MCP Server: ChatGPT Connection Instructions

What You'll Need

• A ChatGPT plan: Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu (Free plan is not supported)
• A GovSpend account
• Developer Mode enabled in your ChatGPT workspace
• MCP endpoint: https://mcp.govspend.com/mcp

Business, Enterprise, and Edu plans: A workspace admin must enable Developer Mode at the workspace level before individual users can turn it on for themselves. Admins enable it under Workspace Settings → Permissions & Roles → Connected Data → Developer mode.

Setup Steps

Step 1: Enable Developer Mode

Open ChatGPT in your browser. Go to Settings → Apps & Connectors → Advanced settings and turn on Developer Mode.

Step 2: Add the GovSpend app

Go to Settings → Apps & Connectors and click Add custom app. Fill in the dialog as follows:

• Name: GovSpend
• Description (optional): Government procurement intelligence.
• Connection: Leave "Server URL" selected and paste: https://mcp.govspend.com/mcp
• Authentication: OAuth
• Check the "I understand and want to continue" acknowledgment.
• Click Create.

Step 3: Authenticate to GovSpend

ChatGPT redirects you to a GovSpend login page. Enter your credentials and login. The app will show as Connected.

Step 4: Turn it on in a chat

Custom apps are scoped per conversation. Start a new chat, open the tools menu in the composer, toggle Developer Mode on (you'll see an orange border on the input), then toggle GovSpend on.

Note: ChatGPT will indicate that memory is disabled for that chat. This is expected safety behavior whenever a custom MCP app is active.

Example Prompts to Try

• What are the top 10 vendors selling cybersecurity services to Texas state agencies in the last 12 months?
• Find open bids in Florida for fleet management software closing in the next 30 days.
• Summarize federal contract awards to Palantir over the past two years.

Troubleshooting

I don't see Developer Mode in my settings
Either you're on a Free plan (Developer Mode requires Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu), or your workspace admin hasn't enabled it. Ask your admin to enable it under Workspace Settings → Permissions & Roles → Connected Data.

"Could not connect" or the login window doesn't open

• Confirm the URL is pasted exactly — no trailing slash, no http://
• Make sure you checked the "I understand and want to continue" acknowledgment box.
• Pop-up blockers and privacy extensions can block the login window. Disable and retry.

App shows "Connected" but ChatGPT doesn't call it

• Developer Mode must be enabled for the current chat (orange border visible on the input).
• GovSpend must be toggled on in the tools menu for that specific chat.
• Custom apps don't run in shared chats. Start a new chat.

It connects, but no GovSpend tools are available

• Check with your GovSpend account executive or relationship manager to confirm you have been provisioned MCP access

Need to change the URL or rename the app
ChatGPT custom apps can't be edited in place. Remove the app and re-add it with the updated information.