Who this is for: Small business owners, minority-owned businesses, veteran-owned enterprises, and entrepreneurs who want to pursue federal government contracts or grants and need to get their SAM.gov registration completed correctly the first time.

What Is SAM.gov and Why Does It Matter?

SAM.gov is the official federal government system for managing contractor and grantee registrations. Operated by the General Services Administration (GSA), it is the single authoritative source for entity information used by federal agencies when awarding contracts, grants, and other financial assistance. If your business is not registered in SAM.gov, you cannot be paid by the federal government. Full stop.

Registration is required for:

• Any business bidding on federal contracts (prime or subcontracts over the micro-purchase threshold)
• Most federal grant applicants (Grants.gov applications route through SAM for entity validation)
• Businesses applying for certain SBA programs (including 8(a) certification)
• Any business receiving federal financial assistance

The federal marketplace is enormous. The government awards over $600 billion in contracts annually, and small businesses are allocated a specific percentage of those awards by law. Registration in SAM.gov is the first step to accessing that market. Review opportunities and find relevant programs on our guide to alternative funding and grant sources.

The UEI Number: What Replaced DUNS

Before April 2022, entities used a DUNS number (Data Universal Numbering System), issued by Dun & Bradstreet, to register in SAM.gov. The federal government transitioned to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric code generated directly by SAM.gov at no cost. If you registered before April 2022, your existing DUNS-based registration was automatically assigned a UEI. New registrations are issued a UEI instantly when you begin the process.

Your UEI is:

• Assigned at no cost through SAM.gov
• Unique to your entity at a specific physical address
• Required on all federal contract proposals, invoices, and grant applications
• Not transferable if your business moves or changes legal structure

What You Need Before You Start

Gather the following before beginning registration to avoid interruptions:

1. Legal business name and address: Must match your IRS records exactly.
2. EIN (Employer Identification Number): Required for all business entities. Sole proprietors may use their SSN but EIN is strongly recommended.
3. NAICS codes: North American Industry Classification System codes for your business activities. You can have multiple. Search the NAICS code lookup at census.gov/naics.
4. Banking information: Routing number and account number for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) payments.
5. State of incorporation/organization: The state where your LLC or corporation was formed.
6. Fiscal year end date: Your business’s fiscal year end month and day.
7. Points of contact: Names and contact information for your entity administrator.
8. Login.gov account: SAM.gov requires a Login.gov account for access. Create one at login.gov before starting your SAM registration.

Step-by-Step: How to Register on SAM.gov

Step 1: Create a Login.gov Account

Go to login.gov and create an account. You will need an email address and a phone number for two-factor authentication. This is required before you can access SAM.gov entity registration.

Step 2: Access SAM.gov and Start a New Registration

Go to sam.gov, sign in with your Login.gov credentials, and navigate to “Register Your Entity.” Select “Business or Organization” as your entity type.

Step 3: Complete the Core Data Section

Enter your legal business name, physical address, mailing address, and EIN. SAM.gov will validate your EIN against IRS records. This is where name mismatches cause delays. The system will also check whether your address is in a disaster zone or has other flags.

Step 4: Enter Your NAICS Codes

Select all NAICS codes that describe your business activities. You will designate one as your “primary” NAICS code. This affects which set-aside categories and contract opportunities your business appears in when agencies search the contractor database.

Step 5: Complete Assertions

This section includes your business size certifications (based on SBA size standards for each NAICS code), disaster relief information, and your Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) banking information. Enter your bank routing number and account number carefully; errors here delay payment.

Step 6: Representations and Certifications

This is the longest section. You will answer questions about your business’s ownership structure, socioeconomic status (woman-owned, veteran-owned, HUBZone, small disadvantaged business), ethics certifications, and compliance with various federal laws. Answer all questions carefully and accurately. False certifications are federal offenses.

Step 7: Enter Points of Contact

Provide names, phone numbers, and email addresses for your entity administrator and any additional points of contact. The entity administrator is responsible for maintaining the registration and receiving renewal reminders.

