SAM.gov
SAM.gov is the U.S. government's System for Award Management: the website where companies register to do business with the federal government, where federal contract opportunities are posted, and where entity and exclusion records are kept. Registration is free, and it is required before you can receive most federal contracts and grants.
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01Registration
Registering creates your entity record: legal name and address, ownership, banking details for payment, NAICS codes, size and socioeconomic status, and the representations and certifications that once had to be signed in each offer. Since April 4, 2022, SAM.gov assigns each registered entity a 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI), which replaced the DUNS number as the government's identifier for contractors.
| Section | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Core data | Legal business name, physical address, taxpayer identification number, banking details for electronic payment, entity structure |
| Assertions | NAICS and product and service codes, size information, and optional listings such as disaster response capabilities |
| Representations and certifications | The annual representations and certifications FAR 52.204-8 lets offerors complete once in SAM instead of in every offer |
| Points of contact | The people the government contacts about the registration, payments and opportunities |
An entity can register for all awards, which covers contracts, or for financial assistance only, such as grants; contractors need the first. Organizations that only need an identifier, such as grant subrecipients, can get a Unique Entity ID through a shorter process without a full registration.
FAR 52.204-7 requires an offeror to be registered in SAM when it submits an offer or quotation and to stay registered through award, performance and final payment. Registrations must be renewed every year, and a lapsed registration can hold up an award or a payment. Registration is free; be wary of services that charge for it without saying so.
02Contract opportunities
The Contract Opportunities section of SAM.gov is where federal agencies post notices: presolicitation notices, solicitations, sources sought notices, special notices and award notices. You can search by keyword, NAICS code, agency, set-aside and place of performance, and save searches to get alerts. The notice types, as GSA's opportunities API names them:
| Notice type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Presolicitation | A solicitation is planned: the notice FAR 5.203 requires before issuance |
| Solicitation | The RFP, RFQ or invitation for bid itself |
| Combined synopsis/solicitation | Notice and solicitation in one document, for commercial products and services (FAR 12.603) |
| Sources sought | Market research asking who can do the work |
| Special notice | Industry days, draft documents and other announcements |
| Award notice | Who won and for how much |
| Justification | Why an award was made without full and open competition (FAR 6.305) |
| Intent to bundle requirements (DoD-funded) | Notice that requirements will be consolidated |
| Sale of surplus property | Government property for sale |
03Exclusions
SAM.gov holds the government-wide record of excluded parties: companies and individuals that are suspended, debarred, proposed for debarment or otherwise excluded (FAR 9.404). Under FAR 9.405, agencies shall not solicit offers from, award contracts to or consent to subcontracts with an excluded contractor unless the agency head finds a compelling reason. Check a partner against the exclusions list before teaming with it; primes also often require their subcontractors to keep an active registration.
04Data and the API
Contract opportunity data is also available through GSA's public Get Opportunities API. It needs a public API key, which you request from your SAM.gov account details page, and the number of requests allowed per day depends on your role. It returns the same notices the site shows, filterable by notice type, posting date, solicitation number and more.
05Getting it right
Make sure the legal name and address match IRS and bank records exactly, keep the points of contact current, and review your NAICS codes and certifications at each renewal, since agencies rely on them to check eligibility.
SAM.gov: common questions
How much does SAM.gov registration cost?
Nothing. Registration on SAM.gov is free. Some companies charge to register on your behalf, which is optional.
How long does SAM.gov registration take?
It can take from a few days to several weeks, mostly depending on how quickly your legal name and address are validated. Start well before you need to submit an offer.
What is a UEI?
The Unique Entity ID, a 12-character identifier SAM.gov assigns to each registered entity. It replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022, and it goes on offers, invoices and federal grant applications.
Do I need SAM.gov to bid on state or local contracts?
Usually not, because state and local governments run their own vendor registrations. Work funded by federal grants that pass through a state may still require a UEI.
What is the difference between a UEI and a CAGE code?
The UEI identifies your entity across federal systems and is assigned by SAM.gov. A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code identifies a business location and is assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency during registration; many solicitations ask for both.
Can I see who won a federal contract on SAM.gov?
Often: agencies post award notices in Contract Opportunities, and justifications for awards made without full and open competition are made public as well (FAR 6.305).
Sources
- FAR 4.1102 — Policy (System for Award Management)Acquisition.gov
- FAR 52.204-7 — System for Award ManagementAcquisition.gov
- GSA systems switch to Unique Entity ID (SAM) on April 4, 2022U.S. General Services Administration
- Entity registrationSAM.gov
- FAR 52.204-8 — Annual Representations and CertificationsAcquisition.gov
- FAR 9.404 — Exclusions in the System for Award ManagementAcquisition.gov
- FAR 9.405 — Effect of listingAcquisition.gov
- FAR 6.305 — Availability of the justificationAcquisition.gov
- FAR 12.603 — Streamlined solicitation for commercial products or commercial servicesAcquisition.gov
- Get Opportunities Public API (SAM.gov contract opportunities)GSA Open Technology
Related terms
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