MCP Server: ChatGPT Connection Instructions

What You'll Need

• A ChatGPT plan: Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, or Edu (Free plan is not supported)
• Your GovSpend API key
• Developer Mode enabled in your ChatGPT workspace
• MCP endpoint: https://mcp-spark-prod.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-spark-prod.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. Paste your API key. 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.

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.