SAM.gov Registration: Step by Step, and Your UEI Number
Updated
To bid on and receive federal contracts, a business must be registered in SAM.gov, the System for Award Management. Registration is free. It gives your business its Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character ID, and, for US businesses, a CAGE code. It must be renewed every year.
Once you are registered: newest small business set-asides
All open small business set-asides
What you need before you start
- A Login.gov account, which SAM.gov uses to sign in.
- Your legal business name and physical address, exactly as your IRS records show them, and your TIN or EIN.
- Your bank account details for electronic payment.
- Your NAICS codes: the industries you work in (find them in our NAICS code lookup).
- The people who will be your points of contact.
The steps
- Sign in to SAM.gov and choose to register an entity.
- Choose the registration for all awards (contracts and grants) if you want to bid on federal contracts; the "UEI only" option just gets you an ID.
- Enter your business details; SAM checks your name and address against outside records (entity validation).
- Add your NAICS codes, size information and the representations and certifications.
- Submit. When the registration turns active, you can be awarded contracts.
How long it takes
Often around two weeks, but it can take much longer if the entity validation asks you for documents to prove your legal name or address. Start well before you need to bid: you cannot receive an award while the registration is pending.
What the UEI is
The Unique Entity ID replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. SAM.gov assigns it; you do not buy it from anyone. It is the ID agencies use for your business on every award, and you can look up any company's UEI in SAM.gov's entity search. Our contractor profiles show the UEI of each company.
Renewal
Renew in SAM.gov every 365 days. If the registration lapses, agencies cannot award you new contracts until it is active again.
Then find work: how to get government contracts.
Questions
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes. Registering in SAM.gov costs nothing. Companies that charge for it are third parties, not the government.
How long does SAM registration take?
Often around two weeks, longer if the entity validation asks for documents. Start early: you cannot get an award until it is active.
What is a UEI number?
The Unique Entity ID: a 12-character ID that SAM.gov assigns to your business. It replaced the DUNS number in April 2022.
How often do I renew SAM registration?
Every 365 days.