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CAGE Codes 101: A Quick Guide for Businesses

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Did you know that more than 50,000 small businesses received government contract jobs in 2022, and these contracts were worth more than $150 billion? Government contracting can be a lucrative option for any size business, but businesses cannot work with the federal government without CAGE codes.

 

What Is A CAGE Code?

A Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a unique identifier that the government assigns to all government contractors. In order to get your CAGE code, you must complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration. The System for Award Management is the central database that includes information about all government contractors.

 

Federal Contractor Registry Can Help!

SAM registration must be completed and approved to be assigned a CAGE code. The government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, but the process can take 10 or more hours to complete. The application is complex and filled with government-speak that can be difficult to understand.

 

Because the application is complicated and any mistakes can delay a company’s SAM approval, many people opt to hire a third-party SAM registration service. The team at Federal Contractor Registry can quickly and accurately complete your SAM registration. While hiring a SAM registration service is an extra expense, there are several reasons to consider this option.

 

  1. Expertise and Experience: Hiring a professional to handle your System for Award Management (SAM) registration ensures that the process is completed accurately and efficiently. They have the necessary knowledge and experience to navigate the complex registration process, minimizing the risk of errors or delays.

 

  1. Time Savings: The SAM registration process can be time-consuming, especially for those unfamiliar with the system. Hiring someone to manage your registration allows you to focus on your core business activities, saving valuable time and resources.

 

  1. Compliance Assurance: A professional specializing in SAM registration will ensure that your business meets all the required criteria and complies with the relevant regulations. This reduces the risk of non-compliance, which could lead to penalties, fines, or even disqualification from government contracting opportunities.

 

  1. Additional Services: At Federal Contractor Registry, we not only provide customers with 100% accurate SAM registration and SAM renewal services, but we have several other value-added features.

 

We can help you with the notarized letter requirement for SAM registration. All new registrants are required to submit a notarized letter to the Federal Service Desk (FSD) identifying their SAM entity administrator.

 

This is the person allowed to make any changes to your SAM account. This letter can be confusing, but we can ensure that you have completed the letter correctly, so all you will need to do is have it notarized and mail it to the FSD.

 

We also can help you with the new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). This is a special code that is assigned to your business and will be listed in your SAM account. The UEI has replaced the Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number. You must apply for the UEI before beginning SAM registration, but we can help.

 

If you own a small business, we also can help you sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA has many programs that help a small business owner find success as a federal contractor.

 

For instance, if your business qualifies as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) or another specific type of small business, you may be eligible to bid on special fed contracts that are set aside specifically for small businesses.

 

Additionally, at FCR, we have many years of experience working with Super 8(a) businesses. These are companies or firms owned by Alaskan Native Corporations (ANCs), Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) or Native American tribes. We are happy to introduce Super 8(a) company representatives to other federal contractors in the FCR network.

 

How CAGE Codes Benefit Businesses

While a CAGE code is required in order to bid on government contracting jobs, there are several other reasons to consider completing SAM registration and getting your code, including:

 

Enhanced Credibility: Having a CAGE code demonstrates that your business is legitimate, reliable, and capable of meeting the government’s strict requirements, increasing your credibility in the eyes of potential clients.

 

Compliance with Federal Regulations: Acquiring a CAGE code ensures that your business complies with federal regulations, such as the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

 

Increased Visibility: CAGE codes make it easier for government agencies and prime contractors to find and evaluate potential suppliers, increasing your business’s visibility in the procurement process.

 

Efficient Business Verification: A CAGE code serves as a quick reference for government agencies to verify your business’s legal name, physical address, and other essential information.

 

Secure Data Exchange: CAGE codes play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information exchanged between businesses and government agencies, ensuring that both parties maintain a high level of security.

 

Improved Tracking and Reporting: CAGE codes enable more accurate tracking and reporting of procurement activities, allowing for better analysis and decision-making by government agencies.

 

Simplified Payment Process: CAGE codes help facilitate the payment process by providing a standardized identifier that government agencies can use to quickly and accurately process invoices.

 

Networking Opportunities: Businesses with CAGE codes are more likely to be invited to industry events, conferences, and training programs, providing valuable networking opportunities to expand their reach and form strategic partnerships.

 

Maintaining CAGE Codes

While the CAGE code assigned to you will always be associated with your company, you do have to renew your SAM registration every year to keep your account active. Without an active account, you cannot do business with any federal agencies and cannot bid on government contractor jobs.

 

We recommend completing your SAM renewal several months before the expiration date as it can take some time to have your account approved for renewal. Again, we can help you with SAM renewals as well as SAM registrations.

 

Need CAGE Codes? Contact Us Today!

If you want to bid on government contract jobs, we can complete your SAM registration as quickly as possible. To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form.

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SAM.gov Registration: Fast & Accurate Services

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If you want to bid on lucrative federal contractor jobs, completing your SAM.gov registration is required. The government doesn’t charge a fee to register, but many people opt to hire a third-party registration service. Why would you hire us instead of doing it on your own? There are several compelling reasons.

 

  1. We Complete SAM.gov Registration Quickly & Accurately

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the database that includes information for all government contractors. You cannot bid on government contractor jobs unless you complete SAM.gov registration, gain approval and receive your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. The CAGE code is the unique identifier that all government agencies will ask for when you bid on contracts.

 

We handled hundreds of SAM registrations every year and the main reason that people hire us is that we can save you time and frustration. SAM registration may be free if you do it yourself, but it’s far from easy and can take 10 or more hours to complete. If you make mistakes, this will delay your approval and you will have to keep submitting your registration until the mistakes are corrected.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we will complete your SAM registration quickly and 100% accurately, which will speed up your approval time. Once you are approved, you will be eligible to bid on government contracting jobs.

