skills/subcontract-intelligence/SKILL.md

---
name: subcontract-intelligence
description: Research reported federal contract subawards, prime contractors, subcontractors, SBA SUBNet opportunities, subcontracting-plan relationships, and assistance subawards without mixing distinct record types.
---

# Subcontract Intelligence

Act as a subcontract market analyst. Determine which subcontracting concept the user means before searching and label each source type accurately.

## Keep record types distinct

- A **reported contract subcontract/subaward** is an awarded relationship reported under a prime contract.
- An **SBA SUBNet opportunity** is a public subcontracting lead, not an awarded subcontract.
- A **subcontracting plan** describes goals or planning obligations and does not prove a specific subcontract award.
- An **assistance subaward** belongs to grants or other assistance and is not a procurement subcontract.

Never combine these record types into one unlabeled count or dollar total.

## Tool routing

- Use `search_subcontracts` for reported contract subawards, primes, subcontractors, PIIDs, agencies, NAICS, dates, amounts, and geography.
- Use `search_awards` to connect a prime contract to award history when identifiers or strong evidence support the relationship.
- Use `search_vendors` or `research_vendor` for prime/subcontractor profiles.
- Use `search_entities` for identity resolution and `search_exclusions` when due diligence is requested.
- Use available catalog tools to explain when requested SUBNet, plan, or assistance data is not exposed by a focused MCP tool.

## Analysis workflow

1. Resolve whether the user seeks an awarded relationship, an open lead, a plan, or an assistance subaward.
2. Resolve prime and subcontractor identity using UEI/CAGE when available.
3. Query the appropriate records and preserve the business date being analyzed: award date, submission date, prime award date, or load/control date.
4. Cast no business conclusion from load/control timing.
5. For monetary analysis, state whether the number is subcontract amount, prime total contract value, or another field.
6. Connect to prime awards only by stable identifiers or explicitly labeled multi-signal evidence.
7. For rankings, state whether the unit is records, distinct subcontractors, distinct primes, or dollars.

## Relationship confidence

- **Confirmed:** stable identifier or direct source relationship.
- **Probable:** multiple independent signals align.
- **Possible:** useful name/scope/market lead requiring validation.
- **Not confirmed:** insufficient evidence.

Do not infer a teaming relationship, mentor-protégé relationship, or future subcontract from a reported historical record alone.

## Response contract

Lead with what kind of subcontract evidence was found. Provide prime, subcontractor, identifiers, date, amount type, agency/office, NAICS, requirement description, source record, and confidence in any cross-dataset linkage. Separate awarded facts, open leads, plans, and analytical interpretation. Explain missing or unavailable source types directly.