SAM.gov Registration Checklist

How to do it

1. 1
   Choose contracts or grants

   Select whether you register to bid for contracts or only for grants, and mark a foreign entity.

2. 2
   Enter your expiry date

   If you are renewing, type the expiry date to get renewal reminders.

3. 3
   Collect the basic information

   Gather the legal name, address, EIN and UEI.

4. 4
   Collect business and payment data

   Prepare NAICS codes, size data, contacts and bank details.

5. 5
   Print or add to calendar

   Print the list or download the calendar file with the renewal reminders.

About this tool

To receive federal contracts or grants a business or organization must register in SAM.gov. The process asks for many details and can take weeks, so being prepared saves time. This checklist lists the information to collect, from legal name and address and the EIN to NAICS codes, size information, points of contact, bank details for payment and the representations and certifications, adapted for contracts or grants and for foreign entities. It also computes renewal reminders from your expiry date, because a registration must be renewed every year.

Who this is for Small businesses, nonprofits, universities and local governments that want to bid for federal work or apply for federal grants, and advisers who help them. A lapsed registration blocks payment and awards, so the renewal reminders matter as much as the first registration.

Information to collect The exact legal business name and physical address as they appear in the records of the IRS, the EIN, and the entity's unique entity ID (UEI), which SAM.gov issues. The tax and ownership information, the NAICS codes that describe the work, the size and revenue information, and the CAGE code that is assigned after validation. Points of contact for the government and electronic business, and an email that you can monitor. Bank details for electronic funds transfer so that you can be paid.

Representations and certifications Registrations for contracts include representations and certifications about size, ownership, socioeconomic status and compliance with federal acquisition rules; read each one and answer truthfully. Registrations only for grants complete a shorter set that includes financial assistance certifications.

Timing Allow several weeks. Validation of the legal name and address can take days, and fixing a mismatch with IRS records takes longer. Do not wait for a deadline to start. After approval, the registration is active for one year, and SAM.gov sends notices before it expires.

Worked example A small firm plans to bid on a contract and its registration expires on a date known from its record. The checklist shows basic, business, people, payment and certifications groups, and with an expiry date entered it adds reminders at 60 and 30 days before expiry and shows the day the renewal window opens.

Limits SAM.gov changes its screens and requirements, and registration is free; beware of services that charge fees. This checklist is an organizing aid and not legal advice.

Worked example

With an expiry date entered, the checklist adds renewal reminders 60 and 30 days before it and shows the groups of information to collect for a contract registration.