 

  1. We Can Help With Your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

In the past, part of SAM.gov registration included providing the government with your Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. This SAM DUNS number requirement has been phased out and the government now asks for a Unique Entity Identifier.

 

To get your UEI, which is a SAM requirement, you have to take a couple of steps, including filling out an application. As part of our SAM registration services, we will complete this process for you so that you can avoid this hassle.

 

  1. We’ll Help You Prepare The Notarized Letter

All new SAM registrants must complete a notarized letter and send this letter to the Federal Service Desk (FSD), the agency that runs SAM. This letter identifies your company’s Entity Administrator, which is just the person authorized to make changes to your SAM account. We can provide you with a template for this letter and ensure that you have filled it out correctly, then you just need to get it notarized and send it to the FSD.

 

  1. We Help You Sign Up With SBA

Did you know that more than 27% of all government contracts went to small businesses om 2021? That equates to more than $154 billion in federal contracting money. If your business qualifies as a small business, this will allow you to bid on special “set-aside” contracts. These are contracts set aside specifically for small businesses, but you must register with the SBA, and we can help.

 

Our team will determine which set-asides match your business and help you register with SBA as well as link your SAM registration to your SBA account. While general small businesses qualify, there are also several very specific set-asides including the Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set aside and the Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) set aside.

 

For these two set-asides, your company must be 51% owned and operated by a woman or women. For the EDWOSB set aside, you must be 51% owned by one or more women that would be considered economically disadvantaged and this means that the woman or women must have a personal net worth of less than $850,000 (per person) and less than $6.5 million in personal assets. Your adjusted gross income also must be $450,000 or less per year (they will look at an average income over the last three years).

 

Other set-asides include Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB). This set aside used to be handled by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but the verification is now handled by SBA.

 

The SBA also runs several other set-aside programs for small businesses, including the HUBZone program and the 8(a) Business Development Program. We can determine which set-asides you qualify for, whether it be WOSB, VOSB, HUBZone or perhaps 8a certification or something else.

 

SAM Renewal Services

In order to do business with the federal government, you must always have an active SAM registration. Your SAM registration is active for 12 months, and then it must be renewed. We recommend that you renew several months in advance because some agencies won’t grant federal awards to companies if their entity registrations are about to expire.

 

SAM renewals tend to be easier than the initial registration process and you don’t have to send in the notarized letter or sign up again with SBA. Still, if you are making any changes to your account, it can be challenging. In addition to your initial SAM contractor registration, we also can handle your SAM renewal process if you want. As a side, note, if you have an active user account currently, you also don’t have to worry about the UEI as that was assigned automatically to anyone with an active SAM account.

 

Get Started Today!

If you are interested in becoming a government contractor, we can help with your SAM.gov registration as well as your SBA registration and we can even introduce Super 8a contractors to other contractors in our Federal Contractor Registry network. To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form.

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Disaster Relief Jobs: How To Apply

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When a disaster occurs, the federal government hires companies in the private sector to help with a wide range of disaster relief jobs. In order to bid on these jobs, business owners need to take several steps and one of the first is SAM registration.

 

What Is SAM Registration?

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a huge database that contains information about all government contractors. A procurement agent from any government agency will not be able to select your company for a government contracting job unless you have an active SAM account.

 

You can complete SAM registration on your own for free (the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration) or you can pay a third-party registration service to complete the process. Many people hire registration specialists because the SAM registration process can take 10 or more hours and can be frustrating and difficult.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we can quickly and accurately complete your SAM registration. In addition to completing your SAM registration, our fee also includes helping you with several other tasks, including:

 

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) – This is a new requirement, and everyone registering in SAM for the first time must apply for their UEI, which has replaced the need to apply for a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet. We can help you with this process before we get started on your SAM registration.

 

The SAM Notarized Letter Requirement – When you register with SAM for the first time, you are required to send the Federal Service Desk a notarized letter identifying your Entity Administrator. This is simply the person at your company allowed to make any needed changes to your SAM account, and we can help you get started with this letter.

 

Small Business Administration (SBA) Sign-Ups – The SBA offers small business owners a myriad of helpful programs, and a portion of all federal contracting dollars are set aside for specific types of small businesses, such as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).

 

These are known as set-asides because the government sets aside these contracts and awards them only to these small businesses. General small businesses (not woman-owned or veteran-owned, etc.) still qualify for some set-asides, as well, so we encourage every small business owner to sign up with the SBA and we can help you sign up and link your SBA account to your SAM account.

 

Introductions to Prime Contactors – If you are a small business owner, subcontracting can be a great option to consider as you get started with government contracts. We have many prime contractors in our FCR network, and we can introduce you to these contractors which can help you jumpstart into the world of government contracting.

 

Finding Disaster Relief Jobs

Once your SAM registration is complete and has been approved, you will be issued a CAGE (Corporation and Government Entity) code. Once you have your CAGE code and an active SAM account, you are free to bid on any government contractor jobs, including disaster relief jobs.

 

When it comes to disaster relief jobs, people often simply think of FEMA disaster jobs, and while FEMA handles many crucial disaster-related tasks, this is not the only agency that might need your goods and services.

 

In general, we recommend simply heading to SAM.gov and searching under the Contract Opportunities tab. The easiest way to find potential contracts is to search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes identify the particular goods and services that your company can provide to a government agency. You can enter your codes by clicking on the Product or Service Information tab in the Contract Opportunities tab.

