In Plain English
Quick Answer
The 12-character ID the government gives your company when you register at SAM.gov. It replaced the old DUNS number in 2022. No active UEI, no federal contract.
Definition
Definition
The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is the 12-character alphanumeric ID assigned to an entity when it registers in SAM.gov. As of April 2022 it replaced the DUNS number as the official identifier used across the federal award and contracting system. A business must have an active UEI and SAM.gov registration to be eligible for most federal contracts and grants.
Context
Why It Matters in Bidding
No active UEI means no federal award: the identifier ties your SAM.gov registration to every bid, contract, and payment, and an expired registration silently drops you from eligibility. Contractors chasing federal work treat UEI/SAM renewal as a hard deadline because a lapse mid-solicitation can disqualify an otherwise winning bid.
Example
Example
Days before a federal proposal is due, a GC discovers its SAM.gov registration expired, so its UEI is inactive and the offer would be rejected, forcing an emergency renewal before submission.
See Also
Related Terms
FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
How is the UEI different from the old DUNS number?
The UEI is a 12-character government-owned identifier assigned inside SAM.gov, while the DUNS was a 9-digit number issued by a third party. Since April 2022 the UEI is the sole identifier across federal awards; legacy DUNS numbers were retired and no longer appear on new contracts.
How do I get a UEI?
You receive a UEI automatically when you register or renew your entity in SAM.gov, with no separate application or fee. Entities that only need to verify identity (not pursue awards) can request a UEI-only validation, but contractors bidding federal work should complete full registration.
Does my UEI expire?
The UEI itself is permanent, but your SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually to keep it active. Agencies check for an active registration at award, so a lapsed renewal effectively disables your UEI for contracting even though the number stays the same.
Do I need a UEI to bid state or local work?
A UEI is required for federal contracts and grants. Many state and local agencies run their own vendor systems and do not require one, though federally funded state projects such as DOT work often ask for it, so subs bidding federally assisted jobs should keep SAM active.
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