diff --git a/docs/TOOLS.md b/docs/TOOLS.md
index 8f7195e..82f5922 100644
--- a/docs/TOOLS.md
+++ b/docs/TOOLS.md
@@ -27,14 +27,14 @@ Promotion process: [deprecation-policy.md § Stable vs experimental](./deprecati
 
 | Setup | Tools | MCP instructions |
 | ----- | ----- | ------------------ |
-| `setupCoreServer` (package root) | **8** (single-key) or **9** (multi-source adds `list_sources`): `list_namespaces`, `namespace_router`, `count`, `query`, `keyword_search`, `query_documents`, `generate_urls`, `guided_query` | `CORE_SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS` — includes `guided_query`; no `suggest_query_params` |
-| `setupAllianceServer` / published CLI | **9** (single-key) or **10** (multi-source): core tools plus `suggest_query_params` | `ALLIANCE_SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS` — includes suggest-flow quickstart |
+| `setupCoreServer` (package root) | **9** (single-key) or **10** (multi-source adds `list_sources`): `list_namespaces`, `namespace_router`, `count`, `query`, `keyword_search`, `query_documents`, `generate_urls`, `guided_query`, `suggest_query_params` | `CORE_SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS` — includes `guided_query`; registers `suggest_query_params` but the suggest-flow gate is off by default |
+| `setupAllianceServer` / published CLI | **9** (single-key) or **10** (multi-source): the same core tool surface — Alliance adds built-in Boost/Slack URL generators for `generate_urls` (not an extra MCP tool) and enables the gate by default | `ALLIANCE_SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS` — includes suggest-flow quickstart |
 
 ## Suggest-flow gate
 
 When **`disableSuggestFlow`** is **`false`** (Alliance default via `resolveAllianceConfig` / CLI), tools **`query`**, **`count`**, and **`query_documents`** require a prior successful **`suggest_query_params`** call for the **same namespace string** within the cache TTL (see `PINECONE_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS`). The gate is in-process memory (`requireSuggested`).
 
-When **`disableSuggestFlow`** is **`true`** (core default via `resolveConfig`), the gate is bypassed — suitable for `setupCoreServer` embedders that do not register `suggest_query_params`.
+When **`disableSuggestFlow`** is **`true`** (core default via `resolveConfig`), the gate is bypassed: `setupCoreServer` still registers `suggest_query_params`, but embedders can call it optionally rather than being required to before `query` / `count` / `query_documents`.
 
 **Namespace consistency:** use the **exact same** `namespace` value (including trimming — avoid leading/trailing spaces in one call and not the other) for `suggest_query_params` and downstream gated tools. Mismatches yield `FLOW_GATE` with a suggestion to call `suggest_query_params` first.
 
diff --git a/src/__tests__/cross-entry-point.test.ts b/src/__tests__/cross-entry-point.test.ts
index f3d267e..54004cd 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/cross-entry-point.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/cross-entry-point.test.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { setPineconeClient } from '../core/index.js';
 import { resolveConfig } from '../core/config.js';
 import { getDefaultServerContext } from '../core/server/server-context.js';
 import * as guidedQueryTool from '../core/server/tools/guided-query-tool.js';
+import * as suggestQueryParamsTool from '../core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.js';
 import { registerQueryTool } from '../core/server/tools/query-tool.js';
 import {
   assertToolErrorCode,
@@ -119,4 +120,22 @@ describe('cross-entry-point: core vs Alliance defaults', () => {
     expect(ctx.hasToolsRegistered()).toBe(true);
     registerSpy.mockRestore();
   });
+
+  it('core setup registers suggest_query_params handler (#221)', async () => {
+    const cfg = resolveConfig({ apiKey: 'sk-cross', indexName: 'test-index' });
+    const ctx = createTestServerContext({
+      config: cfg,
+      client: new PineconeClient({
+        apiKey: cfg.apiKey,
+        indexName: cfg.indexName,
+        defaultTopK: cfg.defaultTopK,
+      }),
+    });
+    const registerSpy = vi.spyOn(suggestQueryParamsTool, 'registerSuggestQueryParamsTool');
+
+    await setupCoreServer({ context: ctx });
+
+    expect(registerSpy).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    registerSpy.mockRestore();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/__tests__/mcp-rc-readiness.test.ts b/src/__tests__/mcp-rc-readiness.test.ts
index d08fe89..2b06d48 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/mcp-rc-readiness.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/mcp-rc-readiness.test.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ const CORE_TOOLS = [
   'query_documents',
   'generate_urls',
   'guided_query',
+  'suggest_query_params',
 ].sort();
 
