The DUNS number is no longer used by the federal government. On April 4, 2022, it was replaced by the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric code assigned for free through SAM.gov.1Grants.gov. Applicant Registration If you want to bid on federal contracts or apply for grants, you now need an active SAM.gov registration tied to a UEI. There is nothing left to do with Dun & Bradstreet on the federal side.
What Replaced the DUNS Number
For decades, every entity doing business with the federal government needed a DUNS number issued by Dun & Bradstreet, a private company. That put a core government function in the hands of a third-party data provider. The UEI moves the identifier system entirely inside SAM.gov, under government control.2GSA. Unique Entity Identifier Update
The UEI does the same job the DUNS number used to do: it identifies your organization across federal contract and grant systems. It just comes from a different place and costs nothing.
You May Already Have a UEI
If your organization had a SAM.gov registration when the switch happened, you do not need to request a UEI. The system automatically assigned one to every existing registrant, including those with inactive registrations.2GSA. Unique Entity Identifier Update Log in to SAM.gov and check your entity record. The UEI is displayed there.
Who Needs One Now
Nearly every entity that receives federal money needs a UEI. The specifics depend on how you are getting that money.
Contractors
Under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, offerors must be registered in SAM.gov at the time they submit an offer or quotation. Narrow exceptions exist for classified contracts, emergency operations, micro-purchases paid by government purchase card, and certain overseas contracts, but they rarely cover a typical business pursuing federal work.3Acquisition.gov. FAR 4.1102 Policy If you plan to bid through a normal solicitation, register before your proposal goes in.
Grant Applicants
Federal regulations require grant applicants to be registered in SAM.gov before submitting an application, to include their UEI in every application, and to maintain that registration throughout the life of any active award. Recipients must review and update their SAM.gov information annually.4eCFR. 2 CFR 25.200 – Requirements for Notice of Funding Opportunities, Regulations, and Application Instructions
Subrecipients
If you receive federal funds through another organization rather than directly from an agency, you still need a UEI. A prime recipient cannot make a subaward to any entity that has not obtained one. You do not, however, have to complete a full SAM.gov registration. You can request just the identifier through SAM.gov and skip the rest.5eCFR. 2 CFR 25.300 – Requirement for Recipients to Ensure Subrecipients Have a Unique Entity Identifier
How to Get a UEI
Everything happens at SAM.gov, and it is free. Create an individual account through Login.gov, sign in to SAM.gov, and start a new entity registration. When the system asks for a registration type, choose “All Awards” or “Financial Assistance” if you plan to bid on contracts or apply directly for grants. If you only need the identifier for subaward reporting, select “Unique Entity ID only” to skip the full registration.6GSA. Unique Entity ID Is Here
Entity validation is the first gate. SAM.gov checks your organization’s legal name and physical address against official records. Have this ready:
- Legal business name exactly as it appears on your formation or incorporation documents
- A physical street address; post office boxes are not accepted7SAM.gov. Entity Registration Checklist
- Date and state of incorporation, or equivalent formation details for your entity type
- Taxpayer Identification Number for U.S. entities7SAM.gov. Entity Registration Checklist
If the system cannot match your information automatically, you will need to open a ticket with the Federal Service Desk and submit official documentation, such as articles of incorporation, proving your legal name and address. IRS documents like W-9 forms and EIN confirmation letters are not accepted for entity validation.8Integrated Award Environment. Entity Validation Documentation Checklist
Plan the timing. SAM.gov says registration can take up to 10 business days to become active, and longer if validation requires documents.9SAM.gov. Entity Registration Do not start days before a solicitation deadline.
Keeping Your Registration Active
SAM.gov registration expires every 365 days. You have to renew to keep it active, even if nothing about your organization has changed.9SAM.gov. Entity Registration Federal regulations reinforce the same annual cycle for recipients.4eCFR. 2 CFR 25.200 – Requirements for Notice of Funding Opportunities, Regulations, and Application Instructions
Start the renewal well before the expiration date. Validation delays and processing times can stretch beyond a week, so beginning 60 to 90 days early is a reasonable buffer. If your registration lapses, you become ineligible for new contract awards, and payments on existing awards can be disrupted. If your legal name, address, or banking information changes, update SAM.gov promptly rather than waiting; a legal name change can trigger a fresh entity validation.
Watch for Registration Fee Scams
Because SAM.gov registration is required for federal contracts, third-party companies routinely send official-looking notices demanding payment for registration or renewal services. Getting or renewing a UEI directly at SAM.gov costs nothing.1Grants.gov. Applicant Registration
Legitimate government emails come from .gov or .mil addresses only. If a message from a .com, .net, or .org domain warns that your registration is expiring and asks for a fee, it is not from the government. Do not click links in unsolicited emails about SAM.gov status. Type the address into your browser and check the dashboard in your own account. Some consulting firms do legitimately charge to help with registration paperwork, but they will say plainly that they are not the government. Anyone who implies otherwise, or claims a fee is required, is running a scam.