Glossary
Federal contracting, defined precisely
The vocabulary of federal contracting, written for people who need the exact meaning: who assigns each identifier, which regulation creates each duty, and what the data does and does not prove.
Unique Entity ID (UEI)
The 12-character alphanumeric identifier SAM.gov assigns to an entity. A UEI identifies the entity but does not establish an active registration or federal award.
CAGE code
A 5-character Commercial and Government Entity code assigned to a specific entity location and used in federal procurement records.
SAM registration
The federal entity record used to bid on government contracts or apply directly for federal assistance. Registration is not evidence that the entity received an award.
Exclusion
A government-wide record showing that a person or entity is ineligible or otherwise restricted from participating in specified federal transactions.
Debarment and suspension
Debarment excludes a contractor for a period based on established causes. Suspension is a temporary protective action pending investigation or legal proceedings.
Federal Contractor
Generally, a person or legal entity performing under a procurement contract with the U.S. government. This registry applies the label only after observing a prime award.
Registered Federal Vendor
In this registry, an entity with an active SAM registration but no observed prime procurement award tied to its UEI.
Federal Subcontractor
An entity that supplies goods or services to a prime contractor or another subcontractor for performance of a federal prime contract.
NAICS code
A 2-to-6 digit industry classification code. Federal contracting uses a 6-digit NAICS code to describe an acquisition's principal purpose and apply its small business size standard.
PSC code
A 4-character federal code that classifies the product, service, or research purchased in a contract action.
Prime award
A federal contract or assistance award made directly by an agency to a recipient. This registry uses prime procurement awards to classify federal contractors.
Subaward
A reported lower-tier award made by a prime recipient to another entity for work under a federal prime award.
Single Audit
The organization-wide audit required when a non-Federal entity expends $1,000,000 or more in Federal awards during its fiscal year.
FAPIIS / integrity records
The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System used in federal contractor responsibility reviews.
Exclusion check
One operation against SAM.gov Exclusions for a party identified by UEI, CAGE code, or legal name.
Verification record
The saved evidence of one exclusion check: query, result, source provenance, seal, issuer signature, and, for new production records, independent timestamp.
SCITT
Supply Chain Integrity, Transparency, and Trust, an IETF architecture for issuer-signed statements and independently verifiable transparency receipts.
Suspension and debarment verification
The duty to verify that a party is not excluded or disqualified before entering a transaction covered by the applicable federal rule or award term.