UEI & CAGE Codes, Explained

What is a UEI number?

A UEI (Unique Entity ID) is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier, assigned free of charge in SAM.gov, that represents your business in the federal award system. It replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022, and it's the single ID the government uses to track who you are across federal contracts and grants.

The switch was bigger than a rename: GSA brought entity identification in-house, ending its reliance on the third-party Dun & Bradstreet number, and by the April 2022 transition SAM.gov had already generated more than 2.5 million UEIs, counting active and inactive records. You can't register to win federal work without one — and getting it costs nothing. (If a form you're filling out still asks for a DUNS number, that field is simply out of date: your UEI is what federal systems use now.)

What is a CAGE code?

A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is a 5-character code that identifies your business and its specific location to federal agencies. In plain English, FAR 52.204-16 defines it as an identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency's CAGE Branch to entities located in the United States and its outlying areas — one code per legal entity at each unique physical address.

Here's the part that saves you money: for US entities, the CAGE code is assigned automatically by the Defense Logistics Agency when you register in SAM.gov. You don't apply for it separately, and you never pay for it. (Businesses located outside the US obtain an NCAGE code first — covered below.)

UEI vs CAGE vs EIN vs DUNS

Five IDs people constantly mix up. Here's who issues each, what it costs, and whether you actually need it:

Look up a UEI or CAGE code

Need to find your own UEI or CAGE code, or vet a company you're teaming with? Entity records are public: for most registered businesses, the free SAM.gov entity search shows the UEI, CAGE code, registration status, physical address, and NAICS codes — no login required for the public search.

For CAGE-specific research, the official portal is DLA's CAGE Search & Inquiry at cage.dla.mil — the CAGE system of record the FAR itself cites, covering domestic and foreign CAGE information. And to check your own registration status, sign in to SAM.gov, select Check Registration Status(linked in the footer of every SAM.gov page), and enter your UEI or CAGE code — you'll need a role with the entity to see its status.

"Get a UEI only" vs full SAM.gov registration — which do you need?

When you sign in to SAM.gov, you're offered two different paths — and picking the wrong one is an easy way to lose weeks. Here's the fork, plainly:

• Get a Unique Entity ID only

  The lightweight path. You provide just your legal business name and physical address, and SAM.gov issues your UEI. The catch: with a UEI alone you cannot apply directly for federal awards. This path fits subcontractors and sub-awardees who need an ID because a prime contractor or pass-through entity asked for one.

• Full entity registration

  The complete path — core data, representations and certifications, banking details — and the only one that makes you eligible for federal awards. If you plan to bid on contracts as a prime or apply for federal grants, this is the one you need: Grants.gov won't even let your organization start applying until your SAM.gov registration is active.

Both paths are free. The rule of thumb: if you intend to win money directly from the federal government — contracts or grants — do the full registration. If a prime just needs your ID on their paperwork, the UEI-only path is enough, and you can upgrade to a full registration later.

How to get a UEI number, step by step

Free start to finish, and you can do every step yourself. If you're headed for the full registration (most businesses chasing contracts are), pair these steps with our free SAM.gov registration checklist — documents, entity validation, and timeline.

1. 1. Create a Login.gov account

   SAM.gov sign-in runs through Login.gov. Set that up first with your email and a strong password — it's free, like every other step here.

2. 2. Sign in to SAM.gov and pick your path

   Choose 'Get Unique Entity ID' if you only need the ID, or 'Register Entity' if you'll bid on contracts or apply for grants. (Not sure which? See the fork above — most businesses chasing contracts need the full registration.)

3. 3. Enter your legal business name and physical address

   Type them exactly as they appear on your IRS and state records — punctuation, suffixes, and suite format included. Use a physical street address: a PO box can't be used as your physical address in SAM.

4. 4. Pass entity validation

   SAM.gov matches your name and address against authoritative records. If there's no match — common for newly formed businesses — you'll be asked to submit documents proving your legal name and physical address.

5. 5. Receive your UEI

   Once validation clears, SAM.gov assigns your 12-character UEI. There's no fee at any point, and the UEI is yours from then on — it doesn't expire.

