SAM.gov
SAM.gov is the U.S. government's official system for managing federal contractor registration, federal awards, and federal procurement opportunities. Every business pursuing federal contracts must have an active SAM.gov registration with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Replaced the legacy CCR + ORCA + EPLS + DSBS systems in 2012; UEI replaced DUNS in 2022.
Also called: SAM.gov registration, System for Award Management · Last updated: May 27, 2026 · By Joseph W. Anady
Why it matters.
SAM.gov registration is the single most foundational requirement for federal contracting. Without an active SAM.gov entity registration, a business cannot bid on federal contracts, receive federal awards, or accept federal payments. Annual renewal is required. The UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is the federally-assigned alphanumeric ID that uniquely identifies each registered entity.
How it works.
Register at sam.gov with business legal name, taxpayer ID (EIN), banking information for payments, NAICS codes, and a federal-government PoC. SBA's VetCert and other small business certifications cross-reference SAM.gov data. Process: free, online, typical first-time approval 7-14 days. Annual renewal required (entity becomes inactive if not renewed). Public-facing entity information appears in Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS), now called the SBS (Small Business Search) after 2025 modernization.
2026 reality check.
SAM.gov underwent significant modernization in 2024-2025. The legacy DSBS was replaced with SBS (Small Business Search) in 2025. Search and filtering improved substantially. Capability narratives now propagate in days instead of weeks. As of 2026, SAM.gov is more usable than at any point in its history but still has UX rough edges (entity registration approval workflow remains complex for first-time applicants).
Data points
- Free to register at sam.gov (no cost for entity registration)
- UEI replaced DUNS in April 2022
- Annual renewal required to maintain active status
- Replaced legacy DSBS with SBS (Small Business Search) in 2025
- TDG's public UEI: FFG3A4SK9HY6 (verify current status in official registries)
First-hand insight from ThatDeveloperGuy.
ThatDeveloperGuy publishes public UEI FFG3A4SK9HY6 as an entity identifier. Use the current official SAM.gov record to confirm registration, representations, certifications, NAICS assignments, and entity links before relying on them. The SAM.gov entity page is included in Joseph's public identity references; that link is not a claim of current status.
How TDG approaches it
TDG documents software-development and web-engineering capabilities and publishes UEI FFG3A4SK9HY6 as an identifier in Person and Organization schema. Confirm the current entity status, renewal, representations, capability narrative, and NAICS assignments directly in SAM.gov.
Common mistakes.
- Letting registration lapse (must renew annually)
- Vague capability narrative (federal buyers search by keyword — narrative must include relevant NAICS-aligned terminology)
- Missing or wrong NAICS codes (use the most specific NAICS that fits, plus secondaries)
- Banking information errors (federal payments fail until corrected)
- Confusing SAM.gov with subdomains like gsa.gov, fbo.gov, sba.gov (different services)
FAQ.
Is SAM.gov registration free?
Yes — free for entity registration and federal opportunity search. Third-party services charge to 'help' with registration but the actual registration is free at sam.gov.
What's a UEI?
Unique Entity Identifier — 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned by SAM.gov. Replaced the older DUNS number system in April 2022. Every registered entity has a unique UEI.
How long does registration take?
Typically 7-14 days for first-time approval. Annual renewals are faster (1-3 days if no changes).
Can I bid on federal contracts without SAM.gov?
No. Active SAM.gov registration is mandatory. Inactive registrations cannot receive awards or payments.
Where do I find federal opportunities?
sam.gov > Search > Contract Opportunities. Filter by NAICS, set-aside type, agency, response date. Save searches for daily email alerts.
Maintained by Joseph W. Anady at ThatDeveloperGuy. Back to glossary · Suggest a term