Every federal contractor must be registered in SAM.gov (System for Award Management). It's free, and you do it yourself. Here's the plain-English walkthrough.
First: it's free
You may get calls or emails from companies offering to "register you for a fee." You don't need them — registration at SAM.gov is 100% free. Only pay a third party if you knowingly want help; never a mandatory "fee."
What you'll need
- Your legal business name and physical address (must match other records exactly — mismatches are the #1 delay).
- Your bank/EFT details for payment.
- Your NAICS codes (see our NAICS guide).
- A Login.gov account to sign in.
The steps
1. Create a Login.gov account and sign in at SAM.gov.
2. Request your Unique Entity ID (UEI) — this replaced the old DUNS number.
3. Complete Entity Registration: business info, NAICS, points of contact, and the Reps & Certs questionnaire.
4. Submit and wait for validation.
How long it takes
Plan for a couple of weeks. Entity validation (matching your legal name/address) can add time if anything doesn't line up, so double-check those details before submitting.
After you're registered
You can start identifying opportunities right away — you don't have to wait for registration to browse matches and learn the landscape. In fact, you can see what your business would qualify for before you finish registering.