The Federal Government is moving away from the DUNs number as an identifier and moving towards a new Unique Entity ID (SAM), or ‘UEI’ for entity identification of federal awards governmentwide.

Currently, the two identifiers (DUNS & Unique Entity ID) appear side-by-side in these Integrated Award Environment (IAE) systems; SAM.gov, FPDS, eSRS, FSRS, CPARS and FAPIIS. Current SAM.gov registrants have already been assigned an Unique Entity ID (SAM) and can view it within SAM.gov.

This is important because the entity identification in federal awards (grants, loans, contracts, etc.) means a unique set of numbers and letters used to identify every entity seeking to do business with the federal government. Currently, and through April 3, 2022, the Federal Government uses the DUNS Number, assigned by Dun & Bradstreet. Effective April 4, 2022, the federal government will use the Unique Entity ID (SAM), or “UEI” assigned by SAM.gov.

The following video is a recent workshop that highlights the New Unique Entity ID (SAM): https://vimeo.com/648667847