SAM.gov Registration Guide: How to Register Your Business (2026)
Last updated: 2026-04-01
Summary: SAM.gov (System for Award Management) registration is required for ALL federal contractors and is a prerequisite for all SBA certifications. Registration is completely free — do not pay any third-party site. You will receive a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which replaced the DUNS number. Entity validation takes 10-15 business days. Registration must be renewed annually. The official site is sam.gov.
Warning: Avoid SAM.gov Scam Sites
Many third-party websites impersonate SAM.gov and charge $200-$800+ to "register" your business. SAM.gov registration is always free. The only legitimate website is sam.gov. Do not use any site with a different domain name. The Federal Service Desk (fsd.gov) provides free help if you need assistance.
What Is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the official federal government system where businesses register to:
- •Bid on and receive federal contracts
- •Apply for federal grants
- •Apply for SBA certifications (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB)
- •Receive federal financial assistance
- •Search for contracting opportunities
SAM.gov is operated by the General Services Administration (GSA) and consolidates several former systems including CCR (Central Contractor Registration), ORCA, and EPLS.
UEI Number (Replaced DUNS)
Since April 2022, the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) has replaced the DUNS number as the official identifier for federal contracting. Key facts:
- •UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric code (e.g., ABC123DEF456)
- •Assigned automatically during SAM.gov registration — no separate application needed
- •Completely free (unlike DUNS, which was managed by Dun & Bradstreet)
- •Used on all federal contracts, grants, and certification applications
- •If you had a DUNS number, your entity was automatically assigned a UEI
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Step 1: Create a Login.gov Account
Go to login.gov and create an account. Login.gov is the federal government's single sign-on service. You will need an email address and must set up multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Step 2: Get Your EIN
If you do not already have an Employer Identification Number (EIN), apply for one free on the IRS website. Sole proprietors can use their SSN, but an EIN is recommended.
Step 3: Go to SAM.gov and Start Registration
Visit sam.gov, sign in with your login.gov credentials, and select "Get Started" to begin entity registration. Choose "Register Entity" to create a new registration.
Step 4: Enter Entity Information
Complete the following sections:
- •Core Data: Legal business name, physical address, EIN/TIN, business start date
- •Entity Type: Business structure (LLC, Corp, sole prop, etc.)
- •NAICS Codes: Select all industry codes that describe your work
- •Product/Service Codes (PSC): What you sell to the government
- •Size Metrics: Employee count and annual revenue
Step 5: Enter Financial Information
Provide your banking information for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This is how the government will pay you. You need your bank routing number and account number. The government validates this through a micro-deposit process.
Step 6: Enter Points of Contact
Designate a Government Business Point of Contact (POC) and an Electronic Business POC. These are the people the government will contact regarding your registration and contracts.
Step 7: Complete Representations & Certifications
Answer questions about your business size, ownership, and status. This is where you self-certify as a small business and indicate if you are disadvantaged, women-owned, veteran-owned, etc. (Note: self-representation in SAM is different from formal SBA certification.)
Step 8: Submit and Wait for Validation
Review and submit your registration. Entity validation takes approximately 10-15 business days. You will receive email notifications about your status. Once active, your UEI is assigned and you can proceed with certification applications.
Annual Renewal Requirement
Your SAM.gov registration expires every 365 days from the date it was last updated. You must renew before expiration to avoid disruption. Key renewal facts:
- •Renewal is free
- •SAM.gov sends email reminders at 60 and 30 days before expiration
- •An expired registration means you cannot receive new awards or payments
- •Renewal processing takes 1-2 business days (faster than initial registration)
- •Set a calendar reminder 30 days before your expiration date
Registration Checklist
| Item | Where to Get It | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Login.gov account | login.gov | Free |
| EIN (or SSN) | IRS.gov | Free |
| Business legal name & address | Your formation documents | N/A |
| Banking info (routing + account) | Your business bank | N/A |
| NAICS codes | census.gov/naics | Free |
| SAM.gov registration | sam.gov | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SAM.gov?
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the official U.S. government system for managing entity information for federal awards. Any business that wants to receive federal contracts, grants, loans, or other federal assistance must register in SAM.gov. It replaced several legacy systems including CCR (Central Contractor Registration), ORCA, and EPLS. SAM.gov is operated by the General Services Administration (GSA) and is completely free to use. Registration is a prerequisite for all federal certifications (8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, SDVOSB).
Is SAM.gov registration really free?
Yes. SAM.gov registration is 100% free. There is never any charge to register, update, or renew your SAM.gov registration. Be extremely cautious of third-party websites that charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to register you on SAM.gov — these are scams or unnecessary services. The official website is sam.gov (no other domain). The only legitimate related cost is the time it takes to complete the registration, which typically takes 1-2 hours to fill out the initial application.
What is a UEI number?
UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is a 12-character alphanumeric code assigned by SAM.gov to uniquely identify your business entity. The UEI replaced the DUNS number (which was issued by Dun & Bradstreet) in April 2022. Unlike the DUNS number, the UEI is issued directly through SAM.gov at no cost. You receive your UEI as part of the SAM.gov registration process — you do not need to apply for it separately. Your UEI is used on all federal contracting documents, grant applications, and certification applications.
How long does SAM.gov registration take?
The actual application takes about 1-2 hours to complete online. After submission, entity validation (where the government verifies your business information) takes approximately 10-15 business days. For international entities, validation can take longer. If there are issues with your submission (mismatched information, incomplete data), the timeline can extend. You will receive email notifications about your registration status. Once validated, your registration is active and you can begin bidding on contracts and applying for certifications.
What do I need to register on SAM.gov?
To register, you need: (1) A login.gov account (the federal government's single sign-on system), (2) Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS, or Social Security Number if you are a sole proprietor, (3) Your business legal name, physical address, and mailing address, (4) Banking information (routing number and account number for electronic funds transfer), (5) Your NAICS codes (North American Industry Classification System) for the industries you work in, (6) Business type and organization structure information. Having these ready before you start will make the process much smoother.
How often do I need to renew my SAM.gov registration?
SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually. Your registration expires exactly one year from the date it was last updated. You will receive email reminders before expiration, but it is your responsibility to renew on time. If your registration lapses, you cannot receive new federal contract awards or be paid on existing contracts until it is reactivated. Renewal is also free and typically takes 1-2 business days to process. Set a calendar reminder 30 days before your registration expiration date.
Can I register on SAM.gov before forming my business?
No. You need to have a legally formed business entity with an EIN from the IRS before you can register on SAM.gov. For sole proprietors, you can use your Social Security Number, but an EIN is recommended. The registration process requires your legal business name as it appears with the IRS, so your entity must be established first. The typical order is: (1) Form your business entity, (2) Get an EIN from the IRS, (3) Register on SAM.gov, (4) Apply for certifications through certify.sba.gov.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For help with SAM.gov registration, contact the Federal Service Desk (free government helpdesk). Official website: sam.gov.