Overview
The exact checklist of what you must have before you can compete - and what each one does
Getting into the US federal market as a non-US company requires clearing a specific set of registration and compliance requirements. None of these are difficult if you know what they are. All of them are free. Failing to complete any one of them can prevent an award regardless of how strong your proposal is.
Here is the definitive starting checklist.
Registration 1: Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
The UEI is your official identification number in the US federal procurement system. It replaced the previous DUNS number (issued by Dun & Bradstreet) in April 2022. You obtain your UEI by completing the SAM.gov entity registration - it is generated automatically as part of that process.
Registration 2: SAM.GOV Entity Registration (Active Status)
The UEI is contained within your broader SAM.gov entity registration. The registration itself must reach Active status - not simply be initiated. An active registration means all required fields are complete, all documentation is provided and validated, and your company has passed the government's verification checks.
Your SAM.gov profile - legal business name, address, NAICS codes, points of contact, and capability narrative - is public and consulted by contracting officers, prime contractors, and teaming partners. This profile is your federal market identity.
Registration 3: CAGE Code
The Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code is a five-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to entities doing business with the US government. It is automatically generated when your SAM.gov registration is validated - no separate application required.
Registration 4: SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) Profile
If your company qualifies as a small business under SBA size standards, establishing a complete profile in the Small Business Administration's Dynamic Small Business Search database is one of the highest-value activities you can take as a new market entrant.
DSBS is the primary database that federal agencies and prime contractors use to identify small business subcontractors and teaming partners. Prime contractors holding large federal contracts are legally required to meet small business subcontracting goals - and they actively search DSBS by NAICS code, geographic region, and capability to find qualified partners.
Registration 5: Applicable Small Business Certifications
Depending on your company's ownership structure, size, and location, you may qualify for one or more SBA certification programs. These are not required to compete in unrestricted competitions - but they expand your competitive universe by creating access to set-aside contracts where competition is significantly reduced.
Quick-Start Sequence
Completing these five registrations is not the conclusion of your market entry - it is the precondition for everything that follows. Companies that delay this step delay bidding, delay discoverability, and delay revenue. The registrations take weeks to complete but take a single decision to start.