 /** A fresh, isolated core server (own context + mock client) so several can coexist. */
@@ -158,6 +159,25 @@ describe('MCP RC-readiness harness (#202)', () => {
     await client.close();
   });
 
+  it('core server executes suggest_query_params over the transport (#221)', async () => {
+    // Proves the tool is not just listed but callable on a core-initialized
+    // server, so a broken registration can't pass by only being enumerated.
+    const server = await freshCoreServer(['wg21']);
+    const client = await connectClient(server);
+
+    const res = await client.callTool({
+      name: 'suggest_query_params',
+      arguments: { namespace: 'wg21', user_query: 'list papers' },
+    });
+    expect(res.isError ?? false).toBe(false);
+    const text = (res.content as Array<{ type: string; text: string }>)[0]?.text ?? '';
+    const body = JSON.parse(text) as { status?: string; namespace_found?: boolean };
+    expect(body.status).toBe('success');
+    expect(body.namespace_found).toBe(true);
+
+    await client.close();
+  });
+
   it('negotiates the SDK latest protocol version and falls back for an unknown request', async () => {
     // A server connects to one transport for its lifetime, so use a fresh one per probe.
     const negotiated = await rawInitialize(await freshCoreServer(), LATEST_PROTOCOL_VERSION);
diff --git a/src/alliance/setup.ts b/src/alliance/setup.ts
index 267a950..8acd720 100644
--- a/src/alliance/setup.ts
+++ b/src/alliance/setup.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { createServer, type AllianceServerContext } from '../core/server/server-
 import { resolveAllianceConfig } from './config.js';
 import { setupCoreServerOnContext, type ServerHandle } from '../core/setup.js';
 import { registerBuiltinUrlGenerators } from './url-builtins.js';
-import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from './tools/suggest-query-params-tool.js';
 
 /**
  * Options for {@link setupAllianceServer}.
@@ -68,8 +67,10 @@ function normalizeSetupAllianceArgs(
 }
 
 /**
- * Create and configure the MCP server with the full Alliance tool surface:
- * all core tools (including `guided_query`) plus `suggest_query_params` and built-in URL generators.
+ * Create and configure the MCP server with the full Alliance tool surface: the same
+ * core tools (including `guided_query` and `suggest_query_params`) plus built-in
+ * Boost/Slack URL generators wired into `generate_urls`, and the suggest-flow gate
+ * enabled by default.
  *
  * When `config` is omitted, resolves env via {@link resolveAllianceConfig} (Alliance index/rerank defaults when unset).
  */
@@ -114,6 +115,5 @@ export async function setupAllianceServer(
   }
 
   registerBuiltinUrlGenerators(resolvedCtx);
-  registerSuggestQueryParamsTool(server, resolvedCtx);
   return server;
 }
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index 2366623..cf40275 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Features:
 Notes:
 - Result rows include both \`document_id\` (canonical) and \`paper_number\` (deprecated alias kept for one minor cycle; will be removed in the next major release). Prefer \`document_id\` in new code.`;
 
-/** MCP instructions for {@link setupCoreServer} (eight core tools including guided_query). */
+/** MCP instructions for {@link setupCoreServer} (nine core tools including guided_query and suggest_query_params). */
 export const CORE_SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS = `Quickstart for AI clients: for most user questions, call \`guided_query\` with the user's question — it does namespace routing, suggestion, and execution in one shot and returns \`experimental.decision_trace\` you can show the user. Alternatively call \`list_namespaces\` to discover namespaces, optionally \`namespace_router\` to rank candidates from user intent, then \`query\` (preset fast/detailed/full), \`count\`, \`query_documents\`, \`keyword_search\`, or \`generate_urls\` as needed.
 
