SAM Registration

If you are new to the world of government contracting, you’ve probably done some research about the System for Award Management (SAM) database. This database includes all of the contractors approved to do business with the federal government, and it also contains a list of companies that aren’t allowed to bid on contracts. Here’s a quick look at the Excluded Parties List and how to ensure your business doesn’t appear on the list.

A few years ago, the government created a centralized database for government contracting. This is the System for Award Management or SAM. Before SAM, there were multiple databases, including the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), the Federal Agency Registration (Fedreg) and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS). All of those are now merged into SAM, and while you may still hear people talk about CCR and ORCA, these no longer exist.

Government agencies use SAM to find potential contractors and to review information about contractors that have submitted bids. If you are marked as having “an active exclusion,” the agency cannot do business with you. There are several reasons why a company might be excluded from government contracting.

For instance, if you are an individual that has been barred from entering the United States for any reason, this would mean you cannot do business with the government or rather act as the Entity Administrator for a business that wishes to bid on government contracts. Along those same lines, if an entity has violated national security protocols, this also would cause that entity to become excluded.

Other reasons for being excluded might be an entity that has been convicted of tax fraud or even an entity that has student loan debt possibly could be excluded. Basically, if you owe the government money or have violated certain federal laws, this easily could result in exclusion, but anytime a government agency suspects that an entity or people within that entity have acted in an unethical manner, they might decide to push for your exclusion from receiving future government contracts.

While being excluded certainly is serious, it’s not the end of the matter. In some cases, the exclusion will only be temporary, and once the exclusion has expired, you will be eligible to apply to be reinstated and then you can begin to bid on contracts again. Of course, most companies or entities will never need to worry about the exclusions list, because they, no doubt, won’t engage in an unethical conduct.

The easiest way to avoid ending up with an “excluded” status is to ensure that all of your business practices align with current federal regulations. Read each bid carefully to ensure that your company can provide the services or products needed and that these are in compliance with federal regulations.

For most contractors, exclusions aren’t a big problem, but registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) can be a huge hassle. This is where we can help. If you’ve been struggling with your SAM registration and have become frustrated with the process, give us a call and hire us to handle these registration tasks for you. While it is free to sign up in the System for Award Management, SAM is not an easy system to use; especially if you have no experience with government contracting and government speak. We do charge for our registration services, but we can save you the 15 or more hours it might take to complete the registration process and we will ensure that everything was done correctly, so that you can gain approval as quickly as possible and start bidding on government contracts.

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If you want to bid on government contracts, either as a prime contractor or as a subcontractor, you’ll need to register with the System for Award Management (SAM) and obtain a SAM number. SAM is a huge database that includes every entity that is registered to do business with the federal government.

The SAM number actually is known as a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. Once you’ve completed the SAM registration process, the government will provide you with a CAGE Code, which is a five-character identifier for your business. However, if you are a foreign business, located outside the United States, you must first obtain an NCAGE Code before you can register with SAM.

Before you begin the registration process, you’ll need to gather together some information. If you do not have a DUNS number, your first step will be to head to the Dun & Bradstreet website site to procure this number, which stands for Data Universal Numbering System. It is free to apply for this number and after you fill out the application, it takes just a couple of business days for Dun & Bradstreet to provide you with your DUNS.

Keep in mind, you will need to know the precise legal name of your business, as this is the exact name you need to use in SAM and all things SAM-related, including DUNS. It might sound obvious, but there can be problems if you are listed as Adams & Smith Marketing in DUNS, but Adams & Smith Marketing, Inc. is actually your legal name. Your complete legal name should be exactly the same with DUNS, SAM and everywhere else where you register.

While you are waiting for your DUNS, locate your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or your company’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). An EIN and a TIN are the same thing, so don’t worry if you find the TIN but can’t find your EIN. They are simply two acronyms for the same number. You also will need your bank’s routing number and your bank account number, as the government agencies will be paying you through the SAM system, and routing money into your bank account.

That completes the easy part of the process. Now, it gets a bit more complicated. Every entity (company or person registered with SAM) must have an Entity Administrator. This is simply the person that is authorized to make changes to the SAM account. In order to register with SAM, you need to send the government a notarized letter listing the Entity Administrator. You can find templates for this letter at FSD.gov, and we recommend that you send this in as soon as possible and follow all of the directions on the template carefully.

