gsa-perdiem-mcp 0.1.0

MCP server for GSA Per Diem Rates API. Federal travel lodging and M&IE rates for IGCEs and travel cost estimation.

gsa-perdiem-mcp

MCP server for the GSA Per Diem Rates API. Federal travel lodging and M&IE rates for IGCEs and travel cost estimation.

Works without configuration using DEMO_KEY. Optional free API key for higher rate limits.

What it does

Exposes the GSA Per Diem API as 6 MCP tools:

Core lookups

• lookup_city_perdiem - Rates by city/state (auto-selects best NSA match)
• lookup_zip_perdiem - Rates by ZIP code
• lookup_state_rates - All NSA rates for a state
• get_mie_breakdown - M&IE tier table (meal components)

Workflow

• estimate_travel_cost - Calculate trip per diem (lodging + M&IE with first/last day at 75%)
• compare_locations - Compare rates across multiple cities

Authentication (optional)

Works immediately with DEMO_KEY (~10 req/hr). For 1,000 req/hr, register free at api.data.gov/signup and set PERDIEM_API_KEY in your config.

Installation

uvx gsa-perdiem-mcp

Claude Desktop configuration

Without key (works immediately):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gsa-perdiem": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["gsa-perdiem-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

With key:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gsa-perdiem": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["gsa-perdiem-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PERDIEM_API_KEY": "your-api-data-gov-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Example prompts

• "What's the per diem rate for Washington DC in FY2026?"
• "Estimate travel costs for 4 nights in Boston in March."
• "Compare per diem rates for DC, New York, and San Francisco."
• "What are all the NSA per diem locations in Virginia?"
• "Show me the M&IE meal breakdown for the $92 tier."
• "Build a travel estimate: 3 trips to Seattle (4 nights each) and 2 trips to DC (3 nights each)."

Important: maximum reimbursement, not actual prices

Per diem rates are federal reimbursement ceilings per 41 CFR 301-11. They are not actual hotel prices. CONUS only. OCONUS rates are from the State Department. Lodging taxes generally not included. First/last travel day M&IE at 75%.

Companion tools

Use alongside bls-oews-mcp (wage data) and gsa-calc-mcp (ceiling rates) for complete IGCE development. Per diem covers the travel component; BLS and CALC+ cover labor.

License

MIT