SAM.gov (System for Award Management) is the U.S. federal government's official system where companies register to do business with the government, bid on contracts, and maintain their federal profile. It's the single source of truth for government contracting data.
SAM.gov is the central nervous system of federal contracting. Run by the General Services Administration, SAM.gov is where businesses register, where government agencies post opportunities, where contractors find and bid on contracts, and where the government manages award data. Every federal contractor must have an active SAM.gov registration and a valid UEI (Unique Entity Identifier).
In practical terms, SAM.gov is where you do several critical things: (1) Register your business with a UEI, (2) Create your business profile with NAICS codes, (3) Search for contract opportunities from any federal agency, (4) Track the status of your bids, (5) View all federal contract actions, and (6) Manage your business certifications (8a status, women-owned, veteran-owned, etc.). The system also feeds data to other systems like GSA eLibrary and agency-specific portals.
Why it matters: SAM.gov registration is mandatory for federal contracting. No SAM.gov registration = no government contracts. Additionally, SAM.gov is the authority on whether you're eligible for particular programs. For example, if you claim to be an 8(a) small business, SAM.gov must show your 8(a) certification for you to win an 8(a) set-aside contract.
In practice, SAM.gov can be clunky to navigate and slow to update, but it's the official source. One common misconception is that registering on SAM.gov means the government will automatically find you and award you contracts—registration is necessary but not sufficient. You still need to actively search for and bid on opportunities.
Keeping your SAM.gov registration current is critical. Annual renewal is required, and any changes to your business (location, ownership, certifications) must be updated promptly. Contractors often hire specialists just to manage their SAM.gov compliance.