At this point, you have two choices before you. You can head to SAM.gov and start the SAM registration process by yourself, which is free. Or, you can contact a third-party registration service and pay them to complete the registration process for you. Why should you use a third-party service, such as Federal Contractor Registration? The SAM registration process is by no means an easy process; in fact, it can take up to 20 hours to complete the process.

We receive calls all of the time from people who started the registration process, but quickly became frustrated with the process. It’s complicated and full of government-speak. Let’s put it this way, it’s more frustrating than filling out your tax forms, and you probably hire an accountant to handle that process, so it just makes sense to let a SAM expert handle your SAM registration. We’ve completed SAM registrations for small businesses, mid-size businesses and many Fortune 500 companies, and we can help you deal with this convoluted process. After we’ve completed your SAM registration process, it can take up to 12 business days for the registration application to be processed. Once it’s complete, the government will send you your SAM number, or CAGE Code, and you can get started bidding on various government contacts.

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The General Services Administration, which was established in 1949, is the government agency that provides services, supplies and offices to other federal agencies. If you are hoping to bid on fed contracts, the GSA can be an excellent resource, as they constantly are in need of vendors and suppliers. Here’s a quick look at the GSA, and a bit about how we can help you get started with government contracting.

1. Many Services Are Needed

Often, people mistakenly believe that fed contracts typically only relate to construction or perhaps cleanup efforts after a natural disaster, but there’s something out there for just about every type of business. Perhaps the GSA might need office supplies or IT consulting or janitorial services for itself or for another agency, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

If you go to the GSA website, you can find out more about GSA Schedules. A schedule is basically a government contract with a commercial business. These might be called Federal Supply Schedules or Multiple Award Schedules. There are nine categories of GSA schedules, and within those categories, you find subcategories known as Special Item Numbers (SINs).

For example, under the Office Management category, you’ll find 10 schedules, including Schedule 75, which encompasses Office Products/Supplies and Services and New Products. If you can provide any of the supplies or services listed under this schedule, this might be a good match for your fed contract. Some of the supplies listed under this section include paper, office furnishings, toner cartridges, calculators, shredders, writing instruments and more. Some of the services include providing an on-site office supply store for the GSA or perhaps imprinting services.

But this is just one example, other categories include Facilities & Construction, Human Capital, Industrial Products & Services, Information Technology, Medical, Professional Services (including tasks such as advertising and language services), Security & Protection, and, lastly, Travel, Transportation & Logistics Services. Before you decide to bid on fed contracts, it can be wise to peruse these categories to see if you offer the needed services or supplies.

2. GSA Offers Help For Small Businesses

If you head to GSA.gov, you’ll find that there is an entire section devoted to resources for small businesses. Once you’ve completed your System for Award Management (SAM) registration and have determined that you do have a service or product that GSA needs, you can start the process of applying for these GSA fed contracts. However, GSA highly recommends that you start out as a subcontractor and work with a prime contractor that already has experience with government contractor, we also recommend this plan.

Of course, this is just one resource for small businesses. We also recommend that you utilize the resources of the Small Business Administration (SBA). The website for this government agency provides tons of helpful information for small businesses, and you can go here to learn more about set-aside codes. The government sets aside a specific percentage of annual government contracts for different types of small businesses. For example, a portion of government contacts are “set-aside” for veteran-owned small businesses. If you qualify as a small business and qualify for one of the set-aside codes, it can be easier to bid on government contracts successfully.

3. You Can Purchase From GSA

While you might be interested in what you can do for GSA, it’s also wise to consider what GSA can do for you. The GSA’s main purpose is to provide services and supplies to other government agencies; however, they often sell off surplus federal property to the public, and this can be a way to find some good deals.

If you head to GSAAuctions.gov, you’ll find a wide variety of items that are available to bid on. There usually are many vehicles up for auctions, as the GSA supplies cars, trucks and vans to government agencies, and often will have a surplus. But we also often see items such as office furniture, medical equipment, computer equipment and, if you need an affordable helicopter, ambulance or perhaps an antique silver tea set, GSA may be the place to go.

Of course, in order to be eligible to bid on fed contracts, you’ll need to complete your SAM registration. SAM registration is free, but it is an intensive process, often frustrating, that can take 15 to 20 hours (or more) to complete. If you wish to bypass this frustration, the team at Federal Contractor Registry can help. We are a third-party SAM registration service, and while we do charge a fee, we can save you tons of time and make it easier to get started with government contract. Too often, companies don’t take advantage of the many fed contracts available simply because the SAM registration process is too daunting, and that’s a shame, because there are some amazing opportunities available. If you have become frustrated with the SAM registration process, feel free to give us a call at any time and we’ll complete the process as quickly as possible, and you’ll soon be ready to bid on government contracts.