Start at the official sam.gov entity registration page — and if you need a federal tax ID first, get a free EIN from the IRS. Doing the full registration? Build a personalized, step-by-step plan with the SAM.gov Registration Checklist.

How to get a CAGE code

For US businesses there's usually nothing extra to do — the CAGE code rides along with your SAM.gov registration. Two paths exist:

1. Default: automatic through SAM.gov

   During registration, SAM.gov asks whether you already have a CAGE code. Select 'No', and the DLA CAGE Branch assigns one automatically after you submit — no separate application, no fee, nothing extra to track.

2. Direct request from DLA (the rare path)

   US entities that aren't required to register in SAM can request a CAGE code directly from the DLA CAGE Branch. Allow about 10 business days for validation by the CAGE Program Office — and respond fast if DLA asks for documentation, because requests are returned if the paperwork isn't provided within 5 business days.

The direct-request portal is DLA's CAGE site at cage.dla.mil. Either way, the code itself is free — registration for a CAGE code is a free service, full stop.

How long does it take?

Official guidance from SAM.gov: allow up to 10 business days for a full entity registration to become active. That's the clean-path number. If entity validation can't match your records and you end up submitting documents for manual review, Grants.gov warns the process could stretch to weeks or months. The practical rule: start well before any bid or grant deadline you care about, and don't schedule anything that depends on being Active inside those 10 days.

Foreign entities: NCAGE codes

If your business is located outside the United States and its outlying areas, you don't get a CAGE code from DLA — you get an NCAGE code. Under FAR 52.204-16, an NCAGE code is assigned by a NATO member nation or the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to entities located outside the US.

The order matters: SAM.gov's own registration checklist tells foreign entities to request their NCAGE code through the NATO NCAGE Request Tool beforestarting a SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov's external resources page links both the online NCAGE request portal and DLA's CAGE search, which covers foreign codes too. Like everything else on this page, the NCAGE code is free.

Do UEI and CAGE codes expire?

Three different clocks run here, and mixing them up is how registrations quietly lapse:

• Your UEI: never expires

  Once assigned, a UEI does not expire. It stays your business's federal ID whether your registration is active or not — you never re-request or 're-purchase' it.

• Your SAM.gov registration: renew every 365 days

  The registration behind your UEI is valid for one year after the submission date and must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. This annual renewal is the deadline that actually bites — and it's free.

• Your CAGE code: five-year renewal cycle

  DLA assigns expiration dates to CAGE codes that are new or updated after August 25, 2016, on a five-year renewal cadence. For most contractors this handles itself: keeping your SAM registration current keeps your CAGE record current.

The UEI and registration clocks are spelled out in official federal guidance; the five-year CAGE cadence comes straight from DLA. And once you're under contract, there's one more obligation: FAR 52.204-18 requires contractors to maintain their CAGE code throughout the life of the contract and to communicate any CAGE change to the contracting officer within 30 days. DLA won't modify a SAM registrant's data on its own — changes happen only when you initiate them through your SAM registration.

Not sure how many days you have left before the 365-day renewal deadline? Check your date with our free SAM.gov expiration checker.

"Failed CAGE Validation" and other rejections

A failed CAGE or TIN validation doesn't mean your registration is dead — it means the government couldn't match your information and wants a fix. Here's how to work it, for free:

• Check the Government Business point of contact's inbox — including spam. When an entity fails TIN or CAGE validation, SAM.gov emails instructions for updating and resubmitting to the Government Business POC, and those messages routinely land in spam folders.

• Match your legal name and physical address everywhere. The usual culprit is a mismatch across your IRS record, your state registration, and what you typed into SAM — punctuation, suffixes ('Inc.' vs 'Inc'), '&' vs 'and', and suite format all count.

• Don't use a PO box. A post office box can't be used as the physical address in a SAM registration — validation needs a real street address.

• Fix, resubmit, and get free help. Correct the record, resubmit, and if you're stuck, open a free ticket at the Federal Service Desk (fsd.gov). Never pay a firm to 'fix' a failed validation — the fix is free.