Step 8: Submit and Wait

After submission, SAM.gov must validate your information against IRS records (TIN validation). This process alone can take several business days. After TIN validation, the registration goes live and is active. The entire process typically takes 10 to 14 business days, though some registrations complete faster.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

These are the most frequent issues that delay SAM.gov registrations:

How Long Registration Takes (and What to Expect)

SAM.gov registration timelines depend on how quickly IRS validates your TIN. Most new registrations complete within 10 business days, but some take up to 14 business days or longer during peak periods. Plan ahead and never start your SAM registration the week a grant or contract bid is due. Federal agencies will not extend deadlines because your SAM registration is pending.

Annual Renewal: Don’t Let It Lapse

Your SAM.gov registration is valid for exactly one year from the date it was activated. You must renew it annually. SAM.gov sends email reminders 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration, but you should not wait for reminders. An expired registration means you cannot receive payments on active contracts and cannot submit new bids. Set a recurring calendar reminder 60 days before your registration anniversary date.

Renewal takes about 30 minutes if your information has not changed. You simply log in, verify that all information is current, and submit. The updated registration goes active immediately (no 10-day wait for renewals).

Using Your SAM Registration to Find Contracts

Once registered, your entity is searchable by federal contracting officers. You can also actively search for opportunities:

1. SAM.gov Contract Opportunities: The “Contract Opportunities” tab on SAM.gov lists all federal solicitations. Filter by NAICS code, agency, set-aside type (small business, woman-owned, veteran-owned), and dollar value.
2. USASpending.gov: See what agencies spend and which vendors win contracts in your industry. Use this to identify target agencies and realistic contract sizes.
3. Subcontracting: Large prime contractors are required to subcontract a percentage of work to small businesses. Many maintain small business registries on their websites. Being in SAM.gov makes you findable as a subcontractor too.

Pair your SAM registration with SBA certifications for maximum competitive advantage. See our breakdown of SBA programs that support small businesses and explore other federal funding pathways in our guide to raising capital without a bank.

Key Takeaways

• SAM.gov registration is free, mandatory for federal contractors and most grant applicants, and takes up to 14 business days.
• The UEI replaced the DUNS number in April 2022 and is assigned by SAM.gov at no cost.
• Your legal name and EIN must match IRS records exactly; mismatches are the top cause of delays.
• Registration must be renewed annually; expiration means you cannot receive federal payments.
• Once registered, use the Contract Opportunities tab and USASpending.gov to identify and pursue contracts.
• SBA certifications (8a, WOSB, VOSB, HUBZone) layered on top of SAM registration unlock set-aside contract opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SAM.gov registration really free?

Yes. Registration in SAM.gov is completely free. There are companies that offer to complete your SAM.gov registration for a fee; these services are not affiliated with the government and are unnecessary. Never pay a third party to register in SAM.gov. The process is designed to be completed by the business owner or their employee directly.

Can I register as a sole proprietor?

Yes. Sole proprietors can register in SAM.gov using their EIN (recommended) or SSN. Using an EIN protects your Social Security number from appearing in government contracting documents. If you do not have an EIN, apply for one at irs.gov before starting SAM registration.

What happens if I miss my annual renewal?

Your registration expires and your entity becomes inactive in SAM.gov. This means contracting officers cannot pay you on active contracts, and you cannot submit new bids or grant applications. You can reinstate by logging in and completing renewal, but there is no grace period; you are inactive the day after expiration. Reinstatement of a renewed registration is effective immediately, unlike a new registration.

Do I need a new SAM registration if my business moves?

No. You update your existing registration with the new address. However, your UEI is tied to your entity at a specific address; in some cases, a significant change (like a new state of formation) may require special handling. Log in to SAM.gov, update your core data, and resubmit. The change goes through TIN validation and can take a few business days to process.

How do I find federal contracts after I register?

Go to sam.gov and click “Contract Opportunities.” Filter solicitations by your NAICS codes and set-aside type. You can also set up email alerts for new solicitations matching your criteria. Supplement your search with beta.sam.gov (which has been merged into sam.gov), USASpending.gov for past contract data, and sbir.gov for R&D grant opportunities if your business does technology or research work.

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