CAGE Code: What It Is, How to Get One and How to Look One Up
Updated
A CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity code) is a five-character identifier the US government gives to each contractor location. You get one free when you register your business in SAM.gov, and you can look up any company's CAGE code in SAM.gov's entity search or the Defense Logistics Agency's CAGE search.
Bids you can quote with your CAGE code: newest DLA bids
What a CAGE code is used for
The Defense Logistics Agency's CAGE program assigns the codes. Agencies, above all the Department of Defense, use them to identify where a contractor is: on contracts, in payment systems, on shipping and quality documents, in facility security clearances, and in DLA's bid board, DIBBS, where vendors quote under their CAGE code. A company with several sites can have a CAGE code for each one.
How to get a CAGE code
- Register your business in SAM.gov (free). US businesses do not apply for a CAGE code separately: it is assigned as part of the registration.
- Make sure your legal name and physical address match your IRS records exactly; mismatches are the usual reason a CAGE assignment stalls.
- When the registration is active, your CAGE code shows on your SAM.gov entity record.
Businesses outside the US get an NCAGE code from their own country's codification office first, then register in SAM.gov.
How to look up a CAGE code
- SAM.gov entity search: search by company name or Unique Entity ID; the entity record shows its CAGE code.
- DLA's CAGE search (cage.dla.mil): search by code, name or address, including companies that are not active in SAM.
- On a contract or award notice: award records usually show the contractor's CAGE code next to its UEI.
To see who wins federal work and with which agencies, see our contractor profiles.
Questions
What does CAGE stand for?
Commercial and Government Entity. The code is five letters and numbers.
Is a CAGE code free?
Yes. It is assigned at no cost during SAM.gov registration. Be wary of services that charge for it.
Is a CAGE code the same as a UEI?
No. The UEI is the 12-character ID SAM.gov gives your business; the CAGE code is a separate five-character code for your location. Federal records usually show both.
How do I find a company's CAGE code?
Search the company in SAM.gov's entity search or in DLA's CAGE search at cage.dla.mil, by name, UEI or address.