SAM.gov Registration: UEI and NCAGE for Ukrainian Companies

A Ukrainian company needs a SAM.gov registration to apply for US federal grants and contracts. Since 4 April 2022 entities in this system are identified by the Unique Entity ID (UEI). SAM.gov no longer accepts or displays DUNS numbers. This article was updated on 21.09.2026 to reflect current GSA and SAM.gov rules.

What changed on 4 April 2022

The US General Services Administration (GSA) moved SAM.gov and its other systems to a new identifier. The GSA announcement says that from that date its systems stopped using the DUNS number to identify entities. D&B confirms the switch on its government contracting page.

Key facts about the UEI:

• it is a 12-character alphanumeric value managed, granted and owned by the US government;
• SAM.gov assigns it as part of entity registration;
• you can get a UEI without a full registration, using the legal business name and physical address;
• it is free: the SAM.gov checklist states there is no charge to get a UEI, register or maintain a registration.

Articles that still list DUNS as a SAM.gov requirement describe the process as it was before 2022.

Registration steps for a Ukrainian company

1. Get an NCAGE code. The SAM.gov checklist requires an entity based outside the US to request an NCAGE code through the NCAGE Request Tool before starting its SAM.gov registration. In Ukraine, NCAGE codes are assigned to suppliers by the Ministry of Defence's central codification authority. Under MoD Order No. 673 of 18.12.2017 a supplier can apply on its own through the NATO web portal. The code has five characters, with the first and last letters reserved for Ukraine. Ukraine has been a full participant in the NATO Codification System since 2019.

2. Prepare the entity data. For the UEI, SAM.gov asks for:

• the Legal Business Name;
• a physical address (a PO box is not accepted);
• the date of incorporation;
• the state of incorporation; entities outside the US may provide alternate information.

SAM.gov validates the name and address. If validation fails, you open a ticket with the Federal Service Desk (FSD). If the TIN or CAGE check fails, the system emails instructions, and you correct the data and resubmit.

3. Complete the registration. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) banking details are optional for non-US entities.

4. Wait for activation. The SAM.gov checklist says "at least ten business days" after submission, while the registration page says "up to 10 business days". Budget roughly two weeks.

5. Renew every year. A SAM.gov registration must be renewed every 365 days.

If the account administrator has left or access is lost, FSD accepts an entity administrator appointment letter. International entities have a dedicated "Template 3 – International Entity", which needs no notarization.

USAID and State Department grants

On 28 March 2025 the State Department and USAID notified Congress of a reorganization. On 1 July 2025 the State Department took over many of USAID's functions and its active awards. Applications for US federal grants require a UEI from SAM.gov.

NATO procurement (NSPA)

To take part in NSPA procurement, a company registers in the NSPA Source File, free of charge. NSPA recommends getting an NCAGE code from the national codification bureau first. NSPA procurement is usually limited to firms from NATO countries; companies from other countries are admitted in defined cases, and each notice lists the eligible countries. The NSPA supplier registration page makes no mention of D-U-N-S.

Where you still need a DUNS number

A D&B number remains mandatory for organizations in the Apple Developer Program, on Google Play and in the Android Developer Console. Large foreign buyers, banks and some US state agencies also ask for it. How to get one for a Ukrainian LLC or sole trader, what data to collect and how long to wait is covered on our page on how to get a DUNS number.

How a lawyer helps

A Legal Solutions lawyer will review your situation and tell you which identifiers you actually need: UEI, NCAGE, DUNS or a combination. We prepare the English-language data so that the name and address match across every system. Send a request through the form on this site or call the number listed in our contacts.