# Cierto

> Cierto checks a decision against the public record and returns a sourced one-page brief. Every value carries its source and date; every brief lists what it could not confirm. Built for AI agents first. The first brief assesses a US federal contract opportunity (SAM.gov) against a small-business profile and returns bid / consider / skip with three reasons.

Status: in development. The MCP server is not live yet; the schemas below are the contract it will return.

## Schemas

- [Contract brief](https://cierto.tools/schema/brief.schema.json): JSON Schema (draft 2020-12) for a contracts.assess response — subject, verdict, sections (what_they_want, can_i_bid, can_i_win, what_its_gone_for, can_i_afford_it, can_i_source_it, deadlines, fit), could_not_confirm, sources, summary, disclaimer.
- [Business profile](https://cierto.tools/schema/profile.schema.json): JSON Schema for the profile a brief is scored against — NAICS codes with size status, certifications, states served, SAM registration, float, categories sourced, services self-performed.

## Example

- [Example contract brief](https://cierto.tools/examples/contract-brief.json): a complete brief built from test data, not a live notice.

## Conventions

- A Fact is {value, unit?, as_of, source, basis, from?, confidence?}; basis is reported, derived, rule or extracted. source is an id into sources[].
- An unknown value is null (or "unknown") and is always named by a could_not_confirm entry whose refs list its path.
- The verdict is computed by fixed rules from the facts, defaults conservative, and never says "bid now".
- Every brief carries the notice's last_checked time and response deadline.
- A brief is an assessment of public records, not an eligibility determination or legal advice.

## Sources used

- SAM.gov Contract Opportunities and Contract Awards
- USAspending award data
- FAR thresholds (FAC 2026-01) and SBA rules