SAM.gov registration is free: how to spot paid look-alikes

SAM.gov registration is free. You register, renew and get your Unique Entity ID at SAM.gov, the federal site run by the General Services Administration (GSA), and the government never charges for any of it.

Why look-alikes exist

Every business that wants federal work needs an active SAM.gov registration, and it must be renewed every 365 days. That makes registration a target. Some private companies offer to register or renew you for a charge. Some are honest services. Others send messages that look like official notices so you pay without knowing the step is free.

How to spot a paid look-alike

Watch for these signs:

1. An invoice for SAM.gov registration or renewal. The government charges nothing, so any bill for registration did not come from the government.
2. A web address that does not end in .gov. The real site is sam.gov. Look-alikes use names with "sam", "registration" or "federal" in a .com or .org address.
3. Urgent warnings. "Your registration will be suspended in 24 hours" with a payment link is a sales tactic. SAM.gov sends expiration reminders, and they point you to sign in at SAM.gov, not to pay.
4. Requests for your Login.gov password or codes. No real support desk needs them.
5. Official-looking seals and agency names on a site that is not a .gov address.

What to do with a suspicious message

1. Do not click the link or call the number in the message.
2. Type sam.gov into your browser yourself and sign in with Login.gov.
3. Check your registration status and expiration date there.
4. If something is wrong, contact the Federal Service Desk at fsd.gov. It is free.
5. Report deceptive sales messages to the Federal Trade Commission.

Free help that is real

• Federal Service Desk (fsd.gov): answers SAM.gov questions at no cost.
• APEX Accelerators: local centers that walk you through registration for free.
• SBA district offices and Small Business Development Centers: free counseling.

Paying a consultant is your choice, but it is never required, and nobody can make your registration go faster than SAM.gov's own review.

Common mistakes

• Paying an "annual registration" invoice that came by email.
• Letting a third party hold your Login.gov account. You should always control it.
• Letting the registration lapse while waiting for a "renewal service" to act.

How long does registration take?

Allow at least 10 business days after you submit for it to become active. Validation problems can add time. See Register in SAM.gov. It is free.

Is a UEI the same as a registration?

No. You can get a UEI without registering, but a UEI alone does not let you bid. See UEI and CAGE codes.

Does Victavio register me?

No. Victavio never registers you anywhere and never asks for your SAM.gov or Login.gov password.