Do I need a CAGE code?

If you're registering in SAM.gov to bid on federal contracts, yes — but you don't request it. It's assigned to you automatically during registration, so there's nothing extra to do and nothing to pay. If a prime contractor or a solicitation clause asks for your CAGE code, it's the one already on your SAM.gov registration. If anyone offers to sell you a CAGE code, walk away.

There's a hard regulatory anchor here too: under FAR subpart 4.18, offerors must provide their CAGE code before award of any contract action above the micro-purchase threshold, and contracting officers verify it by reviewing your SAM.gov registration. Translation: for federal work beyond the smallest purchases, the CAGE code on your SAM registration is the one that counts — keep that registration current.

Never pay for a UEI or CAGE code

SAM.gov's official Entity Registration Checklist says it plainly: "SAM.gov is FREE to use. There is no charge to get a Unique Entity ID, register your entity, and maintain your entity registration at SAM.gov." The Federal Service Desk goes further — it's 100% free to register and maintain your entity registration in SAM, and it warns you to be wary of companies that contact you by phone, text, fax, email, or social media offering to register or activate your entity for a fee: those firms are not affiliated with the US government, and the government never charges for registration.

So what do paid firms actually sell? Typically clerical work — filling in the same free forms you can complete yourself, with free official help from the Federal Service Desk whenever you get stuck. Keep your money for your first bid.

UEI & CAGE code FAQ

What is a UEI number?

A UEI (Unique Entity ID) is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned free of charge in SAM.gov. It represents your business in the federal award system and replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022. Any entity doing business with the federal government uses the UEI created in SAM.gov.

How do I get a UEI number for my business?

Create a free Login.gov account, sign in to SAM.gov, and choose either 'Get Unique Entity ID' (legal name and address only) or 'Register Entity' (the full registration you need to bid on contracts or apply for grants). Enter your legal business name and physical address exactly as they appear on your IRS and state records. Once your entity passes validation, SAM.gov assigns your UEI.

Is getting a UEI number free?

Yes. Getting a UEI, completing your initial SAM.gov registration, and maintaining the annual registration are entirely free. SAM.gov's own registration checklist says it plainly: 'SAM.gov is FREE to use.' Anyone charging you for a UEI is reselling a free government service.

How do I look up my company's UEI number?

Use SAM.gov's free entity search: look up your legal business name and, for most registered entities, the public record shows the UEI, CAGE code, registration status, and address — no login required. To check your own registration status, sign in to SAM.gov, select 'Check Registration Status', and enter your UEI or CAGE code — you'll need a role with the entity to see its status.

Is a UEI number the same as a DUNS number?

No — the UEI replaced the DUNS number. On April 4, 2022, GSA systems switched to the SAM.gov-issued Unique Entity ID and stopped using the Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number to identify entities. If an older form still asks for your DUNS, that field is out of date — federal systems now identify your business by its UEI.

Is a UEI the same as an EIN or Tax ID?

No. Your EIN is your 9-digit federal tax ID, issued by the IRS. Your UEI is a 12-character identifier assigned in SAM.gov for the federal award system. Both are free, and they don't replace each other — a full SAM.gov registration requires a taxpayer ID, usually your EIN (sole proprietors can often use an SSN).

What is the difference between a UEI and a CAGE code?

The UEI is a 12-character ID assigned in SAM.gov that identifies your legal entity across the federal award system. The CAGE code is a 5-character identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency that identifies your entity at a specific physical location. US businesses get both through a single free SAM.gov registration — the UEI when validation passes, the CAGE code automatically after you submit.

How long does it take to get a UEI number?

For a full SAM.gov registration, official guidance says to allow up to 10 business days for the registration to become active. If your entity can't be matched during validation and you have to submit documents, Grants.gov warns the review could take weeks or months. Start well before any bid or grant deadline.

Does a UEI number expire or need to be renewed?

