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What Is SAM.gov Registration?
Definition: SAM.gov registration is the free process of registering a business in the U.S. government's System for Award Management so it can compete for and receive federal contracts. Registration assigns a Unique Entity ID (UEI), U.S. entities typically also receive a CAGE code, and the registration must be renewed every 365 days to stay active.
Término en español: registro en SAM.gov. Resumen: es el registro gratuito de su empresa en el Sistema de Gestión de Adjudicaciones (System for Award Management) del gobierno federal. Le da un UEI y, normalmente, un código CAGE, y debe renovarse cada 365 días. No necesita pagarle a nadie para registrarse.
Key facts - Registering and renewing in SAM.gov is free. GSA says you do not need to pay a third party to complete your registration (GSA). - The registration must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. - SAM.gov assigns your 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI). The UEI replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022. - A CAGE code is a 5-character ID assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency; U.S. entities usually receive one during registration (FAR 52.204-16). - In most cases, offerors must have an active registration when they submit an offer, at award, and through the life of the contract (GSA). - You can get a UEI without full registration (for example, as a subcontractor), but then you cannot bid directly as a federal prime contractor.
What is SAM.gov, and who needs to register?
SAM.gov is the federal government's official system for entity registration, contract opportunities, and related data. Any business that wants to be a prime contractor on a federal contract, or receive a federal grant, needs an active registration. Subcontractors are often asked by primes for a UEI, and many prime contractor onboarding forms ask for a UEI and CAGE code too.
What do you get from a SAM.gov registration?
- A UEI, the government's identifier for your business.
- A CAGE code (U.S. entities, usually assigned during registration).
- A public entity record that contracting officers can search, including your NAICS codes and size representations.
- Your representations and certifications, entered once instead of in every offer.
- Payment information so the government can pay you electronically.
What a SAM record gives you, using F2M as an example. F2M Consulting LLC, Alexandria, VA is registered and active in SAM.gov: UEI TLARQX92D444, CAGE 25ZJ7, primary NAICS 541611. Those identifiers let buyers find and verify the company. Registration by itself gives no business an advantage or guarantee of work.
What should you prepare before you register?
SAM.gov publishes an entity registration checklist. Gather these first: - Legal business name and physical address exactly as on your IRS records - Taxpayer ID (EIN or TIN) that matches the legal name - Bank account information for electronic payment - Your NAICS codes (use the SBA size standards tool to check small business size under each) - Points of contact for the business - An entity administrator who will own the account. You, the owner, should log in yourself.
How long does SAM.gov registration take?
Allow up to 10 business days. GSA and SAM.gov guidance says to allow up to 10 business days after you submit for your registration to become active, and longer if your legal name, address, or tax ID doesn't match IRS records or your CAGE validation fails. Start well before you need it for a bid, and watch your email for requests from SAM.gov.
How do you keep your registration active?
Renew at least every 365 days. SAM.gov sends reminders, but put the expiration date on your own calendar too. If a registration lapses, the business may not be eligible for award on new offers until it is active again. Update your record whenever your address, ownership, bank, or NAICS codes change.
Do you need SAM.gov for Virginia or DC contracts?
Generally no. Virginia state agencies use eVA, Virginia's e-procurement portal, where supplier registration is also free. Washington, DC agencies use their own procurement systems. Some local and state buyers still ask for a UEI, and work paid with federal funds can have extra requirements, so read each solicitation.
Why it matters for a trade business
A janitorial or landscaping company that wants federal work, or wants to subcontract under a federal prime, will be asked for its UEI and CAGE code early. A current SAM record with the right NAICS codes (for example, 561720 for janitorial services or 561730 for landscaping services) lets contracting officers and primes find you. A restoration or construction firm that lets its registration lapse in the middle of a bid season can miss the chance to submit an offer.
If you're a prime contractor
Ask subcontractors for their UEI and confirm their SAM status before you add them to an offer. SAM.gov also shows exclusions (businesses barred from federal contracts). Check exclusions as part of your subcontractor review.
Common mistakes
- Paying a third party for a registration that is free. Some companies send official-looking notices or charge fees. SAM.gov registration does not require paid help.
- A legal name or address that does not match IRS records, which delays validation.
- Letting the registration lapse past 365 days.
- Sharing your login. The owner or entity administrator should keep control of the account.
How F2M helps
F2M Consulting LLC, Alexandria, VA provides contract management and bid strategy for trade businesses in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia: landscaping, janitorial, construction, transportation, and restoration. We help owners get bid-ready, read solicitations, organize registrations and compliance documents (OSHA, licensing), and plan subcontracting with prime contractors, with your crew doing the work. English or Spanish. Through GovCon Launch, F2M can walk you through the free SAM.gov registration step by step while you log in and submit it yourself. F2M never asks for or stores your passwords.
Request a briefing · GovCon Launch for new and veteran-owned businesses
FAQ
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes. Registering and renewing a business in SAM.gov is free. GSA says you do not need to pay a third party to complete your registration. Be careful with companies that charge fees or send official-looking notices; SAM.gov does not require paid help.
How often do I renew my SAM.gov registration?
Every 365 days. SAM.gov sends reminders, but put the expiration date on your own calendar. Update your record any time your legal name, address, bank, ownership, or NAICS codes change, not only at renewal.
How long does SAM registration take?
Allow up to 10 business days. GSA and SAM.gov guidance says to allow up to 10 business days after you submit for your registration to become active, and longer if your legal name, address, or tax ID doesn't match IRS records or your CAGE validation fails. Start well before you need it.
Do I need SAM.gov to bid on Virginia or DC contracts?
Generally no. Virginia state agencies use eVA, where supplier registration is free, and DC agencies use their own systems. Some buyers still ask for a UEI, and federally funded work can have extra rules, so read each solicitation.
Does registering in SAM.gov mean I'll get contracts?
No. Registration makes a business eligible to compete for and receive federal awards, but it does not guarantee any contract. Agencies still evaluate each offer on factors such as price, capability, and past performance.
Related terms
- UEI (Unique Entity ID)
- CAGE code
- NAICS codes
- Capability statement
- eVA
- See how F2M lists its own data
Official sources
- SAM.gov entity registration: https://sam.gov/entity-registration
- SAM.gov entity registration checklist: https://sam.gov/sites/default/files/2024-11/entity-checklist.pdf
- GSA, Register your business: https://www.gsa.gov/sell-to-government/step-2-compete-for-a-contract/register-your-business
- FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.204-16
- SBA size standards: https://www.sba.gov/size-standards
- eVA (Virginia): https://eva.virginia.gov
Educational information only, from F2M Consulting LLC, Alexandria, VA, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with the official source. Last reviewed: Oct 19, 2026 by Franklin F. Montano, PMP, CEO and Founder, F2M Consulting LLC, Alexandria, VA.
About the author: Franklin F. Montano, PMP, CEO and Founder, F2M Consulting LLC, Alexandria, VA. Retired Army Officer, Former Pentagon Senior Program Manager (DoD), and disabled veteran. Bilingual in English and Spanish.