Central contractor registration via the CCR database used to be one of the main ways contractors could register and then bid on lucrative government contracts. But the CCR no longer exists, and these days everything is all about SAM.
SAM is the System for Award Management, which is a centralized database for all government contractors. Before SAM’s creation in 2012, there were several independent databases, including CCR and other systems, such as Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) to name a few.
Now everything is part of SAM, so if you want to become a government contractor, you no longer complete central contractor registration, now you will need to complete SAM registration. The downside is that while centralizing all of these systems makes good sense, it’s still not any easier to complete SAM registration.
It can take about 10 hours (or more) to complete the application, and it’s full of confusing government-speak that tends to frustrate many users. At Federal Contractor Registry, we’ve had years of experience with SAM registration (and CCR and ORCA in the past), and can complete your SAM registration or renewal and save you the time and trouble.
SAM registration is free, and we do charge for our services, and sometimes people become confused about this issue. Basically, we are a third-party registration service that can handle the burden of SAM registration quickly and easily, much like an accountant serves as your third-party tax preparer. It’s certainly free to do your own taxes, but it takes up a ton of your valuable time, so that’s why you hire the accountant.
It’s the same for us; we’ll handle the complexities of SAM registration, and leave you free to concentrate on running your business and learning all you can about government contracting.
If you have a small business, we highly recommend that you utilize the Small Business Administration and all it offers. For instance, did you know that the federal government sets aside a certain percentage of its contracts just for small businesses? These are known as “set-asides” or “set-aside codes,” and you’ll want to include any qualifying set-asides in your SAM registration.
For instance, if 51% or more of your business is owned by a woman, you can qualify as a woman-owned business. If your small business is located in a HUBZone, which is a historically underutilized area, you might qualify for HUBZone set asides. There are other options as well for veteran-owned businesses, Native American-owned businesses and more.
If you go to the Small Business Administration website you’ll see a tab at the top for Federal Contracting. Click here and you will find tons of resources for small business owners who wish to contract or sell to the federal government.
Once you’ve registered with SAM, you can start bidding on federal contracts, but don’t forget about your state government. These entities also need contractors, so it’s wise to register with your state so that you can take advantage of the contractor opportunities. Every state has its own database of approved contractors. For instance, in California, you can head to CalEProcure.ca.gov to register. In Wisconsin, you can register at Vendornet.wi.gov. In New York, the go-to website is OGS.NY.gov. Every state is a little bit different, but there definitely are some lucrative state and local contracts in all 50 states.
To reiterate, if you’ve been googling “central contractor registration” and coming up with nothing, that’s because what you really want to search for is SAM registration. If you’d like us to handle SAM registration (or renewals) for you, we are happy to get started at any time. Just head to our homepage and click on the New Registration tab and a registration specialist will be in touch with you soon.