UEI

The UEI is generated automatically when you register (or renew) in SAM.gov — there's no separate application process or fee. This was a significant change from the old DUNS system, which was managed by Dun & Bradstreet and sometimes required a fee for expedited processing.

Your UEI appears on all federal contract documents, is used to track your award history, and is required for subcontractor reporting. If you had a DUNS number, your existing SAM.gov profile was automatically assigned a UEI during the transition.

Note: Some state and local agencies still reference DUNS numbers in their solicitations, but the federal standard is now UEI exclusively.