Before You Bid: Registration and Readiness
The registrations, identifiers, and codes you need before your first bid, and a readiness checklist.
For: Anyone brand new to federal contracting.
What you need
- A SAM.gov entity registration with a UEI (Unique Entity ID)
- A CAGE code (assigned during SAM registration)
- Your primary NAICS code(s) and size standard
- Taxpayer ID and bank account for payment routing
1. Register in SAM.gov
SAM.gov is the single registration point for selling to the federal government. Registration is free but takes time (days to weeks). You receive a UEI at the end, which replaces the old DUNS number.
2. Know your NAICS
NAICS codes classify what you sell. Each code has a small-business size standard. Most solicitations are set aside for small businesses, so being correct about your NAICS decides which competitions you may enter.
3. Check set-aside eligibility
Programs like 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone create dedicated lanes for qualified firms. Certification is free and done through SBA systems.
4. Build your capability statement
A one to two page document stating what you do, your codes, certifications, and past performance. In GovConHouse this becomes your profile and feeds matching.