DUNS Number vs UEI: SAM.gov Transition Guide 2026
In April 2022, the US federal government made a major change: the DUNS number was replaced by the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) for all SAM.gov registrations and federal procurement. If you're a government contractor — or thinking about becoming one — you need to understand exactly what changed, what stayed the same, and whether you still need a DUNS number (spoiler: yes, you still do, just not for federal contracts).
The Big Change: DUNS Replaced by UEI on SAM.gov (April 2022)
For over five decades, the DUNS number was the required identifier for US government contracting. Every business that wanted to bid on federal contracts, receive federal grants, or register on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) needed a DUNS number issued by Dun & Bradstreet.
On April 4, 2022, the General Services Administration (GSA) officially transitioned SAM.gov from the DUNS number to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The UEI is now assigned directly by SAM.gov — eliminating the dependency on a private company (D&B) for federal procurement purposes.
This change was driven by several factors: the government wanted greater control over the entity identification process, reduced costs for contractors (since D&B had been known to upsell additional services), and a more streamlined registration experience.
April 4, 2022
Transition date
UEI (12 chars)
New identifier
DUNS (9 digits)
Old identifier
What Is the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier)?
The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric code assigned to each entity registered in SAM.gov. Unlike the DUNS number, which was assigned by a private company, the UEI is assigned directly by the US federal government through the SAM.gov system.
UEI codes look like this: ABC123DEF456 — a mix of letters and numbers totaling 12 characters. This format was specifically chosen to make UEIs impossible to predict or reverse-engineer, unlike the sequential DUNS numbers.
Key Features of the UEI
Issued by SAM.gov (US government)
No need to register with a third-party company. Your UEI is assigned automatically when you create or update your SAM.gov registration.
12 alphanumeric characters
Format is more complex than DUNS (9 digits), making it harder to guess or spoof.
Free to obtain
No fees for getting a UEI — unlike the DUNS system which had optional paid services.
US federal use only
The UEI is exclusively for US federal government purposes (contracts, grants, loans). It has no standing outside the federal ecosystem.
Assigned automatically for existing registrants
Businesses already registered in SAM.gov had their UEI assigned automatically during the transition — you didn't need to re-register.
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Get my DUNS number — €4.99DUNS Number vs UEI: Key Differences
| Feature | DUNS Number | UEI |
|---|---|---|
| Who assigns it | Dun & Bradstreet (private company) | SAM.gov (US federal government) |
| Format | 9 digits (XXX-XXX-XXX) | 12 alphanumeric characters |
| Cost | Free (D&B) / €4.99 via DUNS Verify | Free |
| Geographic scope | Worldwide (224 countries) | US federal government only |
| Used for | Apple, Google Play, EU procurement, business credit, international B2B | US federal contracts, grants, and awards only |
| Required for SAM.gov | No (replaced April 2022) | Yes |
| Required for Apple Developer | Yes | No |
| Required for Google Play | Yes | No |
| Required for EU/international procurement | Yes | No |
| Business credit (D&B Paydex) | Yes | No |
Do You Still Need a DUNS Number in 2026?
Short answer: Yes — for everything outside of US federal government contracting.
The UEI replaced DUNS only for SAM.gov and US federal procurement. The DUNS number is still actively required for Apple Developer, Google Play, European government procurement, international B2B, and business credit building.
Many contractors made the mistake of thinking the UEI transition meant they no longer needed a DUNS number at all. This is incorrect. The DUNS system serves an entirely different global ecosystem from the US federal procurement system. Here's where DUNS is still required in 2026:
Apple Developer Program
Apple continues to require a DUNS number to verify organization accounts. This has not changed since the UEI transition. Apple uses D&B's database, not SAM.gov, to verify businesses.
Google Play Console
Google Play business developer accounts still require DUNS verification. UEI is not accepted as a substitute.
European Union and NATO Procurement
The EU, NATO, and most European government procurement systems still use DUNS numbers as their primary business identifier. The UEI has no meaning outside the US federal system.
International B2B Partnerships
Large multinationals and international enterprises use DUNS numbers to vet suppliers worldwide. Your DUNS number is your global business identity outside of the US tax and federal procurement systems.
Business Credit (D&B Paydex Score)
Your D&B credit file and Paydex score are anchored to your DUNS number. If you want to build business credit — separate from your personal credit — you need a DUNS number. UEI does not create a credit profile.
Impact on Government Contractors
If you are a government contractor who registered in SAM.gov before April 2022, your UEI was automatically assigned — you didn't need to do anything. If you registered after April 2022, you received your UEI as part of the standard SAM.gov registration process.
For new government contractors in 2026, the process is:
- Register on SAM.gov (sam.gov/register) — your UEI will be assigned automatically
- Complete your SAM.gov entity profile with business information
- Wait for SAM.gov to approve your registration (can take 7–10 business days)
- Begin using your UEI for all federal contracting and grant applications
Note that while the UEI replaced DUNS for federal contracting, many solicitation documents and legacy systems still reference DUNS numbers in their paperwork. Don't be confused — these are legacy references, and your UEI is what's actually required for current registrations.
Additionally, some federal subcontracting relationships and prime contractor databases still use DUNS numbers for internal tracking. Maintaining your DUNS number even as a government contractor remains a good practice.
How to Get Your UEI
Step-by-step UEI registration on SAM.gov:
- Go to sam.gov and click "Register Your Entity"
- Create a login.gov account (if you don't have one)
- Select your entity type (business, government, individual, etc.)
- Enter your legal business name and address
- Your UEI is assigned automatically during the registration flow
- Complete all required fields in your entity profile
- Submit for review — approval typically takes 7–10 business days
Cost: Free. Note: SAM.gov registration must be renewed annually.
How to Get Your DUNS Number
Your DUNS number is separate from your UEI and still needed for all non-federal purposes. Most registered businesses already have a DUNS number in D&B's database — often without knowing it.
Fastest method: DUNS Verify (2 minutes)
- Go to DUNS Verify (dunsverify.com)
- Enter your company name and country
- Select your company from the results
- Pay €4.99 — receive your DUNS number instantly
Alternatively, you can request a DUNS number directly from D&B's website for free, but this process can take up to 30 business days. For most businesses that already exist in D&B's database of 455 million companies, DUNS Verify retrieves the existing number instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DUNS completely obsolete now?
No. DUNS is only obsolete for SAM.gov and US federal procurement. For everything else — Apple Developer, Google Play, EU procurement, international business, and business credit — DUNS remains the global standard.
I already have a UEI — do I also need a DUNS number?
Likely yes, if you need to publish apps on the App Store, work with international partners, participate in EU procurement, or build your D&B credit profile. Your UEI and DUNS number serve different ecosystems and are both necessary for a complete business identity.
What happened to my old DUNS number after the SAM.gov transition?
Your old DUNS number still exists in the D&B database and can still be used for all non-federal purposes. SAM.gov simply stopped using it as the primary identifier — but the DUNS number itself was not deleted or deactivated.
Can I use my UEI for Apple Developer enrollment?
No. Apple uses D&B's database for verification and requires a DUNS number. UEI is not accepted for Apple Developer organization accounts.
Do I need to pay for a UEI?
No. UEI registration on SAM.gov is completely free. This was one of the explicit goals of the transition — removing the commercial intermediary (D&B) from the federal procurement identification process.
What's the difference between SAM.gov registration and getting a UEI?
When you register your entity on SAM.gov, a UEI is automatically assigned as part of that process. You cannot get a UEI without a SAM.gov registration. Unlike the DUNS number, which could be assigned without the business's knowledge, a UEI is only created when you actively register on SAM.gov.
Does a non-US company need a UEI?
Only if the non-US company wants to bid on US federal contracts or receive US federal grants. For all other purposes, non-US companies use their DUNS number. The UEI has no relevance outside the US federal procurement context.
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