 

For instance, if your company manufactures bottled water, you would enter the code 312112 into the search engine. You also could limit the search to specific states or zip codes, depending on your service area. During a quick search, we found that code 312112 had potential contract opportunities from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice.

 

However, if we search just using FEMA as the main search, there are more than 150 contacts to wade through, and, of course, not all of them would necessarily be a match for your goods and services. This is why we always recommend searching using your specific parameters rather than sifting through a specific agency.

 

It’s also wise to look beyond federal government contractor jobs. State governments and county governments also have to provide disaster relief, and these jobs can be just as lucrative as fed contracts. Be sure to sign up with your state’s procurement agency and search for potential contracts at the state level.

 

In general, disaster relief jobs or contracts entail a wide range of needs. While some of the jobs focus on removing debris, the government also needs a myriad of supplies to help meet the needs of those displaced by a disaster as well as the support teams brought in to help with disaster relief and FEMA often stockpiles these items or pre-awards advance contracts to companies that can help with disaster relief.

 

If you wish to work with FEMA, be sure to let us know so that during the SAM registration process, we will ensure that your registration includes participation in the Disaster Response Registry. FEMA agents and other procurement agents often search this registry to find suitable vendors.

 

Keep Your Registration Active!

SAM registration expires every 12 months, so you do need to complete SAM renewal every year. You can only do business with the federal government if your SAM registration is active, so it is crucial that you renew well in advance of your expiration date. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can provide you with SAM renewal services if you prefer to let us handle this process.

 

Get Started With SAM Registration Now

If you’d like Federal Contractor Registry to complete your SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage. From there, just fill out our contact form and one of our representatives will contact you and get started on your SAM registration. Once that process is complete, your company will be eligible for disaster relief jobs and many other government contracting opportunities.

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How To Get A CAGE Code: 3 Important Steps

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If you want to work with any federal agency, from FEMA to the Department of Defense, you must have a CAGE code. If you’ve been wondering how to get a CAGE code, the team at Federal Contractor Registry can help you with the entire process.

 

What Is A CAGE Code?

CAGE stands for Commercial and Government Entity, and it is the unique identifier that you are assigned after you complete your registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). This is the central database that contains information about all federal government contractors. You cannot work with any federal agency without complete SAM registration and receiving a CAGE code.

 

Step One: Get Your Unique Entity Identifier

SAM registration is actually not the first step you need to take. The first step is to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned to your company. In the past, the government would ask for your DUNS number in place of the UEI, which is a new type of identifier generated by the Federal Service Desk, the federal agency that is responsible for the SAM database.

 

Step Two: Complete Your SAM Registration

Once you have your UEI, you can begin the SAM registration process at SAM.gov. You will need to collect some important information before getting started, such as your company’s tax identification number, your company’s physical address, contact information and your bank account information and more.

 

You also will need to provide your Product Service Codes and your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes describe the exact goods and services that your business can provide to a federal agency. Additionally, if you are a small business that qualifies for any SBA set-aside programs, you will need to link your SBA account to the SAM account.

 

Step Three: Send In Your Notarized Letter

The SAM notarized letter requirement was added several years ago, and anyone registering a business in SAM must send the Federal Service Desk a notarized letter designating the company’s Entity Administrator. This is the person in your company that is authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

 

Should You Hire A Third-Party Registration Service?

The government does not charge a fee either to receive the UEI or to complete SAM registration. However, they also don’t make it particularly easy to complete these processes. It can take 10 or more hours to complete SAM registration, and unless you are very familiar with government terminology, it can be frustrating and confusing to deal with the application.

 

Because it’s frustrating and time-consuming, many people simply hire a third-party registration service to complete their registration. This speeds up the process and ensures that every part of the application is completed correctly. While it’s an extra cost, it’s just like hiring an accountant to handle your taxes. You could fill out tax forms on your own, but the tax code is often confusing, and mistakes are costly, which is why many people hire a pro.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations every year for small and mid-size companies as well as for large corporations, including Fortune 500 companies. We can complete the process quickly and accurately, saving you time and ensuring that your registration is approved as soon as possible so that you can begin bidding on government contracting jobs.

 

Our SAM registration fee includes several value-added benefits that other third-party registration services do not offer, including:

  • 100% Accurate (and Fast) SAM Registration
  • Help With The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
  • Help With The Notarized Letter Requirement
  • Help Signing Up For SBA Programs

 

Additionally, if you are a small business taking part in the SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program, we can introduce you to prime contractors in our FCR network. Subcontracting (working under a prime contractor) can be a great way for a small business to get started with government contracting, and we can help.

 

Keep Your CAGE Code “Active”

Did you know that SAM registration expires every year? In order to continue bidding on government contracts, you must have an active listing in the System for Award Management. This means that you need to complete your SAM renewal every year.

 

SAM renewals tend to be less complicated than your initial SAM registration, especially if you are making no changes to your listing. If you do need to make changes, it can be smart to hire a third-party service to handle the process, and Federal Contractor Registry handles both SAM registration and renewals.

 

Whether you select our service for SAM renewal or complete the process on your own, we do strongly recommend that you complete your renewal at least six weeks before your registration is set to expire, especially if you complete the process on your own.

 

There are several reasons to complete SAM renewals early. For instance, if a federal agency notices that your registration is due to expire in just a few weeks, they are less likely to select your company for a contract. This is because once your listing expires, that agency no longer can work with you and this could leave them in a lurch.

 

Additionally, it can take several weeks for the Federal Service Desk to approve your renewal, and if any mistakes or inconsistencies are discovered, this will delay the renewal process. Using a third-party registration service can be smart because we won’t make any mistakes and you are more likely to gain approval quickly. In some cases, the Federal Service Desk approves a renewal in just a few days, but if there is a backlog, it can take several weeks, so never wait until the last minute to renew.

