About
SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the authoritative U.S. federal government portal managed by the General Services Administration (GSA). It serves as the central hub for any organization wishing to do business with the federal government. The platform is entirely free to use and consolidates several previously separate government systems into one unified experience. Businesses must register their entity and obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) through SAM.gov before participating in federal contracting or receiving federal grants. The platform supports contract opportunity research, allowing vendors to find and pursue government solicitations. It also hosts the Federal Hierarchy directory — a searchable catalog of federal organizations — as well as Wage Determinations for service and construction contracts. Recent updates include the migration of FPDS.gov contract awards search data directly into SAM.gov, the retirement of eSRS.gov with subcontracting reporting now available in-platform, and a new Federal Assistance Listings API for bulk programmatic data access. SAM.gov is used by small businesses, large enterprises, nonprofits, universities, and federal contractors of all sizes to manage their federal business identity and find opportunities.
Key Features
- Entity Registration & Unique Entity ID: Register your organization and obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) required to do business with the federal government, including receiving contracts or grants.
- Contract Opportunities Search: Search and monitor federal contract solicitations and opportunities across all U.S. government agencies.
- Contract Awards Data: Access and search historical federal contract awards data, previously housed in FPDS.gov, now fully integrated into SAM.gov.
- Federal Assistance & Grants Listings: Explore federal assistance programs including grants, with a public API available for bulk programmatic access to assistance listings data.
- Wage Determinations: Look up prevailing wage and benefit rates applicable to federal service and construction contracts under the Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Acts.
Use Cases
- A small business registers its entity and obtains a Unique Entity ID to become eligible for federal government contracts.
- A nonprofit organization searches federal assistance listings to identify grant programs relevant to its mission.
- A federal contractor looks up applicable wage determinations before bidding on a government service contract.
- A procurement researcher queries historical contract awards data to analyze agency spending patterns.
- A developer uses the Federal Assistance Listings API to build a tool that aggregates and presents federal grant opportunities.
Pros
- 100% Free: SAM.gov is a government-operated platform with no fees for registration, searching, or accessing any data.
- Authoritative & Official Source: As the GSA-operated system of record, SAM.gov provides verified, authoritative data required for all federal procurement and assistance activities.
- Consolidated Platform: Replaces multiple legacy systems (FPDS.gov, eSRS.gov) into a single unified portal, reducing the number of systems contractors must manage.
- API Access: Offers public APIs (e.g., Federal Assistance Listings API) enabling developers and organizations to consume federal data programmatically.
Cons
- Complex Registration Process: Entity registration can be lengthy and bureaucratic, requiring multiple steps and documentation that can be challenging for first-time users.
- Steep Learning Curve: The breadth of features and government-specific terminology can make the platform overwhelming for small businesses or nonprofits new to federal contracting.
- Slow System Updates: As a government system, updates and modernization efforts move slowly, and legacy data migrations (like FPDS) can introduce temporary search inconsistencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a user account to use SAM.gov?
You can search and browse many areas of SAM.gov without an account. However, to register an entity, submit reports, or perform certain actions, you need a login.gov account linked to SAM.gov.
What is a Unique Entity ID (UEI) and why do I need one?
A Unique Entity ID is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to your organization by SAM.gov. It is required for any organization seeking federal contracts, grants, or other federal awards.
What is the difference between signing up and registering on SAM.gov?
Signing up refers to creating a user account (via login.gov) to access the platform. Registering refers to submitting your entity's information so it can be recognized for federal business purposes — a more involved process requiring organizational details.
Is SAM.gov really free to use?
Yes. SAM.gov is 100% free. Any third-party service that charges to register your entity on SAM.gov is not affiliated with the U.S. government.
Can I access contract awards data on SAM.gov?
Yes. Following the retirement of FPDS.gov's ezSearch feature, all contract awards data searches are now conducted directly in SAM.gov, providing a single source for procurement research.