 ${SERVER_FEATURES_AND_NOTES}
diff --git a/src/core/server/tools/guided-query-tool.context.test.ts b/src/core/server/tools/guided-query-tool.context.test.ts
index 976742a..65974c5 100644
--- a/src/core/server/tools/guided-query-tool.context.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/tools/guided-query-tool.context.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { registerBuiltinUrlGenerators } from '../../../alliance/url-builtins.js';
 import { guidedQueryResponseSchema } from '../response-schemas.js';
 import { registerQueryTool } from './query-tool.js';
-import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from '../../../alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.js';
+import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from './suggest-query-params-tool.js';
 import { registerGuidedQueryTool } from './guided-query-tool.js';
 import {
   assertToolErrorCode,
diff --git a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts
similarity index 94%
rename from src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts
rename to src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts
index 829c78a..d378c04 100644
--- a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.context.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
-import { registerQueryTool } from '../../core/server/tools/query-tool.js';
+import { registerQueryTool } from './query-tool.js';
 import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from './suggest-query-params-tool.js';
-import { suggestQueryParamsResponseSchema } from '../../core/server/response-schemas.js';
+import { suggestQueryParamsResponseSchema } from '../response-schemas.js';
 import {
   createMockServer,
   createTestServerContext,
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   makeHybridQueryResult,
   mockNamespacesWithMetadataResult,
   parseToolJson,
-} from '../../core/server/tools/test-helpers.js';
+} from './test-helpers.js';
 
 const namespaceMetadata = {
   document_number: 'string',
diff --git a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts
similarity index 94%
rename from src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts
rename to src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts
index 36e580c..1429b3e 100644
--- a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.test.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
-import { getNamespacesWithCache } from '../../core/server/namespaces-cache.js';
-import { markSuggested } from '../../core/server/suggestion-flow.js';
+import { getNamespacesWithCache } from '../namespaces-cache.js';
+import { markSuggested } from '../suggestion-flow.js';
 import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from './suggest-query-params-tool.js';
 import {
   createMockServer,
   makeNamespaceCacheEntry,
   parseToolJson,
   assertToolErrorCode,
-} from '../../core/server/tools/test-helpers.js';
+} from './test-helpers.js';
 
-vi.mock('../../core/server/namespaces-cache.js', () => ({
+vi.mock('../namespaces-cache.js', () => ({
   getNamespacesWithCache: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
-vi.mock('../../core/server/suggestion-flow.js', () => ({
+vi.mock('../suggestion-flow.js', () => ({
   markSuggested: vi.fn(),
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts
similarity index 85%
rename from src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts
rename to src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts
index 8112245..bef5c27 100644
--- a/src/alliance/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts
+++ b/src/core/server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.ts
@@ -1,28 +1,28 @@
 import type { McpServer } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/mcp.js';
 import { z } from 'zod';
-import { normalizeNamespace } from '../../core/server/namespace-utils.js';
-import { getNamespacesWithCache } from '../../core/server/namespaces-cache.js';
-import { suggestQueryParams } from '../../core/server/query-suggestion.js';
-import type { ServerContext } from '../../core/server/server-context.js';
-import { markSuggested } from '../../core/server/suggestion-flow.js';
+import { normalizeNamespace } from '../namespace-utils.js';
+import { getNamespacesWithCache } from '../namespaces-cache.js';
+import { suggestQueryParams } from '../query-suggestion.js';
+import type { ServerContext } from '../server-context.js';
+import { markSuggested } from '../suggestion-flow.js';
 import {
   optionalSourceField,
   rejectSourceWithoutContext,
   resolveSourceForTool,
   sourceParamSchema,
   sourceValidationError,
-} from '../../core/server/source-tool-utils.js';
+} from '../source-tool-utils.js';
 import {
   classifyToolCatchError,
   lifecycleToolError,
   logToolError,
   validationToolError,
-} from '../../core/server/tool-error.js';
+} from '../tool-error.js';
 import {
   suggestQueryParamsResponseSchema,
   type SuggestQueryParamsResponse,
-} from '../../core/server/response-schemas.js';
-import { jsonErrorResponse, validatedJsonResponse } from '../../core/server/tool-response.js';
+} from '../response-schemas.js';
+import { jsonErrorResponse, validatedJsonResponse } from '../tool-response.js';
 
