Unique Entity ID
The Unique Entity ID, or UEI, is the federal government’s primary identifier for entities in SAM.gov. It is assigned through SAM.gov and is used across federal award, assistance, reporting, and payment systems. A UEI may be obtained without completing a full entity registration, although an active registration is generally needed to compete for federal contracts.
CAGE Code
The Commercial and Government Entity, or CAGE, code is a five-character identifier assigned to U.S. entities by the Defense Logistics Agency. For domestic organizations completing a SAM registration, the CAGE assignment or validation process is coordinated as part of registration. Foreign entities generally use an NCAGE code.
How the Identifiers Work Together
The UEI identifies the entity within federal award systems, while the CAGE code supports identification within procurement, logistics, security, and supplier records. Both should point to consistent legal name and address information.
Keeping Records Current
When an organization changes its legal name, physical address, ownership, or organizational structure, it may need to update SAM.gov and coordinate any resulting CAGE record changes. Conflicting information can delay validation or award processing.
Verification Checklist
Confirm the UEI and CAGE code are shown correctly in SAM.gov, verify that the registration status is active when required, use the same identifiers on capability statements and proposals, and check that the legal name and address match official records.