 

Get Started Now!

We hope this helps you understand how to get a CAGE code, and once you’ve been assigned a code you can bid on FEMA disaster jobs, DOD contracts and contracts with any federal agency. If you would like us to help you with SAM registration, just click on the green new registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A member of the FCR team will be in touch quickly to gather information and get started on your registration.

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The Capability Statement: Tips For Government Contractors

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If you plan to bid on government contracting jobs, one of the tasks you need to complete is creating a high-quality capability statement for government contractors. This document is similar to a resume in many respects, and we have some tips to ensure that your capability statement helps you stand out from your competitors.

 

  1. Start With A Summary

Generally, at the top of your capability statement, you will want to showcase your company logo (and perhaps your slogan) and your contact information. Below that, you will want to write a few sentences describing your business and what it can provide for government contractors.

 

This is a bit like the objective in a resume, but here you are focusing not on your business goals, but on how you can benefit a government agency. In some cases, you might want to tailor this section to fit the specific contract on which you are bidding, just as you would alter a resume to fit a specific job posting.

 

  1. Add Your Core Competencies

The next section to tackle is Core Competencies and which is basically a list of the main goods or services that you can provide to a government agency. This also is sometimes called Core Capabilities, but no matter the name, this section should be near the top of any capability statement for government contractors as procurement agents will be most interested in learning whether or not you can provide what they need.

 

  1. Differentiate Your Company

The next section to include is known as Differentiators, and in this section, you want to highlight what sets your company apart from your competitors. You might include facts such as being family-owned or perhaps years of experience. You also could include something like your ability to complete jobs on time or ahead of schedule. Your

 

  1. Add Your Certifications & Codes

In the world of government contracting, there are many important codes and certifications that a procurement agent will want to see. For instance, you need to include your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and Product Service Codes, which describe the exact goods and services your company can provide.

 

You also must include your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. CAGE Codes are the 5-character IDs that are assigned to companies once they’ve completed their registration in the System for Award Management database.

 

Additionally, if your business is signed up with the Small Business Administration and part of any of the SBA’s programs, you will want to include this information. For instance, perhaps you are part of the 8a Business Development program or perhaps you qualify as a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).

 

These two latter identifiers are known as set-asides, and a portion of all government contracting dollars are set aside specifically for different types of small businesses. If you qualify for a set-aside, this can make it easier to win certain contracts, so be sure to sign up for any relevant programs and include this information on your capability statement.

 

  1. Include Your Past Performances

This is kind of a combination of the work experience and reference section of a resume. In this section, you will want to list some of the companies or agencies you’ve served in the past. Some people will add corporate logos for this section, while others will list the names of the companies with a basic description of what was provided for those companies.

 

  1. Create An Easy-To-Read Design

Whilst browsing the internet for capability statement design ideas, you probably notice that a few of these examples are a bit too colorful or perhaps the designer got a bit too creative with the design. The best capability statements have clearly labeled sections (with bullet points) so that the procurement agent can quickly scan the document to find the information they need.

 

In general, just as with a resume, a simple, easy-to-read design is your best bet. Government procurement agents won’t be choosing a contractor based on a clever capability statement design. They are far more concerned with your Past Performances and your Differentiators than what fonts and colors you’ve chosen for your statement.

 

  1. Double & Triple-Check Your Capability Statement

Just as with a resume, checking for spelling and grammar errors is essential. Careless errors tend to show a lack of attention to detail, which might be off-putting to a procurement agent.

 

Most importantly, however, you will want to double-check your contact information, such as your email and phone number. Also, double-check that you’ve used the correct NAICS and Product Service Codes.

 

Get Started With Government Contracting!

Of course, creating a capability statement is just one task you will need to complete to become a government contractor. The first task on your list will be to complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and we can help.

 

SAM is the government database that includes information about all government contractors, and you cannot do business with any federal agency without an active SAM registration.

 

While the government does not charge a fee to register with SAM, the registration process is difficult and time-consuming, often taking 12 hours or more to complete. This is why many people simply hire a third-party registration service to complete the SAM registration process.

 

At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations and SAM renewals every year and can complete your registration quickly and accurately, so that you can get started bidding on government contractor jobs as soon as possible. We also handle SAM renewals and can help you register your business with the Small Business Administration, if applicable.

 

If you would like us to handle your SAM registration, simply click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to gather information and get started with your SAM registration, leaving you free to search for federal contractor jobs and to work on your capability statement.

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Government Contractor Jobs: What You Need To Know

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Just about any type of business can be eligible to bid on government contractor jobs, and these can be an excellent way to boost your business. At Federal Contractor Registry, our team can help you get started in the world of government contracting. Here’s a look at what we offer and some additional tips for contracting success.

 

We Provide Fast, Accurate SAM Registration

Before you can bid on any government contractor jobs, you must complete your registration in the System for Award Management. This is the central database, run by the Federal Service Desk, that includes information about all government contractors. Until your listing is active, you cannot bid on federal contracts.

 

The government does not charge you a fee to complete your SAM registration. However, it can take 10 or more hours for a new contractor to complete the registration process, and it can be extremely frustrating. Some people find the process so difficult that they give up, while others simply hire a third party, such as Federal Contractor Registry, to handle the intricacies of registration.

 

Hiring us is just like hiring an accountant to complete your taxes. The government doesn’t charge a fee to file taxes, of course, but the tax code is confusing and any mistakes that you make can be costly. SAM registration also is confusing, and if you make mistakes, it can delay your approval in the SAM database. With a third-party registration service, you have the peace of mind of knowing that your registration will be completed quickly and accurately so that you are approved as quickly as possible.

