How to Register on SAM.gov & Get a UEI and CAGE Code Free (2026 Guide) | Intandem

Step 1: Gather Your Exact Legal & Tax Documents (Why 40% of Filings Stall) (FAR 4.1102 / Entity Validation Services)

SAM.gov’s automated Entity Validation Service rejects applications when your street address, punctuation, or entity start date differs by even one word from state or IRS records.

In April 2022, the federal government retired the Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number and moved entity validation directly inside SAM.gov. When you enter your company name and address, SAM checks your state Secretary of State database and official tax records. If your Articles of Organization say "Apex Solutions, LLC" with a comma and you type "Apex Solutions LLC" without a comma—or if you enter a virtual mailbox / UPS Store address instead of a physical office or home address—automated validation fails and forces a manual document review.

Before starting the online wizard, put four documents on your desk: (1) your Secretary of State formation filing showing your exact legal name and formation date, (2) your IRS CP-575 EIN Confirmation Letter, (3) a recent utility bill, lease, or bank statement showing your exact physical street address, and (4) your business checking account routing and account numbers for ACH payments.

Step 1 Checklist

• Locate your Secretary of State Articles of Organization/Incorporation (note exact punctuation and formation date).
• Locate your IRS CP-575 EIN Assignment Letter (confirm whether the IRS lists your sole proprietorship/LLC under your personal name or entity name).
• Verify a physical street address (P.O. Boxes and commercial mail receiving agencies are prohibited for physical address validation).
• Prepare business bank routing number, account number, and bank phone number for the Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) section.

Step 2: Select "All Awards" & Obtain Your 12-Character Unique Entity ID (UEI) (FAR 4.605(b))

Always select "All Awards" so you can bid on both federal procurement contracts and federal assistance/grants.

Sign into SAM.gov (which uses Login.gov two-factor authentication—ideally registered with your company domain email address rather than a personal Gmail). Click "Get Started" under Entity Registration and choose **"All Awards"** when asked why you are registering. Choosing "Financial Assistance Awards Only" skips the FAR Representations & Certifications required for bidding on contracts.

Next, enter your legal business name, physical address, start year, and state of incorporation. If your entity matches the automated directory, click "Confirm" and SAM.gov will immediately generate your 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI). If it does not auto-match, click "Create Incident" and upload two official documents (your Secretary of State filing + utility bill or bank statement showing your name and address); the Federal Service Desk (FSD) typically validates manual incidents within 2 to 5 business days.

Step 2 Checklist

• Use a corporate domain email (`you@yourcompany.com`) for your Login.gov / SAM Entity Administrator account.
• Select **"All Awards"** as your Purpose of Registration.
• Check the box to **"Include in Public Search"** so contracting officers and prime contractors can verify your registration.
• Save your 12-character UEI as soon as it is generated.

Step 3: Complete Core Data, Assertions (NAICS), and FAR Reps & Certs (FAR 52.204-7 & FAR 52.212-3)

Your Assertions and Representations & Certifications sections act as your universal digital compliance passport across all federal agencies.

In **Core Data**, you will create a Marketing Partner Identification Number (MPIN)—a 9-character password you invent (letters + numbers) that connects SAM.gov to external federal systems like the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) and PIEE. Write your MPIN down carefully! You will also enter your TIN/EIN for IRS Consent and your ACH bank account for EFT payments.

In **Goods and Services (Assertions)**, enter your primary 6-digit NAICS code and all secondary NAICS codes, along with optional Product Service Codes (PSCs). In **Representations and Certifications**, answer the questionnaire regarding corporate ownership, domestic end products, tax delinquency, and small business size status. SAM automatically populates FAR 52.212-3 based on your answers.

Step 3 Checklist

• Create and securely store your 9-character **MPIN** (must contain at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, and one number).
• Add 1 Primary NAICS code and 4–10 Secondary NAICS codes in the Goods & Services (Assertions) tab.
• List at least two Points of Contact (Government Business POC and Electronic Business POC) with valid phone numbers and emails.

Step 4: Pass DLA CAGE Validation & Complete Your SBA DSBS Profile (FAR Subpart 4.18 (CAGE Codes))

Watch your inbox closely for automated emails from `@dla.mil`—failing to reply within 3 business days cancels your CAGE review.

After you click Submit, your registration moves through two automated gates: (1) **IRS TIN Match** (1–2 days), which verifies that your EIN matches the exact taxpayer name on your IRS CP-575 letter, and (2) **DLA CAGE Review** (5–12 business days), where the Defense Logistics Agency assigns your 5-character CAGE Code (like Intandem’s `CAGE: 21QN8`).

During DLA CAGE review, a DLA analyst may email your Government Business POC from a `@dla.mil` address asking you to confirm your physical address or entity ownership. **You must respond within 3 business days**, or your registration will be rejected back to Draft status. Once you receive your "SAM Registration Active" email, click the link at the end of your SAM registration (or log into SBA Connect / DSBS) using your UEI and MPIN to fill out your **Capability Narrative, Keywords, and Past Performance** in the SBA Dynamic Small Business Search.

Step 4 Checklist

• Whitelist `@sam.gov`, `@fsd.gov`, and `@dla.mil` in your email spam filter immediately after submission.
• Reply within 24–72 hours if a DLA CAGE technician emails a verification question.
• Once Active, complete your SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) Capability Narrative and Keywords—this is the #1 database Contracting Officers search for sole-source and market research.

Put Your New UEI & CAGE Code to Work Automatically: Plug your NAICS codes and certifications into Intandem. We scan SAM.gov, 50 state portals, and 3,000+ local agencies daily—ranking open contracts that match your exact profile and connecting you with verified SBA teaming partners. Match My NAICS Codes to Live Bids | Look Up Your NAICS Size Standards