U.S. federal contracting
SAM registration, UEI, NAICS and small-business size
A UEI identifies your business. An active SAM registration is what federal prime awardees need. Before applying for an SBA certification, check both your registration and the size standard for the work you do.
Does your buyer require an SBA certification?
An SBA certification concerns U.S. federal contracting. A state agency or private company may accept a different supplier certification, so ask the buyer which certificate it requires before paying for an application service. Your preparation also depends on whether you intend to bid directly to a federal agency or work as a subcontractor.
A UEI alone does not complete SAM registration
SAM assigns a Unique Entity ID during registration. It also offers a UEI-only option for some transactions, but that option does not provide the active registration required for a federal prime awardee. Full registration and renewal are free through SAM. Registration must remain active and be renewed every 365 days. SAM entity registration ↗ · SAM free registration and renewal ↗.
After submitting the registration, check its official status. Submission and activation are different stages. Save the status, renewal date and any SAM messages with your business records. Our worksheets need no UEI, password or supporting document.
NAICS describes the work being bought
NAICS codes classify business activities. When considering a contract, look at the code and size standard assigned to that opportunity. A code chosen because it has a higher size limit may not describe the work your business actually performs.
How small is “small”?
There is no single revenue ceiling for every SBA applicant. The applicable standard may use receipts or employee counts, depending on the activity. Relationships with other businesses can also affect size through affiliation. Use the current SBA Size Standards Tool ↗ and the governing rules; if affiliation remains unresolved, ask SBA or a qualified adviser before treating the business as small.
Records to have ready
The following summary is enough for initial planning. Keep the underlying identifiers and documents in your own files.
| Record | Details to retain |
|---|---|
| SAM | Current registration status, renewal date and date checked |
| UEI | Confirmation that the identifier belongs to the correct business |
| NAICS and size | Business activities, applicable standard and any unresolved affiliation question |
| Certification | Programs being considered and the ownership, location or other facts relevant to each |
Once these questions are settled, the program comparison can help you decide which applications to investigate. SBA local assistance ↗ is also available if you need help understanding the requirements.
Sources
Sources checked 8 October 2026. Regulations reflect the official consolidated text available through 6 October. Check current SBA notices before applying.