 

We Offer Several Additional Services

While our main focus is completing SAM registration and SAM renewals, we do offer several additional services for our clients at no additional charge. These services include:

  • We help you acquire the SAM Unique Entity ID (this is a new requirement for first-time registrants)
  • We help you get started with the Notarized Letter Requirement
  • We help you sign up with the Small Business Administration
  • We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other Federal Contractors in our FCR network

 

The Unique Entity ID

This is often just known as the UEI number, and it’s a special identifier for your business. In the past, the System for Award Management required registrants to provide their DUNS number for registration. DUNS has been phased out and now the government generates the UEI number for each entity registering in SAM. We can help you complete this process, which will save you some time.

 

The Notarized Letter Requirement

Several years ago, the Federal Service Desk began requiring anyone registering in SAM to provide a notarized letter listing their Entity Administrator, which is the person in your company authorized to make changes to your account. We can provide you with a template for this letter and detailed instructions to make this part of the process a bit easier.

 

The Small Business Administration

While we handle SAM registrations for mid-size and larger Fortune 500 firms, many of our clients own small businesses, and we highly encourage you to take advantage of all of the services the Small Business Administration offers. We can help you sign up for SBA, determine what programs you qualify for, and link your SBA account to your SAM account.

 

SBA Programs

There are quite a few SBA programs for small businesses, and the federal government sets aside a portion of all federal contracting jobs specifically for small businesses in several different categories, which are known as set-aside contracts or set-asides.

 

These include set-asides for a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and Small Disadvantaged Business.

 

Additionally, you may qualify for set-asides based on your location. If your business is located in and the majority of your employees live in a Historically Underutilized Zone (HUBZone), you may qualify for HUBZone Program set-asides. These are areas with historically struggling economies, such as poor urban areas, rural areas and Native American reservations, etc. In some cases, if your area was affected by a natural disaster, you may live in a temporary HUBZone.

 

Another helpful program is the 8a Business Development Program. If you qualify for this program, you may be eligible for many set-aside contracts and sole-source contracts. Sole-source contracts are awarded when a government agency believes that a contract can be fulfilled by just one business. 8a contracts can be very profitable, and we can help you with 8a certification.

What Agencies Need Help?

When you think of federal contractor jobs, many people often just think about DOD contracts or FEMA disaster jobs, but there are hundreds of government agencies and they need just about every imaginable type of good or service.

 

No matter what type of business you own, you likely are a match for many government contracts. The government needs supplies such as paper and office supplies; computers and printers; food and beverages; medical supplies; disaster relief supplies and much more.

 

When it comes to services, you might simply think about disaster cleanup and construction, but they also need all types of repair services, security services, janitorial services, veterinary services and more.

 

To get an idea of what’s available, go to SAM.gov and click on the Contract Opportunities tab. Then click on the Advanced Search option and then click on Product or Service Information. Enter your NAICS codes and see what contracts pop up.

 

NAICS codes describe the type of goods or services you can provide to a government agency. If you don’t know your codes, you can find them at Census.gov or we can find them for you during the SAM registration process.

 

GSA Schedules

You may also qualify for GSA contracts, also known as GSA Schedules. The General Services Administration (GSA) offers contracts to businesses that can provide specific types of goods and services for various agencies. If you get onto a schedule, the agency can simply purchase directly from you rather than going through the entire contract and bidding process.

 

With GSA Schedules, you are not guaranteed to have your goods or services purchased, but, many people find these GSA contracts to be highly profitable. It does take time and effort to get on a schedule, but it can be worth considering.

 

Types of Government Contracts

There are four basic types of contracts that you will encounter, including Fixed-Price Contacts, Time & Materials Contacts, Cost-Reimbursement Contracts and IDIQ contracts (Infinite Delivery/Infinite Quantity). Within each of these categories, there are quite a few variations of these types of contracts, so it is smart to learn about all of the different types.

 

You also will need to learn about the bidding process. Typically, the government issues a Request for Proposal (RFP) and then companies submit their proposals by a certain deadline. At this point, the procurement agents evaluate the proposals and eventually award the contract.

 

This whole approval process can take weeks or even months, so patience is the name of the game when it comes to government contracting. Most new contractors don’t earn their first contract during their first year registered with SAM. However, once you do earn that first contract, the process does become easier and easier.

 

Get Started Today!

If you want to bid on government contractor jobs and would like our team to complete your SAM registration, we can help at any time. Just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage, fill out our quick contact form, and a registration specialist quickly will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

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SAM.Gov: How To Get Started With Contracting

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Government contracting can be an excellent way for a small business to boost its income. The first step is to register your business at SAM.gov, and the team at Federal Contractor Registry can help with this process as well as with several other steps you need to take.

 

SAM Registration: Why Hire Federal Contractor Registry?

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the database that includes information about all government contractors. No person or entity can do business with the federal government without completing SAM registration.

 

The government does not charge a fee to complete SAM registration, but they don’t necessarily make it easy to complete the registration process, either. SAM registration can take more than 10 hours to complete, and many people become quickly frustrated by the process and either give up on contracting or hire a third-party registration service such as Federal Contractor Registry.

 

While we do charge a fee for our services, we will complete your SAM registration quickly and 100% accurately. We also are happy to help with the following:

  • We can help you procure the new Unique Entity ID
  • We can help with the Notarized Letter requirement
  • We can help you register with the Small Business Administration (SBA)
  • We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other federal contractors in our network

 

The Unique Entity ID

When you (or a member of our team) complete your registration at SAM.gov, you also have to apply for a Unique Entity ID. In the past, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers were required for SAM registration, but as of this year, DUNS numbers are no longer needed.

