SAM.gov Vendor Registration Guide
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the federal government's vendor registration system. It assigns Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs), captures business and banking information, and publishes federal contract opportunities. Every federal contractor and grant recipient must be registered.
Portal URL: https://sam.gov
Who uses SAM.gov?
All US federal agencies (DoD, civilian departments, independent agencies). State and local agencies do not generally use SAM.gov, but federal subcontractor registration requirements often flow down through prime contractors.
All federal civilian and defense agencies — SAM.gov is the consolidated federal vendor and opportunity portal.
Registration steps
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS if you don't already have one (free, immediate online).
- Create a Login.gov account using your business email.
- Begin entity registration at SAM.gov. The system will request a CAGE code from DLA automatically.
- Enter business name, address, banking information, NAICS codes, certifications (small business, set-aside eligibility), and points of contact.
- Submit and wait — initial registration typically takes 7-14 business days. CAGE code assignment can extend this.
- Renew annually. SAM.gov sends reminder emails 60, 30, and 15 days before expiration.
Cost
Free. There are no fees for SAM.gov registration. Beware of third-party services that charge for help — most vendors can self-register without paying.
What to expect
Plan for 2-4 weeks from start to active registration the first time. Annual renewals are typically 1-2 hours of administrative work. Bank account verification may require an EFT transmission from the agency before payment is established.
Tips
- Use a business email (not personal) for your Login.gov account — personal Logins can't access entity records.
- Keep your SAM.gov entity record current. Mid-year changes to NAICS, address, or banking can affect contract eligibility.
- Set up SAM.gov saved searches with email alerts for the opportunities most relevant to your business.
- For set-aside eligibility, certify through certify.SBA.gov separately — SAM.gov does not certify 8(a), HUBZone, etc.