SAM Registration & Reps/Certs (Part 4)

FAR 52.204-7

System for Award Management

Every offeror must have an active SAM.gov registration at the time of offer submission and must maintain it through award. SAM consolidates entity registration, reps and certs, and assignment of the Unique Entity ID (UEI) — the replacement for the old DUNS number.

FAR / DFARS Part
FAR Part 4 — Administrative and Information Matters
Prescribed By
FAR 4.1105(a) — Required in solicitations and contracts (with limited exceptions).
Flow-down to Subcontracts

Not flowed down. Each contracting entity must independently register.

What this clause requires

  • 1Active SAM.gov registration with all data current at the time of offer submission.
  • 2Unique Entity ID (UEI) — assigned by SAM during registration; replaces DUNS as of April 4, 2022.
  • 3Maintain registration through contract award and performance.
  • 4Update registration immediately for changes in name, address, taxpayer ID, ownership, or size.
  • 5Annual renewal — registration is valid for one year and must be renewed.

When this clause applies

Almost every Federal solicitation. Narrow exceptions at FAR 4.1102: purchases under the micro-purchase threshold, deployed contingency operations, classified contracts, urgent emergencies, etc.

Common pitfalls

!Registration 'Submitted' but not 'Active' at offer time — proposal is non-responsive.
!Letting registration expire mid-performance — invoices and payments can be blocked.
!Forgetting to update SAM after a merger or name change — payments may route to the wrong entity.
!Using the wrong NAICS as 'primary' — affects which size standard applies to your firm by default.

Proposal-team checklist

  • ☐Pull a fresh SAM Entity Registration Summary the week of submission; confirm 'Active' status.
  • ☐Verify UEI matches every place it appears in the proposal (cover, pricing, reps and certs).
  • ☐Set a calendar reminder 60 days before expiration to start the renewal process.
  • ☐Confirm Reps and Certs were updated in the last 12 months and reflect current ownership.

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FAQ

What replaced the DUNS number?

The Unique Entity ID (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by SAM.gov. The transition was completed April 4, 2022 — all Federal awards now use UEI.

Does SAM cost money?

No. SAM.gov registration is free. Beware third-party services that charge for 'expedited' registration; they cannot do anything you cannot do yourself for free.

How long does registration take?

First-time registration typically takes 7-10 business days because of TIN matching with IRS and CAGE code assignment from DLA. Plan accordingly.

Related clauses

FAR 52.204-13
SAM Maintenance
FAR 52.212-3
Offeror Reps & Certs — Commercial
FAR 52.219-28
Small Business Rerepresentation

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Reference content based on the Federal Acquisition Regulation and DFARS as of June 2026. Always verify the current clause text at acquisition.gov before relying on it for an actual submission. Educational reference; not legal advice.