If you want to become a government contractor, completing your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is a required first step. At Federal Contactor Registry, we handle SAM registration for hundreds of companies every year and we can provide you with reliable, fast and accurate registration services. Before we get started on your registration, however, there are a few pieces of information we will need to complete the process, including the following.
- Your Legal Business Name
This may seem obvious, but some businesses use slightly different names for advertising purposes than the names registered with the federal government or state government or other entities. We need to know the official name of your entity as registered with state or local authorities.
- Your Physical & Mailing Address
The government will not accept a P.O. Box as a physical address, so while you may receive mail at a separate location from your physical location, the government will need both of these addresses.
- Your Taxpayer Identification Number
You will need to provide us with your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or your Employer Identification Number (EIN). These are issued by the IRS and should be found easily enough on your tax forms.
- Banking Information
The System for Award Management is not just a database filled with information about every federal contractor. It’s also the system used to pay those contractors, and as such, you will need to provide us with the name of your bank, its routing number, the account number and the account holder’s name. We also will need Electronic Funds Transfer information.
- Your Unique Entity Identifier
This is a fairly new requirement. In the past, the government required entities to provide their Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers to complete SAM registration. That has been phased out, and the government now generates what is known as the Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI number. If you don’t already have this number, our team will procure it for you as part of our SAM registration services.
- NAICS Codes
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a document that contains codes for every type of business or industry. Whether you provide computer repair services, janitorial services, office furniture, HVAC equipment or something else, there’s a code that describes that business. If you don’t know your codes, you can find them at Census.gov or we can determine which codes best match your business as we work on your U.S. federal contractor registration.
- Business Details
In addition to your legal business name and addresses, we also will need to know the number of full-time and part-time employees as well as whether or not your business qualifies as a non-profit. We also will need information regarding your entity’s legal structure (corporation, LLC, etc.)
- Contact Information
Of course, it’s essential to provide the name, title, phone number and email address of the main contact at your company who will serve as the liaison with government procurement agents. Typically, we ask for the main contact as well as any alternate points of contact.
- Ownership & Control
We need to know the names of the owners, of course, but also whether or not the business is perhaps woman-owned, veteran-owned or perhaps minority-owned, as there are special certifications that might apply to your business and make it easier to attain government contract jobs.
Why Hire A Third Party?
While the government won’t charge you a fee to register in the System for Award Management, the process is arduous and can take 10, 12 or more hours to complete. We receive calls daily from folks who have reached their breaking point, frustrated with the confusing government-speak and uncertain if they are filling out the application correctly.
Hiring a professional SAM registration service takes the guesswork out of the process and saves you many hours. With our level of expertise, we also won’t make any mistakes. Mistakes can delay your approval and prevent you from being able to bid on lucrative contracts.
Additionally, we can help with several SAM-related tasks. As stated above, we can help you obtain your UEI number, and we also can help you get started with the SAM notarized letter requirement. This letter, which must be notarized and mailed to the Federal Service Desk, identifies your Entity Administrator. This is the individual at your company authorized to make changes to your SAM account.
We also will help you sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA offers grants, small business loans and other services for small business owners. However, when it comes to government contracting jobs, the SBA’s set-aside programs are one of this agency’s best offerings. The federal government sets aside a portion of all contracting dollars just for small businesses.
While general small businesses can bid on most contracts, there are also special small business set aside contract programs, including the 8 (a) Business Development program (a.ka. 8a certification), the Woman-Owned Small-Business (WOSB) set aside, the Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set aside and HUBZone certification. We can determine which set-asides match your business, help you sign up with SBA and link your SBA account to your SAM account.
Ready to get started? Contracting can be a fantastic way to boost your profitability, and we can help by providing you with fast, accurate SAM registration services. To learn more head to our main SAM registration page or click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage.