A Government Contracting Readiness Checklist

Registration Is Not An Award

Being ready to contract means an agency can identify you and you can perform the work. It does not mean a contract is waiting. A set-aside, when one exists, limits who may compete. It does not pick the winner.

Use SAM.gov Directly

SAM.gov is the official system for entity registration. The site says there is no cost to use it. Companies that charge to “get you registered” are selling a service you can do yourself. If you hire help, you are paying for labor, not for a government fee that does not exist.

UEI, Not A Paid Shortcut

Current GSA and SAM instructions talk about a Unique Entity Identifier issued through SAM, along with NAICS codes and representations. Older pages still mention a DUNS number as if it were the current step. Do not follow an outdated DUNS walkthrough. Use the checklist on SAM.gov.

Certification And Size Are Separate Questions

Small-business size is an SBA size-standards question and it varies by industry. Veteran certification is the VetCert question on SBA’s veteran contracting pages. You can be a veteran and still be other than small. You can be small and not certified. Read both pages before you mark a box on a proposal.

Capability still matters. If you cannot perform the NAICS work you select, the registration does not create a crew. Start with the work you already know how to deliver.