# Pennsylvania eMarketplace Bids and Awards Scraper (`talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids`) Actor

Pennsylvania state solicitations (IFB, RFP, RFQ) and contract awards with agency, type, due date, contact and files, filtered by keyword, agency and type, priced per result.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids.md
- **Developed by:** [M Usama](https://apify.com/talcoe) (community)
- **Categories:** Business
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $5.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

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

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
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.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## 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.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

### What does Pennsylvania eMarketplace Bids and Awards Scraper do?

It collects public procurement data from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania eMarketplace: state solicitations (IFB, RFP, RFQ, ITQ, RFEI, COSTARS and more) and contract awards. Each solicitation includes the number, title, agency, county, type, status, due date, opening date, buyer contact, delivery location, set aside notes and links to the bid documents. Each award includes the contract number, linked solicitation, agency, awardee and dollar amount. Filter by keyword, agency and solicitation type to keep runs small. Pricing is per result.

### Data source

The Actor reads the public search and detail pages at emarketplace.state.pa.us, which the state publishes for any visitor without a login, and returns what is listed at the time of the run.

### Why use it?

- Bid monitoring: get new state solicitations in your category before the due date, on a schedule.
- Competitive research: see which vendors won state contracts, for how much, and from which agency.
- Lead generation: find agencies that buy what you sell, with the buyer contact the solicitation publishes.
- Market sizing: pull archived solicitations by agency and type to see buying patterns.
- It replaces manual browsing of the eMarketplace search form and the slow Excel export.

### How to use it

1. Open the Actor and set the filters.
2. Click Start. Download results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or read them through the API.
3. Add a Schedule and an Integration (Slack, Google Sheets, webhook) to get new records automatically.

### Input

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `recordTypes` | `solicitations`, `awards`, or both. Default both. |
| `solicitationScope` | `current` (open and recently posted), `archived` (closed history, about 700 records), or `both`. Default `current`. |
| `keywords` | Keep records whose number, title, description, agency or awardee contains any of these words. Empty keeps everything. |
| `agency` | Keep records whose agency name contains this text, for example `Transportation`. |
| `solicitationTypes` | Solicitations only. Examples: `IFB`, `RFP`, `RFQ`, `ITQ`, `RFEI`, `COSTARS`. Empty keeps all types. |
| `maxResults` | Hard stop for the run. You are billed per result, so this caps the cost. |
| `proxyConfiguration` | Apify proxy is recommended for larger runs. |

Example input:

```json
{
    "recordTypes": ["solicitations", "awards"],
    "solicitationScope": "current",
    "keywords": ["snow", "pipe"],
    "agency": "Transportation",
    "solicitationTypes": ["IFB", "RFP"],
    "maxResults": 50
}
```

### Output

Every record has a `recordType` of `solicitation` or `award`. Example solicitation (trimmed):

```json
{
    "id": "solicitation:6100066839",
    "recordType": "solicitation",
    "solicitationNumber": "6100066839",
    "title": "PSP BCLE DEO-2 Snow Removal Services",
    "solicitationType": "IFB",
    "agency": "Pennsylvania State Police",
    "county": "Luzerne",
    "status": "Open",
    "dueDate": "2026-10-30T11:00:00-04:00",
    "startDate": "2026-10-16",
    "openingDate": "2026-10-30T11:01:00-04:00",
    "amendedDate": "2026-10-16",
    "isCurrent": true,
    "advertisementType": "Service",
    "description": "Furnish all labor, equipment, and materials to perform snow removal services at the Pennsylvania State Police...",
    "contactName": "Todd Tippett",
    "contactEmail": "RA-SPPSPBIDS@PA.GOV",
    "contactPhone": "717-705-5927",
    "deliveryLocation": "1095 Hanover Street Wilkes Barre Pa 18706",
    "duration": "1 year w/4 optional 1 year renewals",
    "openingLocation": "Non Public Bid Opening",
    "addendums": 0,
    "setAside": "This procurement is set aside for bid and award to small businesses only.",
    "documents": [
        {
            "name": "6100066839 Bid Specifications.pdf",
            "url": "https://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/FileDownload.aspx?file=6100066839/Solicitation_0.pdf&OriginalFileName=6100066839%20Bid%20Specifications.pdf"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/Solicitations.aspx?SID=6100066839",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-10-21T09:07:24.888Z"
}
```

