Federal contracting registration checklist: 9 steps
Registering to sell to the federal government takes nine steps and costs nothing — SAM.gov charges no fee, your Unique Entity ID is assigned during registration, and domestic entities get a CAGE code automatically. This checklist covers what to gather first (legal name exactly as the IRS has it, EIN, physical address, bank routing details), each step in order, and the validation mismatches that stall most registrations. Work through it free, no account needed.
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes. There is no government fee to register an entity in SAM.gov, and free help is available from the Federal Service Desk. Companies that charge for SAM registration are selling optional assistance with a process you can complete yourself.
What is a UEI and do I still need a DUNS number?
The Unique Entity ID is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by SAM.gov. It replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022 — DUNS is no longer used for federal awards, and you get your UEI as part of SAM.gov registration rather than from a third party.
How do I get a CAGE code?
For domestic entities, the CAGE code is assigned automatically during SAM.gov registration — you do not apply for it separately. Foreign entities receive an NCAGE code instead, obtained before SAM registration.
What do I need before I start registering?
Your legal business name exactly as it appears on IRS records, your EIN or TIN, a physical business address (not a P.O. box), and your bank routing and account numbers for payment. Name and address mismatches against IRS records are the single most common cause of stalled entity validation.
Does my registration expire?
Yes — SAM.gov entity registration must be renewed annually. An expired registration makes you ineligible for award, and lapsed registrations are a common avoidable reason small businesses lose work they had already won on merit.