If you’ve been asking yourself, “how do I get a Cage Code?” We have the answer. Completing your System for Award Management registration is the first step, and once that is complete, you will receive your Cage Code.
If you are just in the beginning stages of your dive into government contracting, here’s a quick look at what you need to do and how to get a Cage Code.
Step One – Gather Up Some Information
Before you can register with the System for Award Management (SAM) database, you’ll need to collect some basic information. You’ll need your DUNS number, your bank routing number, your bank account number and your taxpayer ID number. The three latter ones will be pretty easy to find, just grab a check and a tax form.
For the DUNS number, if you don’t know it, you will need to head over to the Dun & Bradstreet website and check to see if your company is registered. If it is, you can request your DUNS number. If not, simply sign up for free and Dun & Bradstreet will provide you with a number.
One important note: At some point in 2020, the government no longer will be using DUNS numbers. The new system – SAM Managed Identifier (SAMMI) isn’t in place yet, but it’ll be coming up in the near future, so if you are reading this article several months after its posting date, we may be in SAMMI territory already, and you’ll need to go to SAM.gov and follow the steps needed to attain this identifier.
Step Two: Create Your Notarized Letter
The Federal Service Desk (FSD) is the agency responsible for all things SAM. FSD requires that all new SAM registrants send in a notarized letter formally identifying the Entity Administrator for your SAM account.
This is simply the person is your company that is authorized to make changes to your account. There are templates available for this letter at FSD.gov. Just go to the top of the page. Under the tab Top Help Topics, you will find a section for SAM. Under that, click on the Tips for Notarized Letter. This leads you to a questions and answers page about the letter and a tiny link to the templates for the letter.
Step Three: Contact Us
While it’s true that getting a Cage Code and completing SAM registration is free, it’s also very time-consuming (10+ hours) and frustrating. This is why many people turn to third-party registration services, such as Federal Contractor Registry. We can complete your SAM registration quickly and accurately, and get you that Cage Code as soon as possible.
We understand each section of the registration process, which includes a plethora of government-speak that can be difficult to understand. If you fill out any section incorrectly, this can delay your application process as you try to figure out how to correct the problem and wait for the folks at the Federal Service Desk to review your updated application. Using our service can prevent any delays due to errors.
Basically, we are just like accountants. You hire someone to complete your taxes because the tax code and tax forms are complicated and if you make a mistake, this can include some dire consequences. While a mistake on SAM registration probably won’t be as dire as a mistake with your tax forms, it’s still a pain to correct, so why not let the experts handle your SAM registration?
Step Four – Research, Research, Research
Bidding on government contracts is far different than what occurs in the private sector. It’s crucial to learn all you can about the bidding process as well as how to bid. If you have a small business, the Small Business Administration can be a valuable resource.
It’s also wise to sign up with your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). The representatives at these centers concentrate on helping small businesses find success with government contracting. They offer plenty of tips, and you schedule meetings with your PTAC rep or attend conferences and training events. To find your local PTAC, go to aptac-us.org.
In the past, you could find government contracting jobs at FedBizOpps.gov, but that website no longer is in existence. Basically, it was merged into SAM, and you can go to beta.SAM.gov to search for contracting opportunities. You can search by agency or by date, but often it’s easiest to search using your North American Industry Classification System codes. These codes identify your specific industry, and we can help you figure out the best codes to use for your business when we complete your SAM registration.
You also can search using “set aside” categories. Set-asides are government contracts that have been “set aside” for specific types of small businesses. For instance, you can search for woman-owned small business set-asides, or perhaps veteran-owned small business set-asides. There also are several other set-asides, and we can help you figure out which ones apply to your business during the registration process.
If you’ve been hoping to dive into the world of government contracting, but aren’t sure what to do, stop asking yourself, “how do I get a Cage Code?” The team at Federal Contractor Registry is here to help you complete your SAM registration so that you can get your Cage Code and start bidding on lucrative government contracts.