Example award:

```json
{
    "id": "award:4300938546:6100066761:2026-10-16:44121",
    "recordType": "award",
    "contractNumber": "4300938546",
    "solicitationNumber": "6100066761",
    "description": "Procured 3/trailer enclosed mobile including delivery and set-up.",
    "agency": "Department of Corrections",
    "awardedTo": "All Pro West Truck & Trailer Accessories",
    "amount": 44121,
    "postedDate": "2026-10-16",
    "url": "https://www.emarketplace.state.pa.us/Solicitations.aspx?SID=6100066761",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-10-21T09:07:25.000Z"
}
```

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `id` | Stable key, safe for deduplication between runs |
| `recordType` | `solicitation` or `award` |
| `solicitationNumber` | The eMarketplace solicitation or bid number |
| `contractNumber` | Awards only: purchase order or contract number |
| `title`, `description` | What is being bought |
| `agency`, `county` | Buying agency and delivery county |
| `solicitationType` | IFB, RFP, RFQ, ITQ and so on |
| `status` | Open, Closed, Cancelled and similar, as shown by the site |
| `dueDate`, `openingDate` | ISO timestamps in Eastern time. Date only values have no time. |
| `awardedTo`, `amount` | Awards only: vendor and dollar amount |
| `contactName`, `contactEmail`, `contactPhone` | Buyer contact published on the solicitation |
| `documents` | Attached files with download links |
| `url` | Page on the eMarketplace |

### Pricing

Pay per event: a small fee when a run starts, then a fixed price per result returned. You only pay for records that pass your filters. Set `maxResults` to cap any run.

### Limitations

- The awards list covers awards currently shown on the site. Older archived awards are not included.
- The site does not publish estimated values or NAICS codes for solicitations, so those fields are not returned.
- Award records link to the solicitation page but do not include the award detail popup.
- Fields the site leaves blank come back as `null` or an empty list.
- If the site changes its layout, results can be empty until the Actor is updated.

### FAQ

**Is this legal?** The Actor reads listings the site publishes for any visitor without a login and stores only business information published for that purpose. You are responsible for how you use the data.

**Why does the Actor ship its own certificate?** The state server does not send its intermediate certificate, so the Actor adds the public intermediate to the trusted set and keeps full certificate verification on.

**Something is missing or broken?** Open an issue in the Issues tab; response time is usually under a day.

# Actor input Schema

## `recordTypes` (type: `array`):

What to return: state solicitations (bids, RFPs, RFQs) and/or contract awards currently listed on the site.

## `solicitationScope` (type: `string`):

Current returns open and recently posted solicitations. Archived returns closed history (roughly 700 records). Both returns everything.

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

Keep records whose number, title, description, agency or awardee contains any of these words. Leave empty for everything.

## `agency` (type: `string`):

Keep records whose agency name contains this text, for example Transportation or State Police.

## `solicitationTypes` (type: `array`):

Only for solicitations. Examples: IFB, RFP, RFQ, ITQ, RFEI, RFI, COSTARS. Leave empty for all types.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Hard stop for the run. You are billed per result, so this caps the cost.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Apify proxy is recommended for larger runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "recordTypes": [
    "solicitations",
    "awards"
  ],
  "solicitationScope": "current",
  "keywords": [],
  "agency": "",
  "solicitationTypes": [],
  "maxResults": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

# 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 = {
    "recordTypes": [
        "solicitations",
        "awards"
    ],
    "solicitationScope": "current",
    "keywords": [],
    "agency": "",
    "solicitationTypes": [],
    "maxResults": 50,
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": false
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids").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 = {
    "recordTypes": [
        "solicitations",
        "awards",
    ],
    "solicitationScope": "current",
    "keywords": [],
    "agency": "",
    "solicitationTypes": [],
    "maxResults": 50,
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": False },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids").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 '{
  "recordTypes": [
    "solicitations",
    "awards"
  ],
  "solicitationScope": "current",
  "keywords": [],
  "agency": "",
  "solicitationTypes": [],
  "maxResults": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}' |
apify call talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,talcoe/pa-emarketplace-bids"
        }
    }
}
```

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/hPywxAdT4TDC1Pvp2/builds/ugYRHGansGrMNixVt/openapi.json