Using the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in Grants.gov

Applicant users who have registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) are now seeing their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) within Grants.gov.

The UEI is a 12-character unique number assigned to all entities (public and private companies, individuals, institutions, or organizations) who must register to do business with the federal government in SAM. This “SAM UEI” will phase out the nine-character Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number on April 4, 2022.

Grants.gov continues to work closely with SAM during the transition from the DUNS Number to the SAM UEI. Grants.gov now retrieves the UEI from SAM, and all users who have registered with SAM are now seeing their UEI when they log into Grants.gov.

Below, we address some common questions users might have regarding their new UEI.

Which UEI should applicants enter into application package forms?

If the field label reads “DUNS”, applicants should enter their DUNS Number. If the field label reads “UEI”, applicants should enter their “SAM UEI”.

How can users with multiple applicant profiles retrieve historical information for their organizations on Grants.gov’s website and mobile app?

Users with multiple applicant profiles can retrieve historical information, such as past submission data, by entering either their SAM UEI or DUNS Number within Grants.gov. Moving forward, Grants.gov encourages applicants to use their new SAM UEI; all data associated with their DUNS Number will also now be associated with their SAM UEI.

Where should applicants go to learn more about the phase-out of the DUNS Number and the rollout of the UEI?

The U.S. General Services Administration Unique Entity Identifier Update page contains the most up-to-date information about the phase out of the DUNS Number. SAM, meanwhile, will serve as the official source for all UEI information.