UEI Number: How to Get, Find and Use Your Unique Entity ID
A Unique Entity ID (UEI) is the 12 character identifier SAM.gov assigns to every business, nonprofit and government entity that works with the federal government. Getting a UEI is free at SAM.gov. Fed Services can handle the full SAM registration that also gives you a CAGE code, so you can bid on contracts.
FedServices is a private company, not a government agency, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government. SAM.gov registration and renewal are free when completed directly at SAM.gov. We charge for optional assistance with registration and related services.
What Is a UEI Number?
A UEI number, short for Unique Entity ID, is a 12 character alphanumeric code that identifies an organization in SAM.gov, the federal government’s System for Award Management. SAM.gov issues the UEI itself, either when an entity requests a UEI only or when an entity completes a full registration. Federal agencies use the UEI to track awards, payments and reporting for that organization.
The UEI replaced the DUNS number as the official federal identifier on April 4, 2022. Before that date, businesses had to request a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. Today the whole process lives inside SAM.gov, and getting a UEI costs nothing. Any company that charges you for a UEI is charging for help, not for the number.
A UEI never expires, and the number stays with your organization for good. The SAM registration attached to a UEI is different: a full registration must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. If your registration lapses, your UEI still exists, but you cannot receive new awards until you renew. See our SAM renewal guide for the yearly steps.
UEI at a glance
- 12 characters, letters and numbers
- Issued by SAM.gov, free of charge
- Replaced the DUNS number in April 2022
- Never expires and stays with your entity
- Needed for contracts, grants and subawards
- Full SAM registration renews every 365 days
How to Get a UEI Number for Free at SAM.gov
Getting a UEI takes five steps on SAM.gov. You need your organization’s legal business name and physical address exactly as they appear on official records. If you plan to bid on contracts or apply for awards directly, choose full registration in step 3 instead of UEI only.
Create a Login.gov account
SAM.gov uses Login.gov for sign in. Create an account with your work email, set up two factor authentication and verify your identity. Use an email you will keep, because the account becomes the key to your entity record.
Open your SAM.gov Workspace
Sign in at SAM.gov and go to your Workspace. Find the Entity Management area and select Get Started to begin a new entity request.
Choose UEI only or full registration
Select Get a Unique Entity ID only if you just need the number, for example as a subawardee. Select Register Entity if you want to bid on contracts or receive awards directly. A full registration also gives you a UEI.
Validate your legal name and address
Enter your legal business name and physical address. SAM.gov checks both against official records. Small differences, such as a missing LLC or an old suite number, are the most common reason a UEI request stalls.
Receive and save your UEI
Once validation passes, SAM.gov shows your new 12 character UEI on screen and in your Workspace. Save the number and add it to your grant applications, quotes and capability statement.
UEI vs SAM Registration vs CAGE Code
A UEI, a SAM registration and a CAGE code are three different things, and people mix them up all the time. Here is what each one is, who issues it and what it lets you do.
UEI number
A 12 character ID issued free by SAM.gov. A UEI on its own fits subawardees and some reporting. It does not let you apply for federal awards directly.
SAM registration
The full entity record in SAM.gov with banking, ownership, NAICS codes and certifications. Required to bid on contracts or receive grants directly. Renews every 365 days.
CAGE code
A 5 character code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency during a full SAM registration. Contracting officers use it to identify your business at a specific address.
| Identifier | Issued by | Format | What it allows |
|---|---|---|---|
| UEI | SAM.gov (GSA) | 12 letters and numbers | Subawards and reporting; the base ID for registration |
| SAM registration | SAM.gov (GSA) | Full entity record | Bidding on contracts and receiving grants directly |
| CAGE code | Defense Logistics Agency | 5 letters and numbers | Identifies your business and address in contract systems |
Want the full story on the five character code? Read our guide to the CAGE code lookup.
How to Look Up a UEI Number
A UEI number lookup is free on SAM.gov and does not require an account. Go to SAM.gov, choose Search, set the domain to Entity Information and type a company name, UEI or CAGE code. The results show the entity’s UEI, CAGE code, registration status, physical address and expiration date for active registrations.
Your own UEI is easiest to find inside your SAM.gov Workspace after you sign in. The number appears on your entity record, on the confirmation email SAM.gov sent when the UEI was issued and on any federal award documents you have received.
A UEI search sometimes returns nothing. Entities can opt out of public display in SAM.gov, and UEI only records show limited details. If you cannot find a partner’s UEI, ask the company directly. If you cannot find your own, the SAM.gov help desk guide explains who to call.