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If it’s been seven or eight months since you completed your SAM registration, you probably should begin to think about SAM renewal. Renewing early is crucial, but what if you have yet to attain a contracting job? If you are feeling discouraged, consider using some of the following resources.

Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC)
If you’re having trouble with government contracting, the APTAC website can be an excellent resource. Centers known as PTACs are found throughout the United States (including Puerto Rico and Guam), and were formed in the 1980s under the Procurement Technical Assistance Program. The goal of this program is to assist businesses and help them become successful in the world of government contracting.

To find your center, or PTAC, go to the APTAC website at www.aptac-us.org. From there, you can click on the Government Contracting Assistance tab and then select Find-a-PTAC. For instance, California has 6 PTACs serving a number of counties and you’ll also find a link to the American Indian Chamber Education Fund, which operates a PTAC for Native businesses in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Washington. If you don’t live near your PTAC, you can contact them via phone, email and even with a webcall, if necessary.

Most of the services provided at your PTAC are free, and they might include helping you determine which agencies might be a good match for contracting, notifying you about potential job opportunities, helping your market your business and much more.
The APTAC website also has a government contracting blog and a list of resources and contracting tips. Additionally, they also host PTAC training events with subjects ranging from “Introduction to Government Contracting” to “Small Business Certifications” to “Teaming Arrangements and Subcontracting.”

Small Business Administration
If you qualify as a small business, the Small Business Administration can be an excellent resource for government contractors. Before you decide to forgo your SAM renewal, check out some of the offerings at this website. If you head to this specific page, https://www.sba.gov/course/how-prepare-government-contract-proposals/, you can view a 30-minute mini-course designed to help you learn how to prepare a proposal.

The SBA’s Learning Center also provides mini-courses for other subjects that may be of interest to small business owners. Topics range from social media marketing to finding investors for your small business. You also can find links to the SBA’s Contracting Guide and Contracting Assistance Programs as well as counseling for those struggling with the world of federal contracting. These links can be found at https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting.

FedBizOpps.gov
This website includes a search engine for finding government contracts, and it also provides some helpful contracting information. Click on the Getting Started tab on the homepage and you’ll find links to training videos as well as written user guides and a massive section filled with frequently asked questions. If you have questions about contracting, it’s likely that others also have these same questions and you can find many of the answers at FedBizOpps.gov.

Additionally, there are many private companies that offer workshops and seminars for government contractors. These resources aren’t free, of course, but they might provide some valuable information as well as helping you build your contact list. One of our biggest tips for contracting newbies is to consider subcontracting. This can be a great option, allowing you to build up a government contracting resume and let a more experienced government contractor handle the heavy lifting, so to speak. You can learn a lot from these experienced contractors, so don’t be afraid to try subcontracting.

If you have decided to take the plunge and opt for SAM renewal, we can help. We are a third-party SAM registration and renewal services. If you want to save yourself the time and headache associated with SAM renewals, hire us and we’ll handle it for you. We highly recommend that you contact us for your renewal several months before your expiration date, as government agencies are wary of hiring contractors whose SAM registration is nearing its expiration date.

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It’s often been said that the System for Award Management (SAM) registration is the first step in government contracting, and while it’s true that completing your SAM register process is crucial, there are a few tasks that you need to handle before you are ready to deal with SAM.

1. Research Government Agencies
We’ve all heard of FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, but there are dozens and dozens of government agencies out there. These agencies all will have need for government contractors, so it’s smart to learn a bit about the different agencies and learn about the types of contracting jobs they typically need. You can go to FedBizOpps.gov to research the types of contracting jobs that are available and discover what matches your company’s services and products.

Many people connect government contracting with services such as construction tasks or perhaps debris removal after a natural disaster, but there are hundreds of opportunities for just about any type of business. For instance, you might provide cleaning or janitorial services for a government agency or perhaps you could provide food and catering services. The government needs electricians, plumbers, IT specialists and much more, you just need to do some research to determine if your company has something to offer the government.

2. Get A DUNS Number
The SAM register process is complicated and frustrating, but attaining a DUNS number is one of the easier steps you’ll take. DUNS stands for Data Universal Numbering System, and you’ll need a DUNS number for each physical location of your business.

