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SAM.gov Registration: A Step-by-Step Guide for Contractors
9 min read · Updated August 14, 2026
Quick answer
To bid on federal contracts you must have an active registration in SAM.gov, the official (and free) System for Award Management. Registration means creating a Login.gov account, getting your Unique Entity ID (UEI), completing your entity registration, and waiting for it to be validated and activated — then renewing it every year. Here's exactly how to do it, and how to avoid the delays that trip most contractors up.
Key takeaways
- SAM.gov registration is free — never pay a third party to do it for you.
- The UEI replaced the DUNS number in 2022 and is issued directly in SAM.gov.
- Your legal name and address must match your IRS/state records exactly, or validation stalls.
- Activation usually takes a few business days to a couple of weeks.
- Registration expires after 365 days — renew before it lapses or you can't be awarded work.
What is SAM.gov, and who needs to register?
SAM.gov (the System for Award Management) is the U.S. government's official system for registering to do business with federal agencies. Any business that wants to be awarded a federal contract — as a prime contractor — needs an active SAM.gov registration. It's also where entities register for federal grants. Registration is free; the government does not charge for it, and neither should anyone acting on your behalf.
You do not need SAM.gov to browse opportunities or to bid on most state and local work — those jurisdictions run their own vendor systems. But for federal contracts, an active registration is a prerequisite for award.
How to register in SAM.gov, step by step
The process has six stages. Do them in order — Step 1 in particular prevents most of the delays contractors run into later.
Gather your business information
The most common cause of registration delays is a mismatch between the name and address you enter and the records the government checks against. Before you start, have these ready:
- Legal business name and physical address exactly as filed with the IRS and your state (not a DBA or PO Box).
- Taxpayer Identification Number — your EIN, or SSN if you're a sole proprietor.
- Bank routing and account numbers for electronic funds transfer (how the government pays you).
- The NAICS codes that describe what your business does.
Create a Login.gov account
SAM.gov uses Login.gov for sign-in. Create a Login.gov account (or sign in if you already have one) using a business email you'll keep long-term, and set up two-factor authentication.
Get your Unique Entity ID (UEI)
Your Unique Entity ID (UEI) is the 12-character identifier that replaced the old DUNS number in April 2022. You request it directly inside SAM.gov — there's no separate third-party step anymore. During this step, SAM.gov runs entity validation, matching your legal business name and address to official records. If something doesn't match, you may be asked to upload documentation (for example a state formation document or IRS letter), so keep those handy.
Complete your entity registration
With your UEI in hand, complete the full registration. SAM.gov walks you through several sections:
- Core Data — business details, banking/EFT, and general information.
- Assertions — your NAICS codes, size metrics, and the types of goods and services you provide.
- Representations & Certifications — the FAR and DFARS reps and certs that federal buyers rely on. Read these; they're legal attestations.
- Points of Contact — the people responsible for the registration and the work.
Submit, then wait for validation and activation
After submission, your registration goes through backend checks (including IRS verification) and the Defense Logistics Agency assigns a CAGE code if you don't already have one. When everything clears, your status changes to Active — only then can you be awarded federal contracts. Plan on a few business days to a couple of weeks; validation issues are the usual cause of delay, which is why getting Step 1 exactly right matters.
Renew every year
A SAM.gov registration expires 365 days after activation. Set a reminder to renew before it lapses — an expired registration makes you ineligible for award until it's active again.
How long does activation take?
Filling out the registration takes a few hours; getting to Active takes longer because of the validation and IRS checks that run after you submit — commonly a few business days, and sometimes two weeks or more if entity validation flags a name/address mismatch. If you have a federal deadline, start your registration well ahead of it. Don't wait until you've found a solicitation you want to bid.
Watch out for registration scams
Because federal registration sounds complicated, a cottage industry of third-party sites offers to "handle" it for a fee, sometimes using official-looking names. You can complete every step yourself at sam.gov for free. Paying a firm to file for you is legal, but it's never required — and the government will never charge you for registering or for a UEI.
After you're registered
An active SAM.gov registration makes you eligible to win federal work — but eligibility isn't opportunity. The next challenge is finding the federal, state, and local solicitations that actually fit your trade, size, and service area. That's what GovBid Finder does: it scores every opportunity against your company profile so you spend time on real fits, and it's free to use — you only pay 3% when you win. For the bigger picture on turning eligibility into wins, read How to Win Government Contracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes. Registering in SAM.gov and obtaining a Unique Entity ID are completely free through the official site, sam.gov. Be cautious of third-party companies that charge fees to 'register you' — they're offering to do, for a price, something you can do yourself at no cost.
How long does SAM.gov registration take?
How long does SAM.gov registration take?
Gathering your information and filling out the forms takes a few hours. After you submit, activation typically takes from a few business days to a couple of weeks, depending on how quickly entity validation and IRS checks clear. Matching your legal name and address exactly is the best way to avoid delays.
Do I still need a DUNS number?
Do I still need a DUNS number?
No. The DUNS number was retired on April 4, 2022 and replaced by the Unique Entity ID (UEI), which is issued directly within SAM.gov. You no longer register with a third party to get an identifier before registering in SAM.gov.
What's the difference between a UEI and a CAGE code?
What's the difference between a UEI and a CAGE code?
The UEI (Unique Entity ID) is your primary SAM.gov identifier, generated when you register. The CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity code) is a separate five-character code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency during registration and used across federal systems. You get both through the SAM.gov process — you don't apply for the CAGE code separately.
How often do I have to renew my SAM.gov registration?
How often do I have to renew my SAM.gov registration?
Every 365 days. A registration expires one year after it becomes active, and an expired registration makes you ineligible for award until you renew it. Set a calendar reminder a few weeks ahead so it never lapses in the middle of a pursuit.
Do I need SAM.gov registration to bid on state or local contracts?
Do I need SAM.gov registration to bid on state or local contracts?
Usually no — SAM.gov is the federal system. State and local governments run their own vendor registration systems, so you register separately with each jurisdiction you want to sell to. Many contractors keep a SAM.gov registration for federal work and maintain state/local vendor accounts alongside it.
Registered? Now find the work.
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