# BidNet Direct Government Bids Scraper (`parseforge/governmentbids-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes government bid solicitations from BidNet Direct. Returns bid title, URL, status, publication date, closing date, and optional detail fields. Filter by keyword, location, category, agency type, and date.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/governmentbids-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Other
- **Stats:** 75 total users, 13 monthly users, 95.7% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $12.99 / 1,000 result items

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### BidNet Direct Government Bids Scraper

**Scrape government bids and RFPs from BidNet Direct with keyword, location, agency type, and date filters.** Each row returns the solicitation title, URL, status, publication and closing dates, and optional detail fields. No login or API key. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

BidNet Direct lists thousands of open and closed government solicitations across US states, counties, and federal agencies, but manually checking the portal for new opportunities eats hours. This Actor reads the public listing pages directly, applies your filters as it goes, and returns every matching bid in one flat row. Use it to monitor new RFPs, build a bid pipeline, or feed your own database.

| Who uses it | What they scrape BidNet Direct for |
|---|---|
| Government contractors | Find open bids in their industry and location before the deadline |
| Bid consultants | Monitor new RFPs for multiple clients across different agencies |
| Market researchers | Analyze public procurement trends by category, agency, or region |
| Sales teams | Build a list of government buyers actively soliciting services |
| Procurement analysts | Track closed bids to study award patterns and competitor activity |

### What it does

This Actor collects government bid solicitations from BidNet Direct by direct URL or search filters, and returns each one as a flat row with title, URL, status, dates, and optional detail fields.

- 🔎 **Search filters:** keyword, bid status, category codes, location IDs, publication date, agency type, and sort order.
- 🔗 **Direct URLs:** paste any BidNet Direct listing page URL and collect from it, alone or with filters.
- 📋 **Detail fields:** optionally open each bid page to add AI overview and detail timestamps.
- 📊 **Flat output:** every bid is one row, ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML export.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with BidNet Direct data

**📬 Monitor new RFPs daily.**

A government contractor sets the keyword to their service, bidStatus to open, and publishDate to Last 24 Hours, then schedules the Actor to run every morning and exports new bids to a spreadsheet.

**📍 Find local opportunities.**

A small business owner enters their state's location ID and a category code to see only open bids in their region, sorted by closing date.

**📊 Analyze closed bid history.**

A market researcher collects closed bids for a category over the past year to study which agencies buy the most and what they pay.

**🏛️ Track federal vs. state spending.**

A procurement analyst runs the Actor with agencyType set to Federal Bids and then State & Local Bids to compare solicitation volume and deadlines.

**🔗 Scrape a specific listing page.**

A consultant pastes the URL of a BidNet Direct search result page into startUrl to collect exactly the bids they already see in the browser.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No login or API key** | Reads the public listing pages directly, so you can start scraping in minutes. |
| **Filter before you download** | Keyword, status, category, location, date, and agency type filters reduce noise. |
| **Open and closed bids** | Collect current opportunities or historical awards for analysis. |
| **Optional detail fields** | Enable includeDetails to get AI overview and detail timestamps from each bid page. |
| **Flexible input** | Use a direct URL or let the Actor build the search URL from your filters. |

### How it compares

This Actor offers the same core BidNet Direct scraping as the competitors below, with additional filters for agency type, category codes, and sort options, plus optional detail fields.

| Feature | ParseForge | BidNet Direct Government Bids Scraper | BidNet Direct \[Closed 🔴] Bid Opportunities Scraper | BidNet Direct \[Open ✅] Bid Opportunities Scraper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword search filter | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Location filter | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Category code filter | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Agency type filter | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Sort options | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Optional detail fields (AI overview, timestamps) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Open and closed bids in one actor | Yes | Yes | Closed only | Open only |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from direct BidNet Direct URLs or search filters, and filters run as each listing is read so only matches reach your dataset. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "startUrl": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open"
    }
  ],
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
  "startUrl": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open"
    }
  ],
  "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.01734 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $1.73 |
| 1,000 results | $17.34 |
| 10,000 results | $173.40 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [BidNet Direct Government Bids Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/governmentbids-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to BidNet Direct through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/governmentbids-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that your filters are not too restrictive. Try removing category codes or location IDs, or set publishDate to All. Also ensure you are not using both startUrl and search filters at the same time.

