Users and registrants
Users of SAM include contracting officials, grant-makers, contractors, and the public. Those required to register in SAM include: * Vendors: Those doing business with the federal government "will be able to log in to one system to manage their entity information in one record, with one expiration date, through one streamlined business process. Federal agencies will be able to look in one place for entity pre-award information. Everyone will have fewer passwords to remember and see the benefits of data reuse as information is entered into SAM once and reused throughout the system." * Grant-seekers and grantees: "Active SAM registration is a pre-requisite to the successful submission of grant applications!" There is no charge for registration. Renewal must be done annually.History
The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) was the primary supplier database for theTransition to SAM
July 24, 2012 began Phase I of a consolidation of federal government systems used for contracting to SAM (System for Acquisition Management). On that date, users were no longer permitted to enter new information into the CCR or the other systems being migrated in Phase I to allow sufficient time for their data to be migrated to SAM. After July 30, 2012, users who visited the CCR, ORCA, or EPLS websites are automatically redirected to SAM.gov. On July 30, 2012, the CCR transitioned to the System for Award Management (SAM), which combined legacy users' records in the CCR and eight other separate websites and databases that aided in the management of Federal procurement from start to finish. This consolidation SAM was designed to "reduce the burden on those seeking to do business with the government." In addition to eliminating redundancies and streamlining processes, SAM provides a single help desk to resolve issues with any of the databases. The systems combined into SAM are listed below, grouped by functional area. Their migration to SAM is being conducted in phases: Phase I of SAM includes the functionality from the entity management systems - Central Contractor Registry (CCR), Federal Agency Registration (Fedreg), Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) - and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS).beta.SAM.gov and DUNS to UID Change
In 2021, SAM.gov merged with beta.SAM.gov to form a complete redesign as well as new user experience and closure of the popular government run FEDBIZOPPS site. In addition, entities looking to receive a CAGE Code no longer register for a DUNS number. Instead, companies are isssued a UID after providing minimal documentation to prove ownership of their business.2022 Transition Issues
As of late 2022, the Federal Service Desk has seen an influx in civilian help desk tickets due to unclear instructions, delays, and user inability to update or register a CAGE Code. SAM.gov has been providing an automatic 30-day extension for any existing SAM.gov entity needing to be renewed with a registration date between April 29, 2022 and April 28, 2023. CAGE codes are vital for small business to receive grants and contracts. Many users are experiencing difficulty simply finding their entity in order to validate ownership - a burdensome new requirement once unneccesary due to prior issuance of a DUNS number.Paid Registration Services Controversy
Due to the complexity and time required to register a new CAGE Code, many small businesses are resorting to online paid registration services. Many business owners find themselves paying anywhere from $600 to $1,500 - often times not realizing SAM.gov does not cost anything to use. Some service providers offer a legitimate, fairly priced, needed service to individuals and businesses who simply cannot navigate the ever more complicated SAM.gov process. On the other hand, many services seek to appear as 'Official' CAGE Code registrars often bilking unsuspecting clients with thousands of dollars in fee's by promising bid services.References
Further reading
External links
* {{Official website Federal government of the United States