Model Context Protocol
A hosted MCP server for BABA determinations
MCP is the open standard that lets AI agents call external tools without custom glue code. Point any MCP-capable client at Sourceory’s endpoint and it gets domestic-content determinations, the cross-agency threshold matrix and the waiver categories as first-class tools, no wrapper to write, no threshold to guess at.
Setup
Add the server
Streamable HTTP transport, JSON-RPC 2.0, one URL, no local process to run.
Endpoint:
https://sourceory.com/api/mcp
Config snippet for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor or any client that reads an mcpServers map. Every tool works with no Authorizationheader at the anonymous rate; a key raises the throttle to your plan's quota.
mcp config
{
"mcpServers": {
"sourceory": {
"url": "https://sourceory.com/api/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer <your-api-key>"
}
}
}
}Tools
What the server exposes
Three tools over the same engine the REST API and the free calculator use. Each returns values with their citation and a confidence flag; a verdict of insufficient_data means not determined, never a pass, and waiver_eligible is not compliance.
determine_baba
Run a BABA determination on a project bill of materials for a funding agency. Each line is compliant, non_compliant, waiver_eligible or insufficient_data; waiver_eligible and insufficient_data are never a pass. Manufactured products return the computed domestic-content percentage against the threshold, which must be strictly exceeded. Pass asOfDate, the project's obligation date, because standards phase in by that date. Free, no API key needed.
arguments { "agencySlug": "fhwa", "asOfDate": "2026-08-03", "lines": [{ "component": "steel girder", "category": "iron_steel", "cost": 120000, "allManufacturingInUS": true }] }
get_thresholds
Look up the BABA domestic-content standards, the full cross-agency matrix or one agency's three standards with the citation behind each. An unknown agency returns not_found, never a fabricated threshold. Free, no API key needed.
arguments { "agency": "epa-srf" }
get_waivers
Look up the BABA waiver categories with the objective test where one exists (de minimis 5%, unreasonable cost 25%) and the citation. Free, no API key needed.
arguments { "waiver": "de_minimis" }
determine_baba
tools/call request
POST https://sourceory.com/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "determine_baba",
"arguments": {
"agencySlug": "fhwa",
"lines": [
{
"component": "steel girder",
"category": "iron_steel",
"cost": 120000,
"allManufacturingInUS": true
},
{
"component": "control panel",
"category": "manufactured_product",
"cost": 40000,
"manufacturedInUS": true,
"domesticComponentCost": 18000
}
]
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\n \"data\": {\n \"input\": {\n \"agencySlug\": \"fhwa\",\n \"lines\": [\n {\n \"component\": \"steel girder\",\n \"category\": \"iron_steel\",\n \"cost\": 120000,\n \"allManufacturingInUS\": true\n },\n {\n \"component\": \"control panel\",\n \"category\": \"manufactured_product\",\n \"cost\": 40000,\n \"manufacturedInUS\": true,\n \"domesticComponentCost\": 18000\n }\n ]\n },\n \"agency\": {\n \"slug\": \"fhwa\",\n \"name\": \"FHWA\",\n \"program\": \"Federal-aid highway program\"\n },\n \"findings\": [\n {\n \"lineIndex\": 0,\n \"component\": \"steel girder\",\n \"category\": \"iron_steel\",\n \"verdict\": \"compliant\",\n \"domesticContentPct\": null,\n \"thresholdPct\": null,\n \"summary\": \"Iron & steel: all manufacturing in the US. Compliant.\",\n \"rule\": \"All iron and steel used in the project must be produced in the United States, meaning all manufacturing processes from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings occurred in the United States.\",\n \"remedy\": \"\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"OMB M-24-02 government-wide baseline, applied by FHWA\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-07-21\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"lineIndex\": 1,\n \"component\": \"control panel\",\n \"category\": \"manufactured_product\",\n \"verdict\": \"compliant\",\n \"domesticContentPct\": null,\n \"thresholdPct\": null,\n \"summary\": \"Manufactured product assembled in the US. Compliant: no component-cost test applies at this obligation date.\",\n \"rule\": \"A manufactured product permanently incorporated into the project must be manufactured in the United States (the final assembly requirement). The 55 percent domestic component-cost test does not apply to projects obligated before October 1, 2026.\",\n \"remedy\": \"\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"FHWA Q&As on the Buy America Final Rule for Manufactured Products (89 FR, final rule published January 14, 2025)\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/contracts/pdfs/Manuf_Products_QA_FINAL_RULE_Doc1.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-08-02\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n }\n ],\n \"summary\": {\n \"totalLines\": 2,\n \"compliant\": 2,\n \"nonCompliant\": 0,\n \"waiverEligible\": 0,\n \"insufficientData\": 0,\n \"totalCost\": 160000,\n \"projectDomesticContentPct\": 100,\n \"compliantOverall\": true\n },\n \"deMinimis\": {\n \"applies\": false,\n \"nonCompliantCost\": 0,\n \"excludedCost\": 0,\n \"applicableCost\": 160000,\n \"capUsd\": 8000,\n \"pctOfApplicableCost\": 5,\n \"maxUsd\": 1000000,\n \"note\": \"No non-compliant material, so the de minimis test does not arise. The cap would be $8,000.\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"FHWA Buy America Construction Program Guide\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/cqit/buyam.cfm\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-08-02\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n },\n \"standardsAsOf\": {\n \"date\": \"2026-08-02\",\n \"suppliedByCaller\": false,\n \"upcomingChange\": {\n \"category\": \"manufactured_product\",\n \"from\": \"2026-10-01\",\n \"statement\": \"A manufactured product must meet the final assembly requirement AND the cost of its components that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States must be greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components.