SAM.gov, UEI, CAGE & SBA Certification
Coming soon: help with the registrations and certifications that make a business eligible to bid on federal work.
Federal registration
- SAM.gov registration & annual renewal
- Unique Entity ID (UEI)
- CAGE code assignment
- NAICS code selection & profile setup
SBA certification
- 8(a) Business Development
- HUBZone
- WOSB / EDWOSB
- SDVOSB / VOSB
| Program | Core eligibility | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| 8(a) | 51%+ owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals | Sole-source authority, mentor-protégé access; capped at nine years |
| HUBZone | Principal office in a HUBZone, plus 35%+ of employees residing in one | Price evaluation preference; boundaries are redrawn periodically |
| WOSB / EDWOSB | 51%+ owned and controlled by women; EDWOSB adds an economic disadvantage test | Set-asides apply only in certain NAICS codes |
| SDVOSB / VOSB | 51%+ owned and controlled by veterans; SDVOSB requires a service-connected disability | Valuable for VA contracting |
- Formation & ownership documentsArticles, operating agreement, stock ledger — whatever proves who owns and controls the business.
- Program-specific proofDD-214 or VA documentation (SDVOSB); residency and payroll records (HUBZone); economic disadvantage narrative (8(a)).
- Financial recordsTax returns and financial statements for the business and, for some programs, the owners.
- Patience for reviewSBA targets roughly 60–90 days for 8(a). Incomplete submissions cause most delays.
- Pricing will be published at launch
- SBA charges nothing to apply — any fee will be for preparation only
Registration comes before certification. You need an active SAM.gov registration, a UEI and a CAGE code before an SBA certification application will go anywhere. Doing them in the wrong order is a common way businesses lose weeks.
Not for set-aside awards. Checking a box in your SAM.gov profile is self-identification, not certification. To win contracts reserved under 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB/EDWOSB or SDVOSB you must hold the SBA certification at the time of offer and award.
It varies by program and by how complete the application is. SBA targets roughly 60 to 90 days for 8(a); other programs generally move faster. The biggest cause of delay is an incomplete submission.
No. SAM.gov registration renews annually, HUBZone requires periodic recertification, and 8(a) participation is capped at nine years. SBA can also revoke certification if the business no longer qualifies.
It makes you eligible for work reserved for certified firms, which narrows the field. It does not replace having something the government buys, past performance and a capture effort. Anyone promising otherwise is overselling.