Government contracts can provide excellent revenue streams, but you’ll need an active SAM number to bid on these contracts. At the Federal Contractor Registry, we can assist you with this complex process and provide several other helpful services. Let’s dive in and take a look at the SAM registration process, our services, and some strategic considerations for federal contractors in 2025.
What Is A SAM Number?
The System for Award Management (SAM) is a database that contains information about all federal contractors. In order to appear in this database, you must complete SAM registration. Once registration is complete and your listing is approved, you will be assigned a SAM number, which is more formally known as a Commercial and Government Entities code, or CAGE code.
At Federal Contractor Registry, we handle hundreds of SAM registrations every year for all types of businesses. The government does not charge a fee for registering in SAM, but it is a very complex process, and if you make any mistakes, this can delay your approval. Our team provides fast and 100% accurate registration services, so that you can begin bidding on government contract jobs as quickly as possible.
In addition to helping with SAM registration (and SAM renewal), we include the following tasks in our registration fee:
- UEI Number Assistance – The Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI, is a new step that federal contractors must take when first completing SAM registration. This number replaces the requirement to provide your DUNS number. We can help you obtain this number as quickly as possible.
- The SAM Notarized Letter Requirement – All new SAM registrants must submit a notarized letter to the federal government listing their Entity Administrator. This is the individual at your company who is authorized to make changes to your SAM listing. We can provide you with a template for this letter to make this process much easier.
- SBA Government Contracting Assistance – The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers many programs for small business owners interested in government contracting, and the federal government sets aside a portion of all contracts just for small businesses.
These are known as set-asides, and there are several different options, including Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) set asides, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set asides, and several others. We can help you sign up with the SBA, link your SBA account to your SAM listing, and determine which small business set aside is the best fit for your specific company.
What Types of Federal Contractor Jobs Are Available?
The federal government procures the majority of its goods and services from the private sector, thus supporting the U.S. economy. When you think of government contracts, you might only think about huge defense contractors or perhaps disaster relief jobs, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
Everything from copy paper to repair services are needed regularly by various federal agencies. Janitorial services, security services, marketing services and even food services are needed, as well.
To check if your company’s specific goods are services are needed, we recommend heading to SAM.gov and clicking on the Contracting tab. From there, click on Advanced Search and then search by “Product or Service Information.” At this point, you can enter your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. These codes describe the exact goods and services a company provides. You can find your codes at Census.gov.
Once you enter the NAICS codes, you should see a variety of contractor jobs appear. We recommend reading the contracts carefully to determine if you can provide the goods or services that the government needs within the exact scope of the contract requirements. If you find that there are some good opportunities for your company, contracting likely will be a good fit, and you can contact us for help with SAM registration.
Do Government Shutdowns Affect Contractors?
In short, yes, many federal contractors will be affected when the government shuts down. When this occurs, many “non-essential” contracts and roles are furloughed. Not all contracts will be considered non-essential, and it can be confusing to understand which contracts are deemed essential vs. non-essential.
Typically, contracts that deal with professional services, such as planning or training, or marketing, will be considered non-essential. Research and development projects at some agencies may be halted, as well. Even contracts that deal with facility maintenance could be halted, especially those at administrative offices.
Essential contracts are those that are considered necessary to protect public safety, national security, life and property, as well as those that are funded through multiple-year or no-year appropriations. Some contracts are funded through annually approved appropriations, and some are funded through multi-year appropriations. Contracts approved annually often are furloughed during government shutdowns.
It is important that contractors understand whether or not their contracts will be deemed essential or non-essential during a shutdown. For those potentially non-essential contractors, it’s wise to have contingency plans and financial buffers in place. Shutdowns don’t occur often, but we recommend that you confer with your federal agency contacts whenever a potential shutdown is looming to ensure that you know the best procedures to follow.
Need A SAM Number? Contact FCR Today!
If you are interested in government contracting and wish to obtain your SAM number or CAGE code, we are always here to help. To get started, head to our homepage and click on the New Registration tab. From there, just fill out our quick contact form, and one of our registration specialists will quickly be in touch to gather your information and begin your SAM registration.