What Is SAM.gov?

SAM.gov is the official U.S. government system that consolidates federal procurement registration, contract opportunity search, wage determinations, assistance listings, and entity validation into a single platform. It replaced multiple legacy systems including the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS).

For contractors, the most critical function of SAM.gov is entity registration. Without an active registration, you cannot receive a federal contract award, be paid under an existing contract, or receive certain types of federal financial assistance. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 4.1102 requires contracting officers to verify that a prospective contractor is registered in SAM before awarding any contract.

Prerequisites — What You Need Before You Start

Gather the following before beginning your registration. Having everything ready upfront avoids the back-and-forth that causes most delays.

Legal Business Information

• Legal business name — Exactly as it appears on your tax documents
• Physical business address — P.O. boxes are not accepted as the physical address
• Date of incorporation/formation
• State of incorporation
• Business type — LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, sole proprietorship, etc.

Tax Information

• Employer Identification Number (EIN) — Also called a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). Sole proprietors may use their SSN, but an EIN is recommended.
• Tax Year and revenue information

Banking Information (for Electronic Funds Transfer)

• Bank routing number (ABA)
• Bank account number
• Account type — Checking or savings

NAICS Codes

• Primary NAICS code — The code that best describes your primary business activity
• Additional NAICS codes — All other codes representing work you can perform

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Create a Login.gov Account

SAM.gov uses Login.gov for authentication. Go to login.gov and create an account if you do not already have one. You will need a valid email address and a method for multi-factor authentication (phone, authentication app, or security key). Use a business email address, not a personal one — this account will be tied to your entity's federal registration.

Step 2: Log In to SAM.gov and Start a New Registration

Navigate to SAM.gov and sign in with your Login.gov credentials. Select "Get Started" under Entity Registrations, then choose "Register Entity." Select the type of registration you need. Most contractors select "I want to bid on contracts" which creates an "All Awards" registration covering both contracts and financial assistance.

Step 3: Obtain Your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

During the registration process, SAM.gov will validate your entity and assign a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). This replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. The UEI is generated automatically based on the legal business information you provide. Entity validation compares your submitted information against commercial and government databases.

Step 4: Complete Core Data

The Core Data section includes your business information, NAICS codes, Product Service Codes (PSCs), and size metrics. You will enter your annual revenue, number of employees, and other data used to determine your business size under SBA standards.

For each NAICS code you register, SAM.gov will compare your size (revenue or employees, depending on the code) against the SBA size standard to determine whether you qualify as a small business under that code. This determination affects your eligibility for small business set-aside contracts.

Step 5: Complete Assertions

Assertions are representations about your business — specifically your goods and services, size, and socioeconomic status. This includes whether you are a small business, minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone-certified, or 8(a)-certified. Answer these accurately. Misrepresentation of size or socioeconomic status is a federal offense under the False Claims Act and the Small Business Act.

Step 6: Complete Representations and Certifications

This section replaces the former ORCA system. You will certify compliance with various FAR provisions including FAR 52.204-8 (Annual Representations and Certifications), FAR 52.209-7 (Information Regarding Responsibility Matters), and others. Read each certification carefully — these are legally binding representations.

Step 7: Enter Points of Contact

Designate your Government Business Point of Contact (POC) and Electronic Business POC at minimum. The Government Business POC is the person contracting officers will contact about your registration. The Electronic Business POC manages your SAM account and receives system notifications. These can be the same person in a small business.

Step 8: Enter Financial Information

Provide your banking information for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The government pays contractors via EFT — there is no option for paper checks on most contracts. Double-check your routing and account numbers. Errors here cause payment delays.

Step 9: Review and Submit

Review every section before submitting. Once submitted, your registration enters the validation queue. You cannot make changes while validation is in progress.

Entity Validation Timeline

After submission, SAM.gov validates your entity information against IRS records and other government databases. The current average processing time is approximately 7 to 10 business days for domestic entities and up to 30 business days for international entities. During peak periods (especially the end of the federal fiscal year in September), processing times may be longer.

You will receive email notifications at each stage of the validation process. If additional information is needed, respond promptly — unresolved requests will eventually cause your registration to expire from the queue.

Common Registration Mistakes

• Legal name mismatch — Your business name must exactly match your IRS records. "ABC Corp" is not the same as "ABC Corporation" or "ABC Corp."
• Wrong EIN — Using a personal SSN when an EIN is required, or transposing digits
• Outdated address — Your address must match IRS records. If you moved, update with the IRS first.
• Missing NAICS codes — Register all NAICS codes relevant to your capabilities, not just one
• Incorrect size data — Revenue should be the average of the last three (or five, depending on the NAICS code) completed fiscal years
• Letting the registration expire — Registration must be renewed annually. An expired registration halts payments and eliminates award eligibility.

Annual Renewal Requirements

SAM.gov registration expires exactly 365 days after activation (or the last renewal date). You must renew your registration before it expires to maintain eligibility for new awards and ensure uninterrupted payment on existing contracts.

During renewal, update all information that has changed — revenue, employee count, address, banking information, and representations and certifications. FAR 4.1103 requires contractors to maintain current, accurate SAM data at all times.

What to Do If Registration Is Rejected

If your registration is rejected, SAM.gov will provide a reason code. Common reasons include entity validation failure (name/EIN mismatch), incomplete information, and unresolvable IRS data discrepancies. Steps to resolve rejection include:

• Review the rejection notice carefully and address the specific issue cited
• Verify your legal name and EIN against your IRS CP 575 or most recent tax return
• Contact the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line (800-829-4933) if you suspect an IRS data issue
• Contact the Federal Service Desk (fsd.gov) for SAM-specific technical issues
• Resubmit your registration once all issues are resolved

SAM.gov Registration Scams

Be aware that numerous third-party companies send official-looking letters and emails demanding payment for SAM registration or renewal. SAM.gov registration is always free. The government will never ask you to pay for registration. If you receive a solicitation demanding payment for SAM services, report it to the Federal Service Desk.

While legitimate consultants exist who can assist with the registration process, no third-party payment is required by the government. Exercise caution and verify any communication by logging directly into SAM.gov rather than clicking links in emails.

• How long does SAM.gov registration take?

  The registration form itself takes 1 to 3 hours to complete if you have all prerequisites ready. Entity validation after submission takes approximately 7 to 10 business days for domestic entities. International entities may take up to 30 business days. The total timeline from start to active registration is typically 2 to 4 weeks.

• Does SAM.gov registration cost anything?

  No. SAM.gov registration is completely free. Any entity or website that charges you for SAM registration is not affiliated with the government. Report suspected scams to the Federal Service Desk at fsd.gov.

• What happens if my SAM.gov registration expires?

  An expired registration means you are ineligible for new contract awards and may experience payment delays on existing contracts. Contracting officers are required by FAR 4.1102 to verify active SAM registration before making awards. Renew your registration before it expires to avoid disruption.

• Can I register on SAM.gov as a sole proprietor?

  Yes. Sole proprietors can register using either their SSN or EIN as the Taxpayer Identification Number. However, obtaining an EIN from the IRS (which is free and instant online) is recommended because it allows you to keep your SSN private in a government database.

• What is the difference between UEI and DUNS number?

  The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) replaced the DUNS number in April 2022 as the government's primary entity identifier. Unlike the DUNS number (which was issued by Dun & Bradstreet), the UEI is generated and managed directly by SAM.gov at no cost. If you had a DUNS number, your UEI was assigned automatically during the transition.