What is a SAM.gov registration?

A SAM.gov entity registration is the government-wide record an organization uses to bid on federal contracts or apply directly for federal financial assistance. The registration process assigns a Unique Entity ID and collects the entity's legal name, address, ownership information, assertions, representations, certifications, and payment information.

FAR 4.1102 generally requires offerors and quoters to be registered in SAM when they submit an offer or quotation, subject to listed exceptions. SAM.gov separately allows an organization to request only a UEI when it needs an identifier but does not plan to apply directly for federal awards.

Registration is not a federal award

An active SAM registration means the entity completed the registration process and may pursue the award types covered by that registration. It does not show that a federal agency selected the entity, obligated money to it, or found its past performance satisfactory.

This registry therefore distinguishes a Registered Federal Vendor from a Federal Contractor. The first has an active registration but no observed prime procurement award. The second has an observed USAspending prime award tied to its UEI.

SAM registration vs. Unique Entity ID

Every complete entity registration includes a UEI, but not every UEI has a complete registration. SAM.gov can issue a UEI without requiring the organization to finish the questionnaires and certifications needed to bid or apply directly.

A UEI-only record, an inactive registration, and an active registration are different states. A search result should identify which source supplied the status and the date covered by that source.

Registration renewal and status

SAM registrations require periodic renewal and can become inactive. An expiration date or status should never be presented without its source date because the registration may have changed after the underlying extract or API response.

Registration status also does not replace an exclusion check. An entity can have identifying information in SAM while a separate active exclusion record affects its eligibility for covered transactions.

How this registry uses SAM registration data

federal.contractors displays the legal name, UEI, CAGE code, registration status, expiration date, business classifications, and source-specific dates available from public SAM data. It does not treat registration as proof of an award or make a responsibility determination.

Primary sources

Search SAM-registered entities