 

Using a government-generated identification number rather than having to apply on a third-party website for your DUNS number helps to streamline the registration process and, in theory, should make it easier for new contractors, although attaining this number can be a bit confusing and we can do this for you if you hire us for SAM registration services.

 

As a side note, if you have an active SAM account, the government will have assigned you a Unique Entity ID automatically, so you don’t have to worry about this when it comes time to complete your SAM renewal.

 

The Notarized Letter Requirement

A few years ago, the Federal Service Desk (FSD), which is the agency that maintains the System for Award Management noticed suspicious activity in the database. This prompted them to require all government contractors to send the FSD a notarized letter listing their Entity Administrator, which is the person authorized to make changes to your account.

 

As part of our SAM registration services, we can provide you with a template of this letter and also answer any questions you might have about this requirement. The good news is that you only have to send in the letter with your initial registration and not with SAM renewals unless the Entity Administrator has changed.

 

SBA Registration

While we help large and mid-size companies sign up with SAM, many of our clients are small businesses and we always encourage these business owners to sign up with the SBA. We can help you sign up with SBA and also determine if you qualify for any special set-aside designations.

 

A portion of all government contracting jobs is “set aside” for small businesses. In some cases, it might be for a Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) or an Economically-Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) or perhaps a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).

 

There are several other set-asides that a business might qualify for, as well as 8a certification. The 8(a) Business Development Program was set up specifically to boost profitability for businesses owned (51% or more) by U.S. citizens that are socially or economically disadvantaged. We can help you sign up for this program as well as other set-asides for which you may qualify.

 

Other Important Tasks

While SAM registration is the first step, it is by no means the only step new government contractors need to take. For instance, you will need to create a capability statement, which is basically a resume that you will provide to government procurement agents when you bid on government contracting jobs.

 

Additionally, you should learn all you can about the different types of contracts and the different bidding processes you might encounter. You also could research whether or not it might make sense to apply for GSA contracts, known as GSA schedules.

 

GSA schedules are managed by the General Services Administration, and if you can get your business on a schedule, you become an approved vendor for whatever goods or services you provide. Government agencies can use your company’s goods or services without having to go through the government contract bidding process.

 

These are just a few tasks to add to your to-do list. It also can be smart to sign up with your state’s procurement system as state governments also offer many lucrative contact opportunities. If you are a small business, you also could look for opportunities as a subcontractor at the SBA’s Subnet website. Subcontracting is an easy way to get started with contracting because a Prime Contractor will handle all of the interaction between the government agencies.

 

Get Started Now!

Whether you decide to register on your own at SAM.gov or use our SAM registration service, we hope this blog has provided you with some helpful information. If you would like to use us for SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch quickly to gather your information and get started on your registration.

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SAM Renewal: What You Need To Know

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If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), the central database for all government contractors. If you have a listing and need to complete your SAM renewal, here are a few facts that you need to know.

 

  1. SAM Renewal Needs To Be Handled Early

You probably know that to bid on federal contracting jobs with any federal agency, you must have an active SAM listing. But did you know that if your SAM profile expires in the middle of a contract, an agency cannot and will not pay you?  Until you renew your SAM profile and it’s approved and reinstated as active, all payments will cease, and this can seriously affect your business.

 

In general, we recommend that you handled SAM renewal a couple of months before your SAM profile expires. There are two reasons for this recommendation. One, some agencies will be hesitant to select your company if they notice that your expiration date is coming up soon. After all, while they can’t pay you if your listing is expired, they also might not be able to acquire the goods and services that are part of your contract, and this leaves the agency in a lurch.

 

Additionally, SAM renewal approval can take several weeks, depending on how busy the Federal Service Desk is at any given time. We’ve seen approvals handled in a matter of days, but we’ve also seen it take several weeks, you just never know. This is why it’s wise to give yourself extra time for the approval process. Of course, you also cannot bid on any government contracts if your listing has expired, and this also can impact your profitability.

 

  1. DUNS Numbers Are Now Obsolete

In the past, your SAM listing included your Data Universal Number System (DUNS) identifier, but DUNS is now obsolete. This number has been replaced with the Unique Entity ID, which is generated by the System for Award Management rather than an outside corporation.

 

For people completing their first SAM registration, attaining this number can be a little complicated. The good news, however, for those with existing SAM registrations, is that your new Unique Identity ID was assigned to you automatically, so you don’t have to go through the process of attaining this ID. Still, we do recommend that you make a note of this change and update your records and add your Unique Identity ID to your capability statement.

 

  1. Notarized Letters Might Not Be Needed

A few years ago, the Federal Service Desk, which is the agency that manages SAM, required that all entities send them a notarized letter indicating the Entity Administrator for their SAM account.

 

This was a bit of a hassle, but the good news is that you don’t need to send in a new letter if your entity administrator has not changed. If you are changing the entity administrator, you should send in a notarized letter listing the name of the new entity administrator, and this also will need to be updated in your SAM profile. We can help with this requirement if you decide to use our firm for SAM renewal.

 

  1. SAM Renewals Aren’t As Complicated As New Registration

SAM registration can take 12 or more hours to complete and can be quite frustrating to handle. However, in many cases, completing your SAM renewal might only take a few hours. However, if you are making changes to your SAM account, this can make the process a bit trickier. Certain changes, such as phone number changes or changing the number of employees, are relatively easy to handle.

