How to Check if a Company Is a Federal Contractor
Updated September 30, 2026 · USACIP
Short answer
Search the company in SAM.gov: an active entity registration with a Unique Entity ID (UEI) is required to receive most federal contracts and grants, and SAM.gov’s exclusions search shows whether it is debarred. The contracts and grants it has actually received are published on USAspending.gov.
A USACIP company check shows SAM.gov registration next to the company’s registry record.
See the company checkStep by step
- 1
Search SAM.gov entity information
Search by name or UEI. The UEI, a 12-character ID, replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. Check that the registration is active and not expired.
- 2
Check exclusions
SAM.gov also lists parties excluded (debarred or suspended) from federal awards.
- 3
See the money on USAspending.gov
Search the recipient to see contracts, grants and loans with agencies, amounts and dates.
- 4
Mind parents and subsidiaries
Large groups often hold registrations and awards under subsidiaries rather than the parent, so search those names too.
On USACIP
USACIP company pages show the SAM.gov registration status and, on Pro and Business plans, the contracts and grants found on USAspending.gov with links to each award.
FAQ
Does a SAM.gov registration mean the company has federal contracts?
No. It means the company is eligible to receive awards; USAspending.gov shows what it has actually received.
What happened to DUNS numbers?
The federal government replaced the DUNS number with the SAM-issued Unique Entity ID in April 2022.