Before you can be awarded a federal contract — or even most federal grants — your business has to be registered in SAM.gov, the System for Award Management. It’s free, it’s run by the government, and it’s the foundational step every federal contractor takes first.

Here’s what the process actually involves.

What SAM.gov is

SAM.gov is the official U.S. government system where entities register to do business with federal agencies. Your registration record holds your legal business information, your Unique Entity ID (UEI), your NAICS codes, your size and socioeconomic representations, and your banking details for payment.

Contracting officers check SAM to confirm you’re a registered, active, non-excluded entity before award. No active registration, no contract.

SAM.gov registration is free. If a site is charging you to register, you’re not on the official one. The only official address is sam.gov.

The Unique Entity ID (UEI)

The UEI replaced the old DUNS number. It’s a 12-character identifier assigned by SAM.gov itself during registration — you no longer get it from a third party. The UEI is how the government tracks your entity across systems (FPDS, USAspending, grant systems), so it’s worth getting right and keeping consistent.

Step by step

  1. Create a Login.gov account. SAM.gov authenticates through Login.gov, so set that up first.
  2. Gather your information. Legal business name and physical address exactly as they appear on official documents, your taxpayer ID (EIN), your bank’s routing/account numbers for electronic payment, and your NAICS codes.
  3. Complete entity validation. SAM verifies your legal name and address against authoritative records. This is the step that most often causes delays — your documentation has to match exactly. If it doesn’t, you’ll file an incident with supporting documents. If validation fails, see our entity validation troubleshooting guide.
  4. Get your UEI and finish the registration. Once validated, SAM assigns your UEI. You then complete the reps and certifications (size, socioeconomic status, FAR/DFARS representations).
  5. Submit and wait for “Active.” Registration goes through processing (including an IRS and CAGE-code check). Allow time — it isn’t instant.

Keeping it active

Your registration expires every 12 months. An expired SAM registration makes you ineligible for award, and it can interrupt payment on existing contracts. Set a reminder well before the renewal date — renewal also requires the same validation, so don’t leave it to the last day.

Common pitfalls

  • Name/address mismatches are the #1 cause of validation delays. Use your exact legal documents.
  • Letting it lapse. Calendar the 12-month renewal.
  • Falling for paid “registration help” sites. The official process is free; third parties charge for something you can do yourself.
  • Wrong or missing NAICS codes. These drive which opportunities you’re matched to — choose deliberately. See our NAICS code guide.

What comes next

Registration makes you eligible. Winning takes a strategy: the right NAICS codes, the set-aside certifications you qualify for, and a pipeline of opportunities to pursue. SAM is step one of many — but nothing else can happen until it’s done.

This article is general information, not legal advice. SAM.gov’s process and requirements change; follow the current instructions on sam.gov.