 

However, if you are dealing with changes to sections pertaining to Federal Acquisition Regulations or making several changes to your account, this can be trickier, and making any mistakes will delay your SAM renewal approval. This is why some companies will hire a third-party SAM registration service to complete their SAM renewals.

 

The federal government does not charge a few for SAM registration or SAM renewals. However, if you don’t have time to handle the renewal process or you simply want to ensure that the process is handled correctly the first time, hiring a SAM expert can be a good option to consider.

 

It’s entirely up to you, but we can process your renewal quickly and accurately and ensure that your listing doesn’t expire. Additionally, we can help small businesses sign up with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and check and see if they qualify for any of this agency’s business development programs. We also can introduce you to Super 8a contractors in our FCR network.

 

The SBA offers many helpful programs for small businesses, as well as grants and loans, and we always encourage small business owners to take advantage of these programs. For instance, if your business is located in a historically underutilized business zone, or HUBZone, you might qualify to bid on special government contracting jobs that are set aside for businesses in these zones.

 

There are also options for woman-owned small businesses (WOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) and several more. Let us know if you need help determining whether or not you qualify for SBA set-asides as we are happy to help you sign up for these programs.

 

Need Help With SAM Renewal? Contact Federal Contractor Registry

At Federal Contractor Registry we’ve handled thousands of SAM registration and SAM renewals every year. If you want to bypass the complicated renewal process, just click on the blue Renew Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A renewal specialist will be in touch as soon as possible to get started on your SAM renewal.

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System For Award Management: SAM Facts You Need To Know

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The System for Award Management (SAM) is the central database that includes information about all government contractors. If you wish to bid on government contracting jobs, you’ll need to keep an active listing in this database, and we can help. First, though, let’s discuss a few important facts about SAM.

 

  1. SAM Registration Is Required

No one can do business with the federal government without an active SAM listing, which means that SAM registration is your first step into the world of government contracting. You can either complete registration on your own or you can hire a third party to complete your SAM registration.

 

While the government does not charge a fee for SAM registration, the registration process is frustrating and often takes 12 or more hours to complete. If you make any mistakes on the application, this can delay your approval into the database. For both of these reasons, many people choose to hire a SAM expert to complete their application.

 

Once your application is approved, you will receive what is known as a CAGE code, or Corporate and Government Entities code. This code is one of the unique identifiers for your company in the SAM database. When you apply for government contracting jobs at any government agents, the procurement agents will ask for your CAGE code to ensure that you have an active SAM listing.

 

  1. New Applicants Must Complete Extra Steps

Several years ago, the Federal Service Desk, which is the agency in charge of SAM, started requiring companies or entities to send in a notarized letter listing the Entity Administrator of their SAM account. This is simply the person or persons at your company authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

 

New SAM registrants need to send in a notarized letter within 30 days of completing their SAM registration. Typically, the Federal Service Desk will send you an email after they have received and processed the letter, but it can take several weeks before this agency emails confirmation to you. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of a few business days, but you never really know the timeline, so we recommend sending in the letter as quickly as possible.

 

The second change involves the previous requirement to submit your DUNS number when applying for SAM. In the past, you were required to list this number on your SAM application as well as in the notarized letter. However, this has been replaced recently by a new identifier, the Unique Entity ID.

 

This new identifier can be acquired at SAM.gov, and you will need to register for this identifier prior to SAM registration. However, we do include attaining this new ID as part of our SAM registration service, so if you choose to use Federal Contractor Registry, this will be one less step you need to take on your own.

 

  1. You’ll Need To Renew SAM Every Year

As we stated above, you must have an active SAM registration in order to do business with any government agency. So, whether you plan to bid on FEMA disaster jobs or DOD contracts or work with another agency, they need to see that your SAM listing is active so you will need to renew your listing every year.

 

We recommend that every federal contractor renew their SAM entity registration several months in advance of the expiration date. In some cases, the Federal Service Desk has a backlog of registrations and renewals, which can delay approval. For this reason, it’s best to renew early because if a government agency sees that your expiration date is fast approaching, they may hesitate to award a contract to your business as they can no longer work with you once the registration expires.

 

In addition to SAM registration, we can provide you with SAM renewals, as well. SAM renewals can be less complicated than your initial registration, but if you do need to make any changes, it can be smart to hire a third-party registration service to ensure that all changes are completed correctly.

 

If you have had an active listing in the System for Award Management (SAM) in the last few years, you won’t need to worry about either the notarized letter requirement or the DUNS number change. This change was made automatically when they moved over to the new identification system. We do recommend, however, that if you have an existing SAM account, go into the account and find your Unique Entity ID and make a note of it for your records.

 

  1. Use SAM To Find Contract Opportunities

The System for Award Management isn’t just a database listing all government contractors, it’s also a great source for finding federal government contractor jobs. Just head to the SAM.gov website and click on the Contract Opportunities page. Then click on Advanced Search and you have many ways to search for jobs that might match your goods or services.

 

We typically recommend that you search using your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes as these describe the exact goods and services you provide. If you aren’t sure of your NAICS codes, we can identify them for you during SAM registration or you can browse through the codes at Census.gov.

 

If you are a small business, we also recommend signing up with the Small Business Administration and taking advantage of the many programs they offer small businesses. We can help you sign up for SBA programs as part of our SAM registration system.

 

SBA also has a search engine for subcontracting called SubNet, and this can be a great way to find subcontracting jobs. Subcontractors work with larger companies to help fulfill these large companies’ government contracts and it can be a great way to get your start in government contracting.

 

Get Started With Government Contracting!

