SAM.gov Registration Guide

What Is SAM.gov?

SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the federal government's primary database for businesses seeking to do business with the federal government.

You must be registered in SAM.gov to:

• Receive federal contracts
• Receive federal grants
• Receive payments from federal agencies
• Bid on federal solicitations

Registration is free. Third-party sites charge for this service — use only sam.gov.

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Before You Start — Critical Prerequisites

Do not begin SAM.gov registration until you have:

• [ ] EIN — your federal Employer Identification Number
• [ ] Legal business name exactly as registered with the IRS
• [ ] Business address (must match IRS records)
• [ ] NAICS codes — your primary industry codes (you can select multiple)
• [ ] Bank account information — for EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) payment setup
• [ ] A login.gov account — required to access SAM.gov

Discrepancies between your SAM registration and IRS records will cause rejection. Use the exact same legal name and EIN that you used for your EIN application.

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Step 1: Create a Login.gov Account

SAM.gov requires authentication through Login.gov.

1. Go to login.gov
2. Create an account with your email
3. Set up two-factor authentication (required)
4. Return to SAM.gov and authenticate

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Step 2: Begin Your SAM.gov Registration

1. Go to sam.gov
2. Click "Sign In" → authenticate with Login.gov
3. Click "Register Entity"
4. Select "I want to be able to bid on federal contracts" or the option applicable to your purpose

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Step 3: Core Data

This section captures your fundamental business information.

Legal Business Information:

• Legal name (must match IRS records exactly)
• DUNS/UEI number — SAM.gov now uses a Unique Entity ID (UEI) assigned during registration; DUNS numbers are no longer used
• Physical address
• Business start date
• Fiscal year end date
• EIN

Business Types: Select all that apply:

• Small Business (verify using SBA size standards for your NAICS code)
• Woman-Owned Small Business (if applicable)
• Veteran-Owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (if applicable)
• HUBZone (if your business is in a designated area)
• Minority-Owned (if applicable)

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Step 4: NAICS Codes

Select all NAICS codes that describe your business's capabilities.

• Your primary NAICS code should represent your largest revenue activity
• You can add additional codes to capture the full range of your capabilities
• Use the NAICS lookup or the SAM.gov built-in search

Strategy tip: Include NAICS codes for services you are capable of providing, not just services you are currently performing. This expands the opportunities you appear in searches for.

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Step 5: Points of Contact

Enter:

• Government business POC (who agencies contact for contract matters)
• Electronic business POC (for electronic notifications)
• Government business alternate POC (backup contact)

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Step 6: Financial Information (EFT Setup)

The federal government pays contractors via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Enter your:

• Bank name
• Bank routing number
• Account number
• Account type (checking or savings)

This is required to receive payments.

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Step 7: Representations and Certifications

This is the longest section. You will answer questions related to:

• FAR clauses (Federal Acquisition Regulation)
• Business size certifications
• Compliance statements
• Service Contract Act requirements (if applicable)

Answer carefully and truthfully. False certifications have significant legal consequences.

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Step 8: Review and Submit

Review every section carefully before submitting. After submission:

• SAM.gov validates your EIN against IRS records (this is where mismatches cause delays)
• Typical active status: 1–2 business days after validation passes
• You will receive an email confirmation

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Maintaining Your Registration

SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually. Set a calendar reminder 60 days before your expiration date.

An expired SAM.gov registration means:

• You cannot receive new contracts
• Payments may be delayed or suspended
• You cannot bid on active solicitations

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Common Issues and Delays

IRS validation mismatch: Your business name or EIN doesn't match IRS records. Solution: use the exact name on your IRS CP 575 letter.

Login.gov issues: Create your login.gov account before starting SAM.gov — don't try to create both simultaneously.

EFT rejection: Double-check bank routing and account numbers.

Unexplained delays: Contact the SAM.gov Federal Service Desk at fsd.gov.

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After SAM.gov Registration

Your UEI number is now your identifier in the federal marketplace. Next steps:

1. Register on Texas CMBL for state contracting
2. Develop your Capability Statement
3. Complete the Contractor Readiness Checklist
4. Begin identifying opportunities on SAM.gov's contract opportunities section

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Complete this with expert guidance. The Government Contractor Ready Workshop walks you through SAM.gov registration live, so you leave with it submitted or active. See the workshop →