To get your free DUNS number, simply go to the Dun & Bradstreet website and at the top of the homepage, you’ll see a tab marked D-U-N-S Number. Click on that link and you will be led to a page with three options, one of which is Request a D-U-N-S Number. Click on that option and you can begin the DUNS process, which is relatively straightforward, unlike most of the SAM registration tasks you’ll encounter.

3. Locate Your Taxpayer ID
This task is probably the easiest of all of your pre-SAM register tasks. To locate your business’s taxpayer ID, you simply look on one of your previous tax forms, such as a W-2 or W-9 form. The taxpayer ID also is sometimes simply known as your TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number). You also need to be able to provide your business’s physical address as well as any mailing addresses as well as any DBAs for your company.

4. Gather Your Banking Information
In order to register for SAM, you will need to provide both your company’s bank account number as well as the routing number. You also need to provide your bank account type, such as a checking account or savings account. Additionally, you will need to locate the bank’s phone number or its fax number. The government agencies that you contact with will pay you through Electronic Funds Transfer, which is why this information is needed for the SAM register process.

5. Determine Your Set-Aside Status
When you use the contractor job search engine at FedBizOpps.gov, you might notice that you can search by Set-Aside Code. A portion of all government contracting opportunities are supposed to be “set-aside” and given to specific types of companies, particularly small businesses.

For instance, if your small business is located within a HUBZone, three percent of all federal contracting moneys are to be set-aside for these types of businesses. If you have a service-disabled veteran-owned business, this is another set-aside. Woman-owned small businesses are yet another set-aside. If you aren’t sure if you qualify as a small business or one of the specific “set-aside” small businesses, we can help or you can learn more about size standards by going to https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards.

6. Notarize Your Letter
You are probably reading this step and wondering what on earth we are talking about. As of April, 2018, you are required to submit a notarized letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) that details the name of the authorized entity administrator of your business. This new requirement came about after the GSA (the agency responsible for all things SAM) noticed some suspicious activity in the SAM database. To prevent fraud (or perhaps just to make the SAM register process a bit more complicated), they decided to require this notarized letter which basically states the name of the person authorized to make changes to your SAM account.

If you go to www.Sam.Gov, you will see an alert at the top of the page regarding this notarized letter. Click on this link and it will lead you to page where you can obtain a template of how your letter should be written. Simply update the letter with your own information, get it notarized and send it over to the General Services Administration.

7. Contact Federal Contractor Registry
If all of this seems a bit overwhelming or time-consuming, just wait until you begin SAM registration. The SAM register process is free, but it can take 15 to 20 hours to complete (or possibly more), and that doesn’t include the time spent of the aforementioned six steps. Can you really spare that amount of time to complete the application?

For many companies, the answer is no, and that’s where we come in. We are a third-party registration service that specializes in completing SAM registrations for any type of company, large or small. We’ve been doing this for years, and we understand all of the registration steps as well as all of the confusing government-speak you will encounter during the registration process. If you’d prefer to bypass any SAM register headaches, contact us today and hire us to complete the process for you. We will complete your registration accurately and quickly, so that you can begin bidding on government contracts as soon as possible.

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In a perfect world, there would be no need for FEMA, but unfortunately, we live in a world where tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, floods and other disasters occur quite frequently. Wherever FEMA goes, FEMA contractor jobs are sure to follow, and if you apply for these lucrative jobs, not only will you be increasing your profits; you will improve the lives of your fellow citizens.

There are several ways to find FEMA contractor jobs. Our first recommendation would be to visit FedBizOpps.gov, which lists more than 29,000 active federal contracting jobs. Some of these jobs will be for FEMA, and some will be for other agencies.

When you head to FedBizOpps.gov, there is a search engine at the top of the page. This allows you to search for FEMA contractor jobs and other contracting jobs in several ways. For instance, you might search using a Set-Aside Code. A portion of all government jobs are “set-aside” for specific types of businesses, such as a woman-owned small business and veteran-owned small business.

Take a look at all of these codes and look into whether or not you qualify in one of the categories. This can make it much easier to find and attain FEMA contractor jobs or jobs with other agencies. There are 14 Set-Aside Codes, and it definitely can be worth your time to do a bit of research about these before you start applying for contracts. If you do qualify as any type of small business, be sure to utilize the Small Business Administration website at www.sba.gov. This site contains tons of helpful information, and it’s a fantastic resource for small business owners.

You also can search for jobs by state or territory, as well as by type of job, by agency and using keywords and solicitation numbers, although the latter is probably a better option for more seasoned government contractors. There’s also an advanced search where you can find jobs using NAICS codes, classification codes, procurement type and so on. Spend some time getting to know this website, as it provides information about contractor jobs and much more. Other sites, such as FedBid.com, Indeed.com, and APFS.DHS.Gov also can be helpful sites for potential FEMA contractor jobs.