\"\n }\n },\n \"coverage\": {\n \"agenciesLoaded\": 4,\n \"waiverCategoriesLoaded\": 5,\n \"note\": \"Determinations run against 4 funding agencies and 5 waiver categories currently loaded. BABA covers more than 60 federal financial-assistance programs; where an agency is not loaded, request it rather than assuming its standard matches another agency's.\"\n }\n },\n \"request_id\": \"req_2f9c41a7b0e84d15\",\n \"disclaimer\": \"Sourceory provides Build America, Buy America compliance guidance based on published OMB and agency sources. It is not legal advice and not an official agency determination or waiver. BABA guidance and waivers are updated over time and are fact-specific. Always confirm against the funding agency's current guidance and your grant terms before certifying compliance or applying for a waiver.\"\n}"
}
]
}
}get_thresholds
tools/call request
POST https://sourceory.com/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "get_thresholds",
"arguments": {
"agency": "epa-srf"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\n \"data\": {\n \"agency\": {\n \"slug\": \"epa-srf\",\n \"name\": \"EPA State Revolving Funds\",\n \"program\": \"Clean Water SRF and Drinking Water SRF\"\n },\n \"standards\": [\n {\n \"category\": \"iron_steel\",\n \"test\": \"all_us\",\n \"thresholdPct\": null,\n \"effectiveDate\": \"2022-05-14\",\n \"statement\": \"All iron and steel used in the project must be produced in the United States, meaning all manufacturing processes from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings occurred in the United States. This aligns with the pre-existing SRF American Iron and Steel requirement.\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"OMB M-24-02 government-wide baseline; EPA SRF American Iron and Steel requirement\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-07-21\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"category\": \"manufactured_product\",\n \"test\": \"percent\",\n \"thresholdPct\": 55,\n \"effectiveDate\": \"2022-05-14\",\n \"statement\": \"A manufactured product must be manufactured in the United States, and the cost of its US-made components must be greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components.\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"OMB M-24-02 government-wide baseline, applied by EPA SRF programs\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-07-21\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n },\n {\n \"category\": \"construction_material\",\n \"test\": \"all_us\",\n \"thresholdPct\": null,\n \"effectiveDate\": \"2022-05-14\",\n \"statement\": \"All manufacturing processes for the construction material must have occurred in the United States, per the OMB-defined construction materials list.\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"OMB M-24-02 government-wide baseline, applied by EPA SRF programs\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-07-21\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n }\n ]\n },\n \"request_id\": \"req_2f9c41a7b0e84d15\",\n \"disclaimer\": \"Sourceory provides Build America, Buy America compliance guidance based on published OMB and agency sources. It is not legal advice and not an official agency determination or waiver. BABA guidance and waivers are updated over time and are fact-specific. Always confirm against the funding agency's current guidance and your grant terms before certifying compliance or applying for a waiver.\"\n}"
}
]
}
}get_waivers
tools/call request
POST https://sourceory.com/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "get_waivers",
"arguments": {
"waiver": "de_minimis"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\n \"data\": {\n \"slug\": \"de_minimis\",\n \"name\": \"De Minimis Waiver\",\n \"quantitativeTest\": \"Cumulative cost of non-domestic components is 5% or less of total material cost\",\n \"appliesWhen\": \"Non-domestic content cumulatively falls at or below the de minimis threshold (example: 5 percent of applicable project costs, capped at $1,000,000).\",\n \"citation\": {\n \"source\": \"OMB M-24-02, general applicability public interest waiver examples\",\n \"url\": \"https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/M-24-02-Buy-America-Implementation-Guidance-Update.pdf\",\n \"retrievedAt\": \"2026-07-21\",\n \"confidence\": \"verified\"\n }\n },\n \"request_id\": \"req_2f9c41a7b0e84d15\",\n \"disclaimer\": \"Sourceory provides Build America, Buy America compliance guidance based on published OMB and agency sources. It is not legal advice and not an official agency determination or waiver. BABA guidance and waivers are updated over time and are fact-specific. Always confirm against the funding agency's current guidance and your grant terms before certifying compliance or applying for a waiver.\"\n}"
}
]
}
}Anonymous calls are rate-limited to 4/min and 20/day per IP, enough to try the server from an agent config, not enough to build on. A free test key raises every tool to 10/min against the real engine and never bills. Pass Authorization: Bearer <key> for production limits: 60/min and 1,000 calls/mo on Pro, up to 300/min and 10,000/mo on Scale. See pricing for the full table.
Sourceory provides Build America, Buy America compliance guidance based on published OMB and agency sources. It is not legal advice and not an official agency determination or waiver. BABA guidance and waivers are updated over time and are fact-specific. Always confirm against the funding agency's current guidance and your grant terms before certifying compliance or applying for a waiver.
Point your agent at it
Every tool works keyless at the anonymous rate. A free test key raises the throttle against the real engine and never bills.