**Why did the run stop at 100 items?**

Free Apify accounts are limited to 100 items per run. Upgrade to a paid plan to increase maxItems up to 1,000,000.

**Why are some fields empty in the output?**

Some fields, like AI overview or detail timestamps, are only populated when includeDetails is enabled. Enable that option and rerun.

**Why is the Actor slow when includeDetails is on?**

Opening each bid detail page takes extra time. If you do not need the detail fields, disable includeDetails for faster runs.

**Can I use both startUrl and search filters?**

No, use one or the other. If you provide startUrl, the search filters are ignored.

**Why did I get an error about invalid location ID?**

Location IDs must be numeric and comma-separated. Check the BidNet Direct search UI for the correct IDs for your target locations.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a BidNet Direct account or API key? | No. The Actor reads the public listing pages on BidNet Direct, so no login or API key is required. |
| Can I scrape both open and closed bids? | Yes. Set bidStatus to Open Bids or Closed Bids, or run the Actor twice with different settings. |
| How do I filter by location? | Use the locations field with comma-separated location IDs, for example 73 for Florida or 277 for Texas. You can find IDs in the BidNet Direct search UI. |
| What are category codes? | Category codes are numeric identifiers used by BidNet Direct to classify solicitations, such as 320204 for a specific commodity or service. Enter them comma-separated in the categories field. |
| Can I sort the results? | Yes. Use sortOption to order by publication date, closing date, solicitation title, or location, in ascending or descending order. |
| What does includeDetails do? | When enabled, the Actor opens each bid detail page and adds public fields such as AI overview and detail timestamps to the output. |
| How many bids can I scrape? | Free Apify users are limited to 100 bids per run. Paid users can set maxItems up to 1,000,000. |
| Can I use a direct URL instead of search filters? | Yes. Paste any BidNet Direct listing page URL into startUrl. Use either startUrl or the search filters, not both. |
| What export formats are supported? | You can export the results to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify dataset. |
| Does this Actor handle pagination? | Yes, it follows pagination on the listing pages until it reaches maxItems or no more results. |
| Can I schedule this Actor to run automatically? | Yes, you can schedule it in Apify to run daily, hourly, or on a custom cron schedule. |
| Is this Actor affiliated with BidNet Direct? | No, this is an independent scraper built by ParseForge. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by BidNet Direct. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by BidNet Direct. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrl` (type: `array`):

Direct BidNetDirect listing URLs to collect from. Use this OR the search filters below, not both.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Free users: Limited to 100. Paid users: Optional, max 1,000,000.

## `keywords` (type: `string`):

Search by keyword or bid title. Use this OR Start URL above, not both.

## `bidStatus` (type: `string`):

Choose whether to collect open bids or closed bids.

## `categories` (type: `string`):

Optional comma-separated category codes, for example 320204,321609.

## `locations` (type: `string`):

Optional comma-separated location IDs, for example 73 for Florida or 277 for Texas.

## `publishDate` (type: `string`):

Limit results by recent publication date.

## `agencyType` (type: `string`):

Filter by the BidNetDirect agency group shown in the listing search UI.

## `sortOption` (type: `string`):

Choose the same ordering options available in the BidNetDirect listing page.

## `includeDetails` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, the actor opens each bid detail page and adds public detail fields such as AI overview and detail timestamps.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "startUrl": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open"
    }
  ],
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

Overview table with the main bid fields and the error column last.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "startUrl": [
        {
            "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open"
        }
    ],
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/governmentbids-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "startUrl": [{ "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open" }],
    "maxItems": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/governmentbids-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "startUrl": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.bidnetdirect.com/public/solicitations/open"
    }
  ],
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call parseforge/governmentbids-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/governmentbids-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/odyjVfvJ7RtZWgjfF/builds/P4q6p5BP7gTl30Hry/openapi.json