When you think about FEMA contractor jobs, tasks such as debris removal and cleanup services probably spring to mind, but many other services and commodities are needed during and after a disaster. For instance, you might contract with FEMA to provide generators or portable toilets. You might provide security guard services or sign language interpretation services or perhaps supply people in shelters with meals, water, cots, medical supplies and other necessary items.

Of course, you cannot bid on any FEMA contractor jobs until you have completed your System for Award Management (SAM) registration and have received what is known as a CAGE code. This is where we come in. At Federal Contractor Registry, we’ve completed hundreds of SAM registrations for all types of businesses to small businesses with just a few employees to large Fortune 500 firms.

While you can complete SAM registration for free on your own, the registration process can take more than 20 hours to complete and it can be quite frustrating and complex. Just as you hire an accountant to handle your taxes, you also can hire a service such as ours to relieve you of the registration burden. We understand every component of the registration process and will complete your registration as quickly as possible, and then you can start bidding on those FEMA contractor jobs.

To get started in the world of FEMA contractor jobs, head to our homepage and click on the green New Registration tab. From there, you’ll be led to our quick response form and one of our SAM registration specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

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Every year, the government advertises thousands of contracting jobs, big and small, and these jobs can be an amazing source of revenue. You might think that contracting begins with a visit to www.sam.gov, but we’d like to recommend an easier option.

In order to start working as a government contractor, your first step is to register with the System for Award Management, which is found at www.sam.gov. This website includes every entity or business that has been approved to bid on government contracts. While it is free to register with SAM, the registration process is long and frustrating, consuming 15 to 20 hours of your time, or more.

Rather than deal with the complex government-speak at www.sam.gov, you can contact a third-party registration service, such as ourselves, and pay them to complete the process. We liken this to paying an accountant to complete your taxes. Sure, it’s free to fill out the tax forms, but unless you are filing the most basic tax form, the forms are complicated and take enormous amounts of time.

So, while we do charge for our services, we will save you tons of time and streamline the registration process. Many of our clients, in fact, come to us after they’ve spent several hours trying to complete SAM registration on their own. The government truly has its own language of complicated acronyms and phrases, and it can be extremely frustrating to make sense of it all.

Here’s just one small example. In order to complete your SAM registration, you’ll need your NAICS code. This stands for the North American Industry Classification System, and every type of business you can possibly imagine is listed in this system. There are 20 sectors in the NAICS, from construction to educational services to retail trades and much more.

Let’s say you provide construction services. Within the Construction Sector, there are more than 70 different codes that might match your business. Determining which codes apply to your business is crucial, as many government agencies will search for businesses with these codes. However, there are many options, and it can be tough to know which codes to select and which you should bypass. This is just one area where our many years of experience can help. We’ve been completing SAM registrations for many years, and have helped clients in a wide range of industries, and we understand all of the intricacies of the registration process.

Determining which NAICS codes to use is only one small part of the SAM registration process. Each section of the application at www.sam.gov contains its own batch of confusing elements, which can take hours to sort through. This is why we highly recommend that you contact us and let us handle this lengthy process.

In order to get started, we do need you to gather up some basic information. First, we will need your DUNS number, and if you don’t already have a DUNS number, just head to the Dun & Bradstreet website at https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html and it takes just a few minutes to apply. It does take a few days for Dun & Bradstreet to provide you with the number, but registration is free and easy.

In addition to your DUNS number, we also will need your bank account and bank routing numbers, as this is required to be input into your SAM registration. We also will need the formal name of your business and any DBAs, as well as physical and mailing address.

About a year ago, there was some suspicious activity on the SAM website, so the government added an extra step to the registration process. You will need to create and notarize a letter listing your entity administrator and send this in to the government. Instructions for this letter, as well as a handy template, can be found at www.sam.gov. At the top of this home page, there is an alert in red that contains a link to information about this letter.

You do not have to have this letter approved in order to complete SAM registration, but you are required to submit it. In the past, the government required the letter’s approval before SAM registration could be completed, but that is no longer the case.

After we submit your application via www.sam.gov, it takes a few weeks for the government to approve the application. During that time, you can start looking at possible contracting jobs and learn a bit about submitting a bid as well as the option of becoming a subcontractor, which can be a great option for those new to government contracting.

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