What is the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)?

According to the General Services Administration (GSA), the "new, non-proprietary identifier" that will take the place of the DUNS  number has an official name: the Unique Entity Identifier, or UEI. The SAM.gov  will be used to both seek and assign the UEI.

What exactly is a UEI?

A UEI serves as your company's official "a social safety identification" when it comes to government contracts. It is the initial stage in becoming a GSA contractor because you must obtain one before selling to the government. It isn't as private as an SSN, but it is a string of alphanumeric characters that can be rapidly searched for, organized, and used to identify your firm instead of searching by your company name or any of its variations. Before, the DUNS number served in this capacity. Contractors used the Dun and Bradstreet Inc. website to obtain their 9-digit identity prior to the UEI's publication, then went to SAM.gov to register their business.

Does my company require a UEI number?

Not all companies require UEI numbers. However, a UEI is required if you want to pursue contracts with the federal government. To be eligible for government grants and awards, including federal small business grants, businesses must get a UEI. 

How Can You Obtain a UEI?

To obtain a Unique Entity Identifier, follow these steps:

For those who have already registered, everything is completed; all you need to do is locate it. You don't need to do anything to move any of the registered entities from SAM.gov. You may find your new Unique Entity Identifier on your SAM.gov page after logging in. However, you might need to finish an entity validation process, which we'll cover in a second.

• Step one for those who aren't exactly registered yet is to do so. You must go to SAM.gov and select "Register Entity" to register your entity. Simply put, after doing so, you will acquire your UEI.
• For individuals who require a UEI expressly for reporting on subawards,you need to  click "Get Unique Entity ID" on SAM.gov to obtain your Unique Entity ID,. In this situation, we advise you to consult the Getting a Unique Entity ID Guide.

Basic information about your firm, including your legal business name, physical address, incorporation date, and state, is required for all SAM.gov registrations. These prerequisites are necessary to verify your entity's uniqueness and check for any possible duplicates before alphanumeric codes are issued.

Entity Validation

Similar to the DUNS, the UEI is distinctive. SAM.gov can confirm that this company and address do not already have a UEI by using the Entity Validation Service, or EVS, program. Numerous stages of the procedure require this certification. It is required for registration, yearly renewal, getting your UEI, and updating or changing your address on SAM.gov. The verified status will be necessary, not this information, and you won't have to submit it each time you make a modification.

CONCLUSION

Check out our blog, the resources section, or subscribe to our monthly email to be informed on the most recent developments in government contracting. One of our advisors will be pleased to assist you if you have any questions about your GSA Schedule.