- Go to SAM.gov and select Search
- Choose the Entity Information domain
- Enter a name, UEI or CAGE code
- Filter by status or location if needed
- Open the record to see UEI, CAGE and status
- Sign in to your Workspace to find your own UEI
What Happened to the DUNS Number?
The DUNS number was retired as the federal identifier on April 4, 2022, when the government moved to the UEI. Organizations that were registered in SAM.gov before that date were assigned a UEI automatically, and the new number appears on their SAM.gov entity record. Nothing had to be filed to make the switch.
An old DUNS number on a form or template is a sign the document needs updating. Federal systems such as SAM.gov, Grants.gov and agency payment portals now ask for the UEI. Dun and Bradstreet still issues DUNS numbers for commercial credit, but those numbers no longer count for federal awards.
Grants and nonprofits follow the same rule. A nonprofit that applies for a federal grant as the prime recipient needs a full, active SAM registration, not just a UEI. A nonprofit that only receives a subaward through a state or another organization may need only a UEI, depending on what the funding agency requires.
Which one do you need?
- Subawardee only: a UEI is usually enough
- Grant applicant on Grants.gov: full SAM registration
- Bidding on federal contracts: full SAM registration
- Contract award: UEI plus a CAGE code
- Old DUNS on file: use the UEI on your SAM record
When Fed Services Helps With Your UEI
Most UEI requests go through in one sitting. Fed Services steps in when validation fails, when the legal name or address does not match official records, when the Entity Administrator has left the company or when you need the full SAM registration that produces a CAGE code. A Fed Services specialist handles the paperwork and follows the registration until it is active.
- Fix UEI validation errors and record mismatches
- Complete your full SAM registration, UEI and CAGE code included
- Set up your DSBS and FEMA vendor profiles
- Phone support Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Pacific
Prefer to see every package first? Compare options on our pricing page.
SAM Registration Service
Full SAM.gov registration done for you, including your UEI, CAGE code and DSBS profile.
UEI Number FAQ
Is a UEI number free?
Yes. A UEI number is free when you request it directly at SAM.gov, and so is a full SAM registration. SAM.gov never charges to issue a UEI or to register an entity. Companies such as Fed Services charge only for optional help with the registration process, such as fixing validation errors and completing the full SAM record.
How long does it take to get a UEI?
A UEI is often issued the same day once SAM.gov validates your legal business name and physical address. Delays usually come from validation, for example when your name or address does not match official records and you must upload supporting documents. A full SAM registration takes longer because SAM.gov and the IRS review more information.
Is a UEI the same as a CAGE code?
No. A UEI is a 12 character ID issued by SAM.gov to identify your organization. A CAGE code is a 5 character code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency during a full SAM registration, and it ties your business to a specific address. Bidding on most federal contracts requires both a UEI and a CAGE code.
Do I need a UEI to apply for a grant?
Yes. Every applicant for a federal grant needs a UEI, and applying directly as the prime recipient also requires a full, active SAM registration. A UEI only request is meant for subawardees and certain reporting, and SAM.gov does not let a UEI only entity apply directly for federal awards. Check the funding notice for exact requirements.
How do I find my UEI number?
Your UEI number appears in your SAM.gov Workspace after you sign in with Login.gov, on your entity record and in the confirmation email SAM.gov sent when the UEI was issued. You can also search SAM.gov Entity Information by your legal business name, unless your organization opted out of public display.
Can I look up another company's UEI?
Yes, in most cases. SAM.gov Entity Information search is public and free, and you can search by company name, UEI or CAGE code without an account. Some entities opt out of public display, and UEI only records show limited details, so a search may come back empty. When that happens, ask the company for its UEI directly.
What replaced the DUNS number?
The Unique Entity ID (UEI) replaced the DUNS number as the federal government’s official entity identifier on April 4, 2022. Entities already registered in SAM.gov received a UEI automatically. New organizations now get a UEI directly from SAM.gov at no cost, without contacting Dun and Bradstreet.
Need a UEI and a CAGE Code to Bid?
Get your UEI free at SAM.gov, or let Fed Services complete the full registration that makes your business ready to bid on federal contracts. Talk to a specialist about your SAM registration today.
FedServices is a private company, not a government agency, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government. SAM.gov registration and renewal are free when completed directly at SAM.gov. We charge for optional assistance with registration and related services.