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Glama

Gov Auctions

by io.github.pipeworx-io

Auctions Search

auctions_search
Read-onlyIdempotent

Search live US government auction lots for physical assets sold to the public — surplus vehicles, heavy equipment, real estate, electronics — from state/local governments (GovDeals, AllSurplus) and IRS seized/forfeited property. Filter by free-text keyword (matched on the item title, e.g. "truck", "excavator", "pickup"), 2-letter state, asset_type (vehicle|equipment|realestate|electronics|other), max_price (current bid ceiling), and closing_within_hours. Returns each lot with source, title, location, current bid, close time, and a link. For historical sold prices use auctions_sold_comps instead.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
limitNoMax lots (1-100, default 25).
stateNo2-letter state code of the item location, e.g. "TX", "CA".
sourceNoRestrict to one source: govdeals | allsurplus | irs.
keywordNoFree-text matched (case-insensitive) against the lot title, e.g. "truck", "forklift", "generator".
max_priceNoOnly lots whose current bid is at or below this.
asset_typeNoOne of: vehicle | equipment | realestate | electronics | other.
closing_within_hoursNoOnly lots closing within this many hours from now.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. Changed1 schema field changed
    • addedInput schema / examples
      Added value: +[
+  {
+    "asset_type": "vehicle",
+    "keyword": "pickup truck",
+    "max_price": 5000,
+    "state": "TX"
+  },
+  {
+    "asset_type": "equipment",
+    "closing_within_hours": 24,
+    "keyword": "excavator",
+    "limit": 10
+  }
+]
  2. First observed

TDQS

A4.5/5.0
Behavior4/5

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

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, openWorldHint, idempotentHint, and non-destructive. The description adds context about the return fields (source, title, location, current bid, close time, link), which is helpful beyond the annotations.

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

Conciseness5/5

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

The description is two sentences, each earning its place. It front-loads the purpose, then details filtering and return info, and ends with a sibling hint. No unnecessary words.

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

Completeness5/5

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

Given the tool's complexity (7 parameters, no output schema), the description covers all essential aspects: what it does, what it returns, and how to filter. It's sufficient for an agent to select and invoke the tool correctly.

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

Parameters4/5

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

Schema coverage is 100%, so baseline is 3. The description adds value by explaining that 'keyword' is matched on the item title, 'state' is a 2-letter code, 'asset_type' enumerates values, and 'closing_within_hours' filters by time. This goes beyond the schema descriptions.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description clearly states it searches live US government auction lots for physical assets, specifies the types of assets and sources, and distinguishes itself from the sibling tool 'auctions_sold_comps' for historical prices.

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

Usage Guidelines4/5

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

The description provides explicit guidance on when to use this tool (search live auctions) and when to use alternatives ('auctions_sold_comps' for historical prices). It could further mention not to use for specific lot details (use 'auction_lot_details'), but the main distinction is clear.

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

All Gov Auctions toolsInspect
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TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Disambiguation2/5

Several tools occupy nearly the same question-answering niche: ask_pipeworx, ask_pipeworx_beta (currently identical by its own description), ask_pipeworx_grounded, deep_research, and validate_claim are easy to confuse. The polymarket suite also has overlapping edge/arbitrage/fill-risk boundaries, and discover_tools/suggest_questions both serve onboarding. The verbose descriptions help, but the set as a whole creates real misselection risk.

Naming Consistency4/5

Most tools follow clear snake_case verb_noun or domain-prefix patterns (auctions_search, polymarket_edges, subscribe/unsubscribe, remember/recall/forget). Minor inconsistencies exist: auction_lot_details is singular while the auction group is plural, and polymarket_edges versus polymarket_edge_tracker breaks the prefix pattern slightly. Overall the naming is predictable and readable.

Tool Count2/5

36 tools is well above the 25-tool threshold and feels bloated for a server named 'Gov Auctions': only 5 tools actually concern auctions, while the rest are general Pipeworx research, prediction-market, memory, subscription, and utility tools. Even as a general data platform, the count is heavy and includes several overlapping meta-tools.

Completeness4/5

For the auction-specific surface, the set covers search, lot details, closing-soon, historical sold prices, and data coverage, which is a solid read-only lifecycle. The main gaps are non-critical: no auction-category browser, no auction-specific alert/subscription type, and no bidding workflow. The broad research/esolution tools fill in most adjacent data needs even if they dilute the server's stated focus.

Resources