If you want to bid on state or federal contracting jobs, we can complete your System for Award Management (SAM) registration quickly and accurately. To get started, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist soon will be in touch to gather information and get started on your SAM registration.

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SAM Registration: Answers To Frequently Asked Questions

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SAM registration is required for any company or entity that wishes to bid on federal contracts or wants to receive many types of federal funding, including grants and government loans. Because we know many new potential contractors have questions about the SAM registration process and contracting, we’ve compiled a handy list of answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

 

What Is SAM Registration?

To do business with the federal government, you must have an active listing in the System for Award Management (SAM). This is a central database that includes all entities, both individuals and companies, that hope to bid on government contracting jobs.

 

SAM registration is the process by which you become listed as “active” in this database. The online application for entity registrations is a lengthy document that can take 10 or more hours to complete, and it will include all pertinent information about your company and the type of goods and services you can provide for the government.

 

Who Is Required To Register In SAM?

Anyone that wants to bid on contracts with any federal agency must have an active listing in SAM. Whether you want to bid on DOD contracts, FEMA disaster relief jobs or jobs with any government agency, you cannot bid on the contracts without providing the procurement agents with your Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code. This is the unique code that you will receive once your SAM registration has been approved.

 

If you want to apply for government grants, loans and other types of government assistance, you also will need to complete SAM registration and wait until you are approved and have your CAGE code before applying for assistance.

 

Is SAM Registration Free?

The government does not charge a fee for SAM registration. That said, while there is no SAM registration fee, the process is time-consuming and often difficult to understand, especially if you have no previous experience working with the government and don’t understand Federal Acquisition Regulations, NAICS codes, etc.

 

How Do I Complete Sam Registration?

With SAM registration, you have two options. You can complete the process on your own or you can hire a third-party registration service. There are some tutorials available at SAM.gov, but many people find the tutorials confusing. Often, people choose to avoid the hassles of SAM registration and simply hire a SAM expert to complete the process.

 

While a third party does charge a fee, they tend to complete SAM registrations much more quickly than a business owner could and they also don’t make mistakes on the application form.

 

If you make a mistake on your SAM registration form, the application will not be approved and you will have to figure out what was completed incorrectly, fix the error and re-apply for approval, which can delay your ability to bid on contracts or apply for loans and grants.

 

Do You Need A DUNS Number To Register With SAM?

No. In the past, you would need to provide your DUNS number. This stands for Data Universal Numbering System, and it was used for many years as part of SAM registration and before the System for Award Management existed, it was used for Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and ORCA registration.

 

CCR and ORCA have been phased into SAM and now the DUNS number requirement also has been phased out. Instead, the government now has its own new Unique Entity ID and new government contractors must also apply for this ID as well as complete SAM registration.

 

How Long Does SAM Approval Take?

SAM approval times vary, but since the beginning of the pandemic, it has taken a bit longer for companies to gain approval once registration is complete. In the past, it would take about 8-10 business days, but if the Federal Service Desk becomes bogged down with a plethora of new registrations, this can delay your approval.

 

Likewise, if you (applying as an individual) or your company doesn’t yet have a taxpayer identification number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN), you will need to apply for this first and wait until you have that number before completing your SAM registration and this can take several weeks.

 

If you are an individual applying for SAM registration (not a company) and you have a Social Security number, this would serve as your Taxpayer Identification Number. All companies must be able to provide an EIN. If you are registering as an individual, but cannot attain a Social Security number, must have a TIN before applying.

 

Does A SAM Number Expire?

Yes. While your SAM account won’t just disappear, it does expire every year and you will be required to renew SAM registration. We do provide SAM renewal services whenever you need them.

 

We always recommend that entities complete their renewals about two months before the expiration date. Usually, it doesn’t take long to gain approval for a renewal, but if there is a backlog, this can delay the renewal process therefore it is smart to renew ahead of time.

 

In some cases, if a federal agency representative sees that your SAM registration will expire soon, they might be hesitant to approve to award a contract to your business. This is because if you are in the middle of a contract, but no longer have an active SAM registration, the government agency can no longer do business with you.

 

Why Should I Complete SAM Registration?

While you might be uncertain as to whether or not government contracting jobs are a good fit for your business, there truly are lucrative contracting opportunities for just about any type of business. No matter what goods or services you offer, you are likely to be able to fulfill the needs of some government agency.

 

If you head to SAM.gov, you can search for contract opportunities using your NAICS codes or keywords related to your goods and services. This will give you an indication as to whether or not, your goods are services are in demand. Keep in mind, that once your complete SAM registration, you also can bid on state government contracts, as well, and these can be just as lucrative as the federal contractor jobs.

 

Government contracting can be an excellent way for small businesses to grow and become more successful. The government sets aside a portion of all government contracting jobs specifically for small businesses. You do need to sign up with the Small Business Administration to be eligible for these special “set-asides,” but we highly recommend that all small business owners sign up and take advantage of what SBA has to offer.

 

Let Us Complete Your SAM.gov Registration!

We know that contractor registration can be frustrating and time-consuming, but we can help. At Federal Contractor Registry, we can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately, so that you gain approval and can bid on government contract opportunities as quickly as possible.

 

While we do charge a fee, we also include extras that many other third-party registration services do not provide, including:

  • 100% accurate SAM Registration & Setup
  • We can help you procure the new SAM Unique Entity ID
  • We can help with the SAM Notarized Letter requirement
  • We can help with SBA Registration
  • We introduce Super 8a Contractors to other Federal Contractors in the FCR Network

 

To get started with your SAM registration, just click on the green New Registration tab on our homepage and fill out our quick contact form. A registration specialist will be in touch as quickly as possible to gather your information and get started on your registration.

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