SAM Survival Guide

Many companies have encountered tremendous frustration and confusion in their attempts to update, or register in SAM. “SAM” refers to the government’s contractor registration database, System for Awards Management ( https://www.sam.gov). SAM was developed many years ago to consolidate several separate (and at times redundant) online databases such as the CCR, ORCA, FedReg and EPLS.

An active SAM registration is a necessary requirement for any company or individual to receive contracts, grants, or payments from the federal government. Despite improvements made over the years, many aspects of the site remain cumbersome. We offer the following tips in an effort to simplify the process and maintain your sanity:

• Be Patient. There are numerous sections that need to be completed, verified and accepted. Have your pertinent company information available when you begin the process. Each section must be completed in order to proceed to the next. Required information ranges from company points of contact to critical certification assertions. Each section needs to be completed accurately, as there are outside verifications currently performed by Duns & Bradstreet, IRS and the Small Business Administration in order to finalize the registration. Companies will need to pass the Cage Code security process as well.

The DUNS number remains for the time being the official identifier for doing business with the government. This company identifier is assigned by Duns & Bradstreet. Eventually the government will phase out the DUNS number and in its place will assign a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to each company registered in SAM. The UEI will be a twelve character alpha numeric code assigned by SAM. This transition process is expected to be complete in December 2020.

• Know your NACIS Codes. You will be required to provide the North American Industry Classification Codes that pertain to your business. Not sure of your NAICS codes you can view the list and select the appropriate codes at (https://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics/). This website also provides the size standards for each NAICS code. Select wisely, as company size does matter in federal procurement. You will also want to ensure your FSCs (Federal Supply Classifications) and PSCs (Product and Service Codes) are listed correctly (https://www.acquisition.gov/PSC_Manual).

• Check the boxes. Each FAR clause must be accepted or taken exception to individually. Make sure you have a check mark in each box, or the system will reject your submission.

• Do not include hyphens in phone numbers or FAX numbers in any section.

• Save your work (Especially after completing a section). The system will time you out if you do not hit the “save” button during idle periods of 30 minutes or longer.

Still having trouble? Feel free to give us a call. We maintain a number of our clients SAM registrations or have assisted a number of our clients with the registration process. We can help your company Survive SAM.