Expert Advice

Transition from DUNS to SAM.gov Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs)

On April 4, 2022, the federal government will stop using Dun & Bradstreet’s Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and start using the System for Award Management’s (SAM) Unique Entity Identifiers (UEIs). Entities will no longer have to go to a third-party website to obtain their number. This transition allows the government to streamline the entity identification and validation process, making it easier and less burdensome for entities to do business with the federal government. The UEI will still be verified by a third-party provider, Ernst & Young, but the process will be seamless within the SAM system.

If you are currently registered in SAM, you will already have a SAM UEI assigned to you. Even if your registration is currently inactive, you will still have a SAM UEI assigned. You can log in to SAM and see your SAM UEI in your information section. Businesses should log in and obtain their new UEI for future use of government systems as well as to update websites, capability statements, and any other documents in which they have previously used their DUNS number.


The below image shows where to find your SAM UEI when you log in to your SAM account and go to your Entity Registrations.

Any new entity that registers in SAM will begin by obtaining a SAM UEI prior to being taken to the entity registration page. The new entity process requires 4 steps:

Some entities that only conduct certain types of transactions, such as reporting as a sub-awardee, can obtain a SAM UEI without completing an entity registration by just completing the UEI steps above.

To obtain more information about the SAM UEI please go to Guide to Getting a Unique Entity ID


*Prior to April 4, 2022, any new registrants will still need to obtain a DUNS number in order to register in SAM.


If you have more questions, please contact us at info@norcalptac.org or 707.267.7561, or apply to be a client today!

Written by: Nanci Pigeon, Norcal PTAC Procurement Specialist

Newsletter Source: GSA UEI