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How to register on SAM.gov and get a Unique Entity ID for grants

Before you can apply for a federal grant, your organization needs an active registration on SAM.gov, which gives it a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free, it is done through a Login.gov account, and it must be renewed every year. Start early, because checks on your organization's details can take weeks.

Updated October 31, 2026

What SAM.gov registration is for

SAM.gov, the System for Award Management, is where the federal government keeps its list of organizations that can receive federal money. An agency cannot award a grant to an organization that is not registered there, and Grants.gov will not accept an application without it.

Registering gives your organization a Unique Entity ID, a 12-character code that identifies it in every federal system. Grants.gov, USAspending.gov and agency systems all use it.

The steps

  1. Create a Login.gov account for the person who will manage the registration. SAM.gov and Grants.gov both use Login.gov to sign in.
  2. Gather your organization’s legal name and physical address exactly as your tax records show them, your Employer Identification Number (EIN), and bank details for receiving payments.
  3. On SAM.gov, start an entity registration and choose the purpose: registering to receive federal financial assistance such as grants. There is a shorter “UEI only” option for organizations that just need the identifier, but grant applicants need the full registration.
  4. Complete the sections, including points of contact, and submit. SAM.gov checks your details against IRS and other records.
  5. Once the registration is active, register your organization on Grants.gov with the same UEI and assign the people who may submit applications.

Why registrations get stuck

Most delays come from details that do not match. The legal name and address you enter must match your IRS records exactly, including punctuation. A recent move, a name change or a typo can send the registration into manual review.

Registrations expire after 365 days. If yours lapses, you cannot receive new awards until it is renewed, so put the renewal date in a calendar. Our step-by-step guide to applying for a federal grant covers what comes after registration.

Questions people ask

Does it cost anything to register on SAM.gov?

No. Registration on SAM.gov is free. Companies that charge to register you are optional middlemen, and some are scams.

Is the UEI the same as a DUNS number?

No. The UEI replaced the DUNS number as the federal government's identifier for organizations in April 2022. SAM.gov assigns it during registration.

How long does SAM.gov registration take?

It varies. A simple registration can be active within days, but checks on your legal name, address or tax details can stretch it to several weeks, so register well before any grant deadline.