How to register on SAM.gov, step by step (it's free)
To bid on and receive federal contracts, your business must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Registration is free. Companies that charge to "register" you are selling help with a free government form, so do it yourself with this guide.
Before you start, gather this
- Your business's legal name and physical address, exactly as the IRS has them. Mismatches are the most common reason registrations stall.
- Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
- Bank account and routing numbers for electronic payment.
- The NAICS codes that describe what you sell or do.
- Names, emails and phone numbers for your points of contact.
Step 1: Create a Login.gov account
SAM.gov uses Login.gov for sign-in. Create an account with your work email and set up two-factor authentication.
Step 2: Get your Unique Entity ID (UEI)
In SAM.gov, start an entity registration. SAM first validates your business's legal name and address, then assigns a UEI, the 12-character ID that identifies your business across the federal government. If the validation cannot match your details, it may ask for documents that show your legal name and address.
SAM also offers a "UEI only" option for organizations that only receive subawards. To bid on contracts yourself, choose the full registration.
Step 3: Complete the registration
- Core data: business type, start date, fiscal year, and your EIN and banking details.
- Assertions: your NAICS codes and whether you are small under each.
- Representations and certifications: the standard answers every offer relies on.
- Points of contact: who the government should reach about your registration and payments.
Step 4: Submit, then wait for checks
After you submit, your tax information is checked with the IRS and a CAGE code is assigned. This often takes a week or two and can take longer if anything needs correcting, so start well before you want to bid. You can check the status in SAM.gov.
Step 5: Keep it active
- Renew every year: a registration expires 365 days after it becomes active, and an expired one can hold up awards and payments.
- Update it when your address, bank account or ownership changes.
- Add any certifications you earn, such as small business programs, so they show to buyers.
Mistakes that stall a registration
- A legal name or address that does not match IRS records exactly.
- Paying a third party for something that is free.
- Waiting until the week a bid is due.
- Mistyped bank details, which delay payment later.