Free Guide — Step 02 of 05
Get Your UEI
Number
The Unique Entity ID replaced the DUNS number in 2022. It's your federal business identifier — required for SAM.gov and all federal contracts.
What Changed
UEI Replaced DUNS
Before April 4, 2022, federal contractors needed a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet. That system has been replaced. DUNS numbers are no longer accepted.
The UEI is now issued directly by SAM.gov — free, automatic, no third party.
If you already had a DUNS number and were registered on SAM.gov before April 2022, your UEI was automatically assigned. Log into SAM.gov to find it.
How to Get It
Getting Your UEI — Automatic
FreeAssigned during SAM.gov registration
You do not apply separately. Your UEI is automatically assigned when you register on SAM.gov:
- Go to sam.gov and sign in
- Start a new entity registration
- Enter your legal business name and address
- SAM.gov validates your entity and assigns your UEI immediately
Your UEI is a 12-character alphanumeric code.
Warning: Never pay a third party to get your UEI. It is free and assigned automatically by SAM.gov.
Next Step
Complete Your SAM.gov Registration
Getting your UEI is just the start. You need to complete the full SAM.gov entity registration to receive federal contract payments.
General educational information — not legal advice. GovTruckLoads is not affiliated with any government agency. Always verify current requirements at official government websites.