Registering and renewing on SAM.gov
Before you can bid on or be awarded a federal contract — including the set-aside opportunities on this site — your business must have an active registration in SAM.gov. This is the plain-English version of two things: doing it for the first time, and keeping it renewed.
Registering and renewing at sam.gov costs nothing. Third-party companies that offer to "register you" for a fee are optional middlemen — everything in this guide you can do yourself, for free.
What SAM.gov is, and why you need it
SAM stands for the System for Award Management — the U.S. government's official registry of businesses that want to work with federal agencies. An active registration is a prerequisite to bid, be considered, and get paid on federal contracts.
It's also where you self-certify your business size, declare the NAICS codes that describe your work, and complete your federal Representations & Certifications. This guide splits the two situations that trip people up: a brand-new registration and the annual renewal.
New registration, step by step
First-time registration. Gather the items below before you start — having them ready is the difference between a smooth registration and weeks of back-and-forth.
What you'll need before you start
- check_circleYour legal business name and physical street address — exactly as they appear on IRS and bank records (mismatches cause most delays).
- check_circleYour EIN / Taxpayer ID (TIN).
- check_circleYour bank routing and account numbers, for electronic payment (EFT).
- check_circleThe NAICS code(s) that describe what your business does.
- check_circleA Login.gov account (you'll create one if you don't have it).
- 1
Create or sign in with a Login.gov account
SAM.gov uses Login.gov for sign-in. Set up a free Login.gov account first, then use it to sign in to SAM.gov.
- 2
Get or confirm your UEI (Unique Entity ID)
SAM.gov assigns your UEI during registration — it replaced the old DUNS number, so there's nothing separate to buy. If you've validated your business before, you may already have one.
- 3
Complete entity validation
SAM.gov matches your legal business name and physical address against official records. Enter them exactly as they appear on your IRS and bank documents — a mismatch here is the single most common cause of delays.
- 4
Enter your core data and banking info
Fill in your business details and the bank routing and account numbers for electronic funds transfer (EFT), so the government can pay you.
- 5
Answer the Reps & Certs
Complete the federal Representations and Certifications — your size status, NAICS codes, and any socioeconomic certifications. These are legal attestations, so answer honestly.
- 6
Add your points of contact
List the people SAM.gov and contracting officers can reach about your registration.
- 7
Submit and wait for your CAGE code
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is assigned during processing. Your registration shows as Active once everything clears.
A realistic timeline
It's not instant. Approval often takes about 7–10 business days, and 3–4 weeks for brand-new businesses or if entity validation hits a snag. Start well before any deadline you care about — and remember, it's free.
Annual renewal
Your SAM.gov registration expires every 365 days, and it does not renew itself.
If your registration goes inactive, you can be dropped from active solicitations and can't be awarded. Renew about 30–60 days early. SAM.gov emails the entity administrator at 60, 30, and 15 days before expiration.
- 1
Sign in via Login.gov and open your existing entity registration.
- 2
Review and update every section — addresses, NAICS codes, size, bank/EFT info, and points of contact. Fix anything that's changed.
- 3
Re-sign the Reps & Certs — they have to be re-attested at each renewal.
- 4
Submit, then confirm the new expiration date and that your status is back to Active.
Assign at least two Login.gov administrators to your entity, so you're not locked out of renewing if one person leaves.
Common questions
Is SAM.gov registration really free?expand_more
Yes. There's no fee to register or renew at sam.gov. Third-party companies that offer to register you for a fee are optional middlemen — you can do everything yourself for free.
How long does a new registration take?expand_more
Often about 7–10 business days, but it can stretch to 3–4 weeks for brand-new businesses or if entity validation hits a snag. Don't start the week of a deadline.
What is a UEI, and what happened to DUNS?expand_more
The UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is the ID SAM.gov assigns your business. It replaced the DUNS number in 2022, and SAM.gov issues it directly during registration — there's nothing separate to apply for.
Why did my entity validation fail?expand_more
Almost always a mismatch between your legal name or address and your IRS or other official records. Copy them character-for-character, including punctuation, and they should match.
How often do I have to renew?expand_more
Every 365 days. Your registration doesn't auto-renew, so set a reminder for about 30–60 days before it expires. SAM.gov also emails the entity administrator at 60, 30, and 15 days out.
Do I need SAM.gov before getting an SBA certification like 8(a) or WOSB?expand_more
Yes. You generally need an active SAM.gov registration before you can apply for set-aside certifications such as 8(a), WOSB, HUBZone, or SDVOSB, and before you can bid on the opportunities reserved for them.
Where's the authoritative, up-to-date help?expand_more
SAM.gov's own help center. Its screens and exact steps change over time, so when in doubt, follow the current instructions at sam.gov.
Set-Aside Pro is an independent publication, not affiliated with the SBA, the VA, or SAM.gov. Registering and renewing on SAM.gov are free at sam.gov — be cautious of third-party services that charge for it. SAM.gov's screens and steps change; this is a plain-English overview, not official instructions. Always confirm the current process on SAM.gov.