US General Services Administration
SAM.gov Registration (Free)
Who's eligible
Any entity seeking federal contracts or grants. No veteran requirement, but required before SDVOSB certification.
How to claim
Register free at sam.gov. You need an EIN and a Unique Entity ID (UEI, assigned during registration).
Editor's take
Every vet founder planning federal contracting or federal grant work. Mandatory prerequisite for SBA VetCert, SDVOSB set-asides, and SBIR applications.
You have zero federal ambitions. Otherwise this is table stakes.
SAM.gov registration is FREE. Third-party companies charge $500-$1,500 to file it for you and often use lookalike domains. If a site charges you for SAM registration, it is not the government. Your regional VBOC will help you register for free.
SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually. Common failure point: expired registrations block contract awards. Set a calendar reminder. Your VBOC counselor can walk you through the first registration at no cost.