CAGE Code vs UEI vs DUNS Explained: What Every Small Contractor Needs to Know

What Each Identifier Does

The three identifiers serve different purposes inside the federal acquisition system. The DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number was a nine-digit code issued by Dun and Bradstreet that federal agencies used for decades to identify vendors. As of April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped accepting DUNS numbers for SAM.gov registration and contract awards. It is mentioned here only because older solicitations, agency records, and third-party databases still reference it, and contractors sometimes confuse it with the newer UEI.

The Unique Entity ID (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier assigned directly by SAM.gov when you register or update your entity. It replaced the DUNS number for all federal award purposes. Critically, the UEI is now assigned at no charge by the government itself, eliminating the previous requirement to obtain a number from a private vendor.

The Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a five-character alphanumeric identifier managed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). It is not a substitute for a UEI. CAGE codes are required for entities entering into contracts with the Department of Defense, for entities that need to access certain DoD systems, and for any business registering in SAM.gov. In practice, SAM.gov automatically requests a CAGE code on your behalf during registration if you do not already have one.

The DUNS Retirement: What Actually Changed

Before April 2022, every vendor bidding on federal contracts had to obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet, a private company. The General Services Administration (GSA) moved to an internally managed identifier system to reduce vendor dependency and cost. The transition was governed by a Final Rule published in the Federal Register and implemented across SAM.gov, USAspending.gov, and agency procurement systems.

For contractors who were registered in SAM.gov before the cutover, SAM.gov automatically generated a UEI and mapped it to the existing DUNS record. If you registered after April 2022, you never received a DUNS number at all; you went straight to a UEI. The important practical implication is that if you are submitting a proposal today and a legacy solicitation template still has a field labeled DUNS Number, you enter your UEI. Contracting officers are aware of the transition, but template updates across all agencies have not been perfectly uniform.

How to Get a UEI

Obtaining a UEI is part of the SAM.gov entity registration process. There is no separate application for just a UEI; it is generated when you complete or update your SAM registration. Registration is free and is managed at SAM.gov. Processing times vary, but initial registrations typically take between three and ten business days for SAM to validate and activate the record. Renewals must be completed annually or your registration will lapse, which can make you ineligible for award.

A concrete example: a woman-owned small business in Texas decides to pursue a USDA simplified acquisition contract. She goes to SAM.gov, creates a login.gov account, and starts a new entity registration. After entering her legal business name, physical address, EIN, and business type, SAM.gov assigns a UEI immediately. She completes the remaining sections, including representations and certifications, and submits. Several days later her registration is active and her UEI is usable on bid submissions.

1. Create a login.gov accountGo to SAM.gov and select Register / Get Started. You will be redirected to login.gov to create a secure account with multi-factor authentication.
2. Start a new entity registrationChoose Entity Registration and select the correct entity type. Have your EIN or SSN (for sole proprietors), legal business name, and physical address ready.
3. Complete core data sectionsFill in entity information, financial information, executive compensation, and proceedings data. SAM.gov assigns your UEI during this stage.
4. Complete assertions and reps and certsAnswer the required representations and certifications, including size status under applicable NAICS codes.
5. Submit and monitorSubmit and check your SAM.gov dashboard daily until the status shows Active. Save your UEI before leaving; it appears in your entity summary.

How to Get a CAGE Code

For most US-based businesses, completing a SAM.gov registration is all that is needed to receive a CAGE code. SAM.gov forwards your entity data to the DLA CAGE program, which validates and assigns a code. You do not submit a separate DLA application. Your CAGE code appears in your SAM.gov entity record once assigned.

There are two exceptions worth noting. First, non-US entities (foreign suppliers) may need to request a NATO CAGE code (NCAGE) through their country's National Codification Bureau before completing SAM registration. Second, if your company already has a CAGE code from a prior registration or a historical defense contract, you should enter it during SAM registration rather than requesting a new one. Duplicate CAGE codes cause contracting officer confusion and can delay award.

How UEI and CAGE Code Work Together in Practice

On a typical federal solicitation, a contracting officer will ask for your UEI and your CAGE code in the standard vendor information block. The UEI is used to verify your SAM registration is active and to record the award in USAspending.gov. The CAGE code is used in contract documents, invoicing systems like IPP (Invoice Processing Platform), and defense-specific procurement systems like PIEE and WAWF. Both identifiers must be current and consistent, meaning the name and address tied to your UEI in SAM.gov should match the name and address tied to your CAGE code in the DLA system.

Discrepancies between the two systems are a surprisingly common cause of payment delays. If an invoice shows a CAGE code that DLA associates with a different address than what SAM.gov shows for that UEI, automated validation flags can hold payment. Checking your SAM.gov record and your DLA CAGE record (searchable at cage.dla.mil) together at least once a year reduces this risk.

Common Mistakes Small Contractors Make

The most frequent error is letting a SAM.gov registration lapse. Registrations expire every 365 days. An expired registration means your UEI is inactive, which disqualifies you from receiving an award even if your proposal was technically excellent. Set a calendar reminder at least 60 days before expiration to renew.

A second common mistake is entering an old DUNS number in bid forms because a template has not been updated. If a field says DUNS or DUNS Number, confirm with the contracting officer whether they want the UEI in that field. In virtually all active procurements the answer is yes.

A third issue is registering a DBA (doing business as) name as if it were a separate legal entity. Your SAM.gov registration and CAGE code should reflect your legal entity name. A DBA can be noted in your profile but is not treated as a separate registrant with its own UEI.

• Lapsed SAM.gov registration: renew at least 60 days before your expiration date
• Using DUNS number on current bids: enter your UEI instead
• DBA vs. legal entity confusion: register under your legal business name
• Mismatched addresses between SAM.gov and DLA CAGE records: reconcile annually
• Requesting a new CAGE code when one already exists: always search first

Staying Eligible and Finding Opportunities

Maintaining active registrations is a prerequisite, but it is only the foundation. Once your UEI and CAGE code are in order, the next challenge is monitoring SAM.gov for solicitations that match your capabilities before deadlines pass. Many small contractors miss opportunities simply because they are not watching the right NAICS codes or agencies consistently.

CaptureIQ's opportunity alert system is designed to surface relevant SAM.gov solicitations and send notifications before response windows close, so your team can focus on capture strategy rather than manual searching. Humans on your team review and authorize every proposal action; CaptureIQ provides decision-support, not auto-submission.