 /** Register the suggest_query_params tool on the MCP server. */
 export function registerSuggestQueryParamsTool(server: McpServer, ctx?: ServerContext): void {
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export function registerSuggestQueryParamsTool(server: McpServer, ctx?: ServerCo
         "Suggest which fields to request and whether to use the count tool, based on the namespace schema (from list_namespaces) and the user's natural language query. " +
         'Call list_namespaces first to get available namespaces and metadata fields. Then call this tool with the target namespace and the user query; ' +
         'it returns suggested_fields (only fields that exist in that namespace), use_count_tool (true if the query is a count question), recommended_tool (count | fast | detailed | full — same vocabulary as the query tool preset), and an explanation. ' +
-        'This step is mandatory before query/count tools; use the returned suggested_fields in query tools to reduce payload and cost.',
+        'When the suggest-flow gate is enabled (the Alliance default) this call is required before the query/count tools; when the gate is off (the core default) it is optional. Either way, use the returned suggested_fields in query tools to reduce payload and cost.',
       inputSchema: {
         namespace: z
           .string()
diff --git a/src/core/setup.ts b/src/core/setup.ts
index fdf23b2..cd446fb 100644
--- a/src/core/setup.ts
+++ b/src/core/setup.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { registerKeywordSearchTool } from './server/tools/keyword-search-tool.js
 import { registerListNamespacesTool } from './server/tools/list-namespaces-tool.js';
 import { registerNamespaceRouterTool } from './server/tools/namespace-router-tool.js';
 import { registerQueryDocumentsTool } from './server/tools/query-documents-tool.js';
+import { registerSuggestQueryParamsTool } from './server/tools/suggest-query-params-tool.js';
 import { registerQueryTool } from './server/tools/query-tool.js';
 
 /** MCP server handle with automatic teardown via `await using`. */
@@ -36,10 +37,13 @@ export function teardownServer(): void {
 /**
  * Create and configure the MCP server with generic (core) tools.
  *
- * Registers eight core tools including `guided_query`. Does not register Alliance-specific
- * `suggest_query_params` or built-in Boost/Slack URL generators. Use
- * {@link setupAllianceServer} from `@will-cppa/pinecone-read-only-mcp/alliance` for the
- * full Alliance tool surface (suggest-flow gate on by default).
+ * Registers nine core tools including `guided_query` and `suggest_query_params` (ten
+ * with multi-source `list_sources`). `suggest_query_params` is registered, but the
+ * suggest-flow gate stays off by default for core (`disableSuggestFlow: true`), so core
+ * consumers can query without calling it first. Alliance additionally wires built-in
+ * Boost/Slack URL generators (registered into the `generate_urls` registry, not a
+ * separate MCP tool) and enables the gate by default; use {@link setupAllianceServer}
+ * from `@will-cppa/pinecone-read-only-mcp/alliance` for that.
  */
 export type SetupCoreServerOptions = {
   config?: CoreServerConfig;
@@ -164,6 +168,7 @@ async function registerCoreToolSurface(
   registerQueryDocumentsTool(server, ctx);
   registerGenerateUrlsTool(server, ctx);
   registerGuidedQueryTool(server, ctx);
+  registerSuggestQueryParamsTool(server, ctx);
 
   ctx.getConfig();
   if (ctx.isMultiSource()) {