UEI (Unique Entity ID)

Also called: Unique Entity Identifier, UEI (SAM), SAM UEI

The Unique Entity ID (UEI) is the 12-character alphanumeric code SAM.gov assigns to identify an organization doing business with the federal government. It replaced the DUNS number on April 4, 2022.

SAM.gov assigns a UEI when an entity passes validation, and once issued the UEI does not expire. If your company is already registered in SAM.gov, it already has one.

A UEI on its own is not a registration. SAM.gov lets you get a UEI only, but an entity with only a UEI cannot apply directly for federal awards.

The UEI links your other registrations. The SBA Company Registry and eRA Commons both require it, and NIH says the same UEI must be used for all registrations and on the grant application.

Some older agency guidance still asks for a DUNS number. Since April 4, 2022, the federal government has used the UEI created in SAM.gov instead.