How to register in SAM.gov and get a UEI

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For an organization applying directly for a federal award, SAM.gov registration is the first administrative step. You receive a Unique Entity ID, or UEI, during registration. Getting that identifier alone does not make the organization ready to apply. Start with the official SAM.gov registration page and follow the full registration route.

1. Check whether your organization already has a registration

Ask whoever manages federal awards or business records to check the existing entity before creating another record. Grants.gov says you can search SAM.gov for an organization’s registration using SAM.gov and Login.gov accounts. Its applicant registration instructions explain this check and the organization’s main contact role.

Set aside time well before an application deadline. Grants.gov advises allowing up to 10 business days for activation even when an organization already has a federal tax ID; missing or unverified information can stretch the process to weeks or months. Treat that as a planning warning, not a promised completion date. See Grants.gov’s timing guidance.

2. Sign in through Login.gov

Select Sign In on SAM.gov. You will go to Login.gov to sign in or create an account, then return to complete your SAM.gov profile. These are the steps described on SAM.gov’s getting-started page.

For a new Login.gov account, prepare an email address you can keep accessing, a password of at least 12 characters, and an authentication method. Login.gov lists options including a security key, face or touch unlock, an authentication app, and text or voice messages. If your email already belongs to an account, use the account recovery instructions rather than starting over. Follow Login.gov’s account setup instructions.

3. Choose the registration that matches your work

On the entity registration page, select Get Started, then Register Entity. SAM.gov’s Entity Registration Checklist (PDF) separates two purposes: Financial Assistance Awards Only covers grants and loans; All Awards also covers bidding on federal contracts. Choose based on the awards your organization intends to pursue.

For a grant-only application, use the financial assistance route. If you are pursuing a research opportunity, check whether the agency is offering a grant or a contract before choosing. Keep that opportunity’s instructions beside you while registering; avoid choosing the broader route simply because its name sounds more complete.

4. Gather records and validate the entity

The checklist asks for the legal business name, physical address, incorporation details, taxpayer information, financial information, and contacts. A post office box cannot be the physical address. Gather the actual records before entering the fields, including the tax information and bank routing and account numbers needed for electronic payments. Use the financial assistance section of SAM.gov’s checklist.

SAM.gov validates the entity’s name and address. If it cannot validate them, the checklist directs you to create a Federal Service Desk help ticket from that page. Once the UEI is assigned, continue the registration. Record both the identifier and any support ticket number so you can follow up on the same issue. See the checklist’s entity validation instructions.

5. Complete the remaining registration sections

Complete Core Data, the financial assistance representations and certifications, and the required points of contact. Read the certifications before attesting to them. The checklist identifies Accounts Receivable, Electronic Business, and Government Business contacts as mandatory. Review the required sections in SAM.gov’s checklist.

Choose the Electronic Business Point of Contact deliberately. Called the EBiz POC in Grants.gov, this person manages access for people working on applications. After registration, they should use the same contact email in their Grants.gov account and add the organization’s UEI. Grants.gov explains the EBiz POC handoff.

6. Submit and check for active status

If you stopped after receiving a UEI, return to the entity workspace. EXIM’s federal registration instructions describe opening the ID Assigned area, choosing Register from the entity’s actions menu, completing the sections, and selecting Submit. An assigned ID is a checkpoint along the way. See EXIM’s instructions for completing registration after UEI assignment.

Watch for the activation email and use Check Entity Status on SAM.gov with your UEI. EXIM describes both ways to confirm activation. Keep the confirmation with your application records, and resolve any pending registration issue before treating this step as finished. Read the status-check instructions.

7. Hand off to the application team

Make a short internal record containing the UEI, entity administrator, EBiz POC, and renewal reminder. NIH’s registration guide distinguishes the administrator who manages the entity record from the EBiz POC involved in Grants.gov administration, and calls for yearly renewal. See NIH’s explanation of registration responsibilities.

Next, work through our Grants.gov application guide. To choose an opportunity to investigate, visit grants for small businesses or grants for nonprofits. Put your registration and submission tasks on your own calendar before focusing on the final deadline.

Questions about SAM.gov registration

Is a UEI enough to apply directly for a federal grant?

No. SAM.gov distinguishes getting an identifier from completing entity registration. Organizations applying directly for federal awards need a registration; choosing the UEI-only option does not complete it. SAM.gov registration guidance.

Does it cost money to register or renew?

The government does not charge for a UEI, initial SAM.gov registration, or annual renewal. You can complete these steps through the official government site. EXIM’s SAM.gov guidance.

How often do I need to renew?

Renew the entity registration every 365 days to keep it active. SAM.gov also allows updates between renewals. SAM.gov renewal guidance.