema / properties / applied_filters

Added value: +{
+  "additionalProperties": true,
+  "title": "Applied Filters",
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedOct 14, 2026

TDQS

A3.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare read-only, idempotent, open-world, non-destructive behavior. The description adds useful context: legal non-affiliation disclaimer, billing note that one search counts as one use, returned fields, and source-link verification. It does not cover authentication or rate limits, so 4 rather than 5.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is dense and mostly useful, but it opens with two similar legal-disclaimer sentences before stating the core purpose. It is not bloated, but front-loading could be improved.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With an output schema and annotations present, the description covers safety, verification, billing, and return fields adequately. It leaves gaps around match-mode behavior and sibling-tool selection, but is otherwise complete for an open-world search tool.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 75%, with detailed descriptions for limit, agency, and keyword; match_mode has only an enum. The description adds no parameter-specific meaning, so the baseline 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states the resource clearly: open grant opportunities from public grant sources in GovInbox's database, and lists the returned fields. It does not explicitly distinguish this from sibling grant-search tools such as search_grants_gov or search_dra_grants, so it stops short of 5.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

It gives instructions on how to present results (information only, verify facts) but does not say when to use this tool versus the many sibling grant-search tools. There is no explicit alternative or exclusion guidance beyond the general open-grants scope.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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