The two identifiers every federal contractor needs — who issues each, how to get them free, and what to do when your address or ownership changes.
Last reviewed on September 28, 2026 by the Government.biz editorial team against SAM.gov and GSA guidance, FAR 52.204-16, and DLA CAGE program information.
Every company that does business with the federal government ends up with two identifiers, and forms, primes, and portals ask for them interchangeably, which causes confusion:
A 12-character alphanumeric identifier issued by SAM.gov (run by GSA). It identifies your legal entity across federal award systems — contracts, grants, subaward reporting, FPDS, and CPARS.
A 5-character Commercial and Government Entity code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) CAGE Branch. It identifies a specific entity at a specific location address, and is used heavily in DoD logistics, payment, and security systems.
In practice: the UEI answers "which legal entity is this?" and the CAGE code answers "which entity, at which facility?" You need both to hold an active SAM registration for contracts. Neither costs anything, and no third party can issue either one.
| UEI | CAGE code | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | SAM.gov (GSA's Integrated Award Environment) | DLA Commercial and Government Entity Branch |
| Format | 12 characters, letters and numbers | 5 characters, letters and numbers |
| Identifies | The legal entity | The entity at a specific location address |
| How you get it | Request in SAM.gov; assigned after entity validation | Assigned during SAM registration (U.S.), or requested directly at cage.dla.mil if you are not registering in SAM |
| Foreign entities | Obtain through SAM.gov like U.S. entities | Must obtain an NCAGE code before registering in SAM |
| Expires? | No — but the SAM registration must be renewed every 365 days | Records must be kept current; an active SAM registration does this for you |
| Where you'll see it asked for | Proposals, grants, subaward reporting, FPDS, CPARS, prime vendor onboarding | Proposals (FAR 52.204-16), PIEE/WAWF, DIBBS, security clearance paperwork, ownership reps (FAR 52.204-17) |
Until 2022, the government identified entities with the nine-digit DUNS number, which was issued by Dun & Bradstreet. On April 4, 2022, SAM.gov and the other GSA award systems (including FPDS, eSRS, FSRS, and CPARS) switched to the Unique Entity ID (SAM) as the authoritative identifier. Registered entities had been assigned their UEI in advance, so existing registrants did not need to reapply.
What this means today:
There are two routes in SAM.gov, both free:
Either way, the UEI is assigned only after entity validation — SAM's check that your legal name and physical address match an authoritative source. If validation fails, SAM will ask you to submit documents (for example, articles of incorporation or a state registration showing the exact legal name and address) through a ticket with the Federal Service Desk at FSD.gov.
If you are located in the United States or its outlying areas and complete a full SAM registration, you do not apply separately: under FAR 52.204-16, the DLA CAGE Branch assigns a CAGE code as part of the SAM process, after the IRS validates your taxpayer information. If DLA already has a CAGE code for your entity at that address, SAM will associate it rather than create a new one.
If you need a CAGE code but are not registering in SAM — for example, a subcontractor that needs one for a facility security clearance or a prime's onboarding — you can request one directly at cage.dla.mil.
Entities located outside the United States must obtain a NATO CAGE (NCAGE) code before registering in SAM. The NCAGE comes from the codification bureau in the entity's country if that country is a NATO member or sponsored nation; otherwise it is requested through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). Make sure the name and address on the NCAGE record match what you enter in SAM exactly — mismatches are the most common reason foreign registrations stall.
There is no paid expedite. Anyone offering to "speed up" your UEI or CAGE code for a fee is selling assistance with a free government process.
| Situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Bidding on and receiving a federal prime contract | Active SAM registration, which gives you both a UEI and a CAGE code |
| Receiving a federal grant or cooperative agreement | Active SAM registration (UEI; U.S. registrants are typically also assigned a CAGE code) |
| Being reported as a first-tier subcontractor or subrecipient | A UEI (full registration not required unless your prime or agency asks) |
| Selling through DLA's DIBBS, or invoicing in PIEE/WAWF | A CAGE code tied to your active registration |
| Facility security clearance sponsorship | A CAGE code |
| Micro-purchases on a government purchase card | Often neither is strictly required, but many buyers prefer vendors they can look up in SAM |
| Foreign company bidding on U.S. federal work | NCAGE code first, then SAM registration and UEI |
On offers, FAR 52.204-16 requires your CAGE code with your name and location address, and FAR 52.204-17 asks for the CAGE code of your immediate and highest-level owners, if any. Prime contractors also commonly request both codes during teaming and subcontract onboarding so they can check your registration, size status, and exclusions directly.
Update your physical address in SAM.gov, not by emailing DLA. Because both identifiers depend on a validated name and location, changing the physical address can trigger entity validation again and an update to your CAGE record, so expect the registration update to take some time. Do it before you move, if possible, and keep proof of the new address ready. Payments go by EFT to the bank account in SAM, so update banking changes at the same time — see getting paid on federal contracts.
A change of legal name (without a change of entity) keeps the same UEI, but SAM will revalidate the new name. Existing contracts need a change-of-name agreement under FAR Subpart 42.12, processed as a contract modification.
The UEI (Unique Entity ID) is a 12-character identifier issued by SAM.gov that identifies your legal entity across federal award systems. The CAGE code is a 5-character code assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency that identifies your entity at a specific location address. Contractors registered in SAM.gov have both.
U.S. entities get a CAGE code automatically as part of SAM.gov registration; the DLA CAGE Branch assigns it after IRS validation. If you are not registering in SAM, you can request one directly at cage.dla.mil. Foreign entities must obtain an NCAGE code from their national codification bureau or NSPA before registering in SAM. It is free.
No. The UEI replaced the DUNS number as the federal government's entity identifier on April 4, 2022. The UEI is issued by SAM.gov rather than Dun & Bradstreet, and you do not need a DUNS number to register or bid on federal work.
Yes. SAM.gov lets you obtain a UEI only, which is enough to be identified as a subcontractor or subrecipient. To bid on and receive federal prime contracts or grants directly, you must complete a full entity registration and keep it active.
A UEI can be issued quickly if your legal name and address match the validation source, but can take longer if SAM asks for documents. The CAGE code is assigned after you submit your SAM registration and typically takes several business days. Plan for at least a couple of weeks for a full registration to become Active.
The UEI does not expire, but your SAM.gov registration must be renewed every 365 days to stay active. The CAGE record must be kept current; for SAM registrants, maintaining an active registration keeps it updated.
Update a new physical address in SAM.gov, which may trigger revalidation and an update to the CAGE record. A stock sale usually keeps the same UEI and CAGE because the legal entity is unchanged, while an asset sale to a different entity uses that entity's UEI and requires a novation of existing contracts.
Authoritative sources: SAM.gov, Federal Service Desk, DLA CAGE, and FAR 52.204-16. This page is general information, not legal advice.