Tango FAQ
Common questions about the Tango API and federal procurement sources.
Isn't there a SAM.gov and USASpending API? Can't I just use those?
Short answer: Sure, but don't say I didn't warn you.
Practical answer: Tango is an API that unifies the core procurement data sources (SAM.gov, USAspending, FPDS, etc.) behind a single API key. It's the closest thing to a unified government contracting API. In creating it, we leveraged the federal data sources, but each data source has its own peculiarities and limitations, and it's time consuming and expensive to get the data to actually work in a way that lets you focus on shipping.
How does this compare to companies like GovWin, G2X, HigherGov, or Fedmine?
These are all great services if you need a user interface. Tango, however, is built for public-sector builders. If you are looking to work directly with the data and are comfortable with APIs, Tango is the answer you're looking for.
What's up with all of these identifiers? UEIs, USASpending keys, etc?
Each procurement system has its own different core identifiers. For example, FPDS primarily uses PIIDs for awards, whereas USASpending has its own award key format. SAM.gov uses UEIs (Unique Entity Identifier) for entities. Tango allows for you to use these identifiers to work with the authoritative data sources, while also going beyond what each individual system can provide.
How much does Tango cost?
Our pricing is available here: https://tango.makegov.com/pricing/ As you can see, there's a free tier and each paid tier comes with a trial period. Go ahead and give it a shot.
How fresh is the data in Tango?
Tango syncs data from its source systems on a regular schedule, most often daily or multiple times a day. The exact freshness depends on the upstream update frequency, but Tango typically provides data within 24 hours of source updates.
Can I use Tango with LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude?
Absolutely yes! Many of our customers do this, and we do too!
How do I get started?
Feel free to signup for a free API key today! https://tango.makegov.com/accounts/login/
If you have any questions, just email us at hello@makegov.com.