Do I need to register on SAM.gov to bid on government contracts?

SAM.gov (the System for Award Management) is the federal government's consolidated vendor registration system. Any entity that wants to bid on federal contracts, receive federal grants, or be paid as a subcontractor on a federal prime contract must have an active SAM.gov registration. Registration is free, but it requires you to provide entity information (legal name, address, banking details for payment), NAICS code declarations (the industry codes that describe what you sell), and certifications (small-business status, set-aside eligibility). SAM.gov registration assigns your business a UEI (Unique Entity Identifier), which replaced the older DUNS number system. Registration must be renewed annually.

For state and local contracts, you do not need SAM.gov — but you almost always need an analogous registration. Each state procurement portal has its own vendor signup. Cities, counties, school districts, and hospitals typically use procurement platforms (Bonfire, PlanetBids, Jaggaer, Periscope, BidNet Direct, DemandStar) that each have their own vendor registrations. Many vendors find themselves registered on a dozen or more platforms.

Practical advice: register on SAM.gov first if you intend to bid federal. Then register on the platform for each state or agency you actively pursue. Avoid bulk-registering on dozens of platforms — it creates notification noise without actually expanding your win rate.