The UEI itself never expires — once assigned, it's yours. But the SAM.gov registration behind it is valid for one year after submission and must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. CAGE codes are separate: DLA assigns expiration dates to codes new or updated after August 25, 2016, on a five-year renewal cycle.

What is the difference between getting a Unique Entity ID only and registering in SAM.gov?

The UEI-only path asks for just your legal business name and physical address — but with a UEI alone you cannot apply directly for federal awards, so it suits subcontractors and sub-awardees. Full SAM.gov registration is what makes you eligible to bid on contracts as a prime or apply for federal grants. Both paths are free.

Do I need a CAGE code before registering in SAM.gov?

No — US entities don't need one beforehand. During registration you're asked whether you already have a CAGE code; select 'No' and DLA assigns one automatically after you submit. Only entities located outside the US need to request an NCAGE code before starting their SAM.gov registration.

What does 'Failed CAGE Validation' mean in SAM.gov?

It means your CAGE information couldn't be validated — usually a legal-name or address mismatch across your IRS, state, and SAM records, or a PO box entered as your physical address. SAM.gov emails fix-and-resubmit instructions to your Government Business point of contact (check spam). Correct the record, resubmit, and open a free ticket at fsd.gov if you're stuck — never pay a firm to 'fix' it.

What does a CAGE code look like — is it letters or numbers?

A CAGE code is always exactly 5 characters and mixes letters and numbers (for example, 1ABC2 or 5XY73). The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) assigns them in a fixed pattern: the first and fifth positions are always numbers, and the middle three positions can be any mix of letters or numbers — except the letters I and O, which are never used because they're too easy to confuse with the digits 1 and 0. The code is tied to your entity's name and a specific physical location — it's a unique identifier for that address, not a code you decode to reveal your industry or size. If you were handed something that isn't 5 characters or doesn't fit this pattern, it isn't a valid CAGE code, so double-check it against your SAM.gov record. (One exception: entities in NATO countries get an NCAGE code, which can start or end with a letter — but a standard U.S. CAGE code always follows the number-first, number-last rule.) Note: we're an independent service and aren't affiliated with SAM.gov, DLA, or any government agency; getting or looking up a CAGE code is free.

SAM.gov says my Unique Entity ID is already assigned to another entity — what does that mean?

SAM.gov issues one Unique Entity ID per unique entity, and it decides uniqueness from your legal business name and physical address — an entity is treated as unique when it's a separate legal entity at a separate physical address. As part of validation, SAM.gov's Entity Validation Service also checks that there isn't already a registration for that same name and address, so an "already assigned" or "duplicate entity" message usually means the name-and-address you entered matched a record that already exists. A common cause is a shared or base street address: at a coworking space, a shared building, or a location where a related company is also registered, the address you enter can match an entity SAM.gov already has (note that a P.O. box can't be used as your physical address). Fixes, all free: enter your full physical address, including your suite or unit number, exactly as it appears on your official records; confirm you don't already have a UEI under a slightly different spelling of your name; and if validation still blocks you, follow SAM.gov's prompt to create an entity validation incident. That incident is tracked in your SAM.gov Workspace and at the Federal Service Desk (FSD.gov), but the review itself is done by the Entity Validation Service team — not FSD agents, who don't have access to your validation documents — using records that show your legal business name and physical address. Getting or fixing a Unique Entity ID at SAM.gov is entirely free, so never pay a company to "clear" a duplicate; the whole process runs through SAM.gov's free entity validation.

On a proposal or capability statement, do I use my UEI or my CAGE code?

Put both on your capability statement and any proposal cover sheet — they answer different questions. Your UEI (12 characters) is your primary identity across the federal award system: it's the ID you'll cite most in proposals and correspondence, and you need it registered in SAM.gov before you can bid at all. Your CAGE code (5 characters) identifies your specific physical location; under FAR 52.204-16 an offeror provides its CAGE code with its offer, and the code must match the name and location address on the proposal. Both live on the same free SAM.gov entity record — the CAGE code is assigned automatically when you register, so if you can find one you can find the other, and there's no need to buy or request either separately. If a solicitation asks for one specifically, give the exact one it names; when in doubt, list both.