CAGE Code: What It Is, How to Get One, and How to Look One Up

A CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity code) is a unique five-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to companies that do business with the federal government. It is used by the Department of Defense (DoD), NATO, and other federal agencies to identify contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers in procurement and logistics systems.

CAGE codes are assigned and maintained by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Every entity that registers on SAM.gov — the System for Award Management — receives a CAGE code as part of the registration process. If you want to sell products or services to the federal government, you need one.

Think of a CAGE code as your government contracting business ID number. It appears on your SAM.gov profile, your capability statement, contract documents, and in federal procurement databases. Contracting officers and procurement systems use it to identify your company, verify your registration status, and process payments.

CAGE codes are used across multiple government systems including:

• SAM.gov — required for entity registration and contract opportunities
• Federal Procurement Data System — contract award tracking within SAM.gov
• DIBBS (DLA Internet Bid Board System) — for bidding on DLA solicitations
• FedMall — the DoD's online marketplace
• DPAS (Defense Priorities and Allocations System) — for rated orders

For U.S.-based businesses, the process is straightforward: register on SAM.gov, and your CAGE code is assigned automatically. You do not need to apply separately. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step 1: Go to SAM.gov

Visit SAM.gov and create a Login.gov account if you do not already have one. You will need a valid email address and a way to set up multi-factor authentication.

Step 2: Start Your Entity Registration

Select "Get Started" under Entity Registration and begin the registration process. You will need your company's legal business name, physical address, EIN (Employer Identification Number), and banking information for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

Step 3: Obtain Your UEI

During registration, you will be assigned a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), which replaced the DUNS number as the primary business identifier. The UEI is generated automatically through SAM.gov — no separate application needed.

Step 4: Complete the Full Registration

Fill out all required sections including your business type, NAICS codes, socioeconomic status, and points of contact. Be thorough — incomplete registrations are the number one cause of delays.

Step 5: Receive Your CAGE Code

Once your SAM.gov registration is validated and approved, your information is routed to the DLA for CAGE code assignment. You will receive an email notification with your assigned code. The entire process — from starting registration to receiving your CAGE code — typically takes 7 to 10 business days, though it can extend to 3-5 weeks if your entity information requires additional validation.

Important: SAM.gov registration is completely free. Do not pay third-party companies hundreds or thousands of dollars to register you. The process is designed for businesses to complete on their own.

There are several ways to look up a CAGE code, whether you are searching for your own or researching another company:

1. SAM.gov Entity Search

The most reliable way to look up any CAGE code is through the SAM.gov entity search. You can search by company name, UEI, or CAGE code directly. The results show the entity's registration status, address, NAICS codes, and other details. No account is required to search — entity information is publicly available.

2. DLA CAGE Code Search

The Defense Logistics Agency maintains its own search tool specifically for CAGE and NCAGE codes. This is particularly useful for looking up manufacturers and suppliers in the defense supply chain. Access it through the DLA CAGE program website.

3. Your SAM.gov Profile

If you are looking for your own CAGE code, log into SAM.gov and navigate to your entity registration. Your CAGE code is displayed on your entity dashboard and in your registration details.

Tips for CAGE Code Searches:

• If searching by company name, try variations — the name in the CAGE system may differ slightly from the business's trade name
• CAGE codes are exactly 5 characters — if you have a longer or shorter code, it is not a CAGE code
• An inactive CAGE code does not mean the company is out of business — their SAM registration may have simply lapsed
• Use the CAGE code to cross-reference contract award data on SAM.gov to see what a company has won

If your business is located outside the United States, you need an NCAGE code (NATO Commercial and Government Entity code) instead of a standard CAGE code. NCAGE codes serve the same purpose but are issued through your country's national codification bureau rather than through the DLA.

How to Get an NCAGE Code:

• Visit the NATO NCAGE request portal
• Select your country and submit a request through your nation's codification bureau
• Processing times vary by country but typically take 1-3 weeks
• NCAGE codes are also five characters and follow the same format as CAGE codes

Important for international contractors: You must obtain your NCAGE code before starting your SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov requires the NCAGE code as part of the registration process for foreign entities. Without it, you cannot complete registration and will not be eligible for U.S. federal contracts.

NCAGE codes are recognized across all NATO member nations and are used in defense procurement systems worldwide. If you are a foreign company doing business with any NATO country's military or defense establishment, you likely need one.

Understanding CAGE code expiration rules is critical to maintaining your eligibility for government contracts. The rules changed significantly in August 2016:

CAGE Codes Assigned After August 26, 2016:

These CAGE codes now have an explicit five-year expiration date from the date of last update. This was a major policy change — before 2016, CAGE codes never expired. To keep your CAGE code active, you must maintain a current SAM.gov registration, which requires annual renewal (every 365 days from your submission date). Each SAM renewal resets your CAGE code's five-year clock.

CAGE Codes Assigned Before August 26, 2016:

These legacy CAGE codes do not have expiration dates. However, they can still become inactive if your SAM.gov registration lapses.

What Happens if Your CAGE Code Expires or Goes Inactive:

• You cannot receive contract awards or bid on solicitations
• You cannot receive payments from the government — even on active contracts
• Your company will not appear as active in federal procurement databases
• The CAGE code is not deleted — it can be reactivated by renewing your SAM.gov registration

How to prevent expiration: Set calendar reminders to renew your SAM.gov registration at least 60 days before it expires. The renewal process takes time, and if your registration lapses even briefly, it can disrupt contract performance and payments. Many contractors set a recurring annual reminder immediately after completing their initial registration.

After helping thousands of businesses through the registration process, these are the most common CAGE code problems and their solutions:

1. "I never received my CAGE code after registering on SAM.gov"

The most common cause is that your SAM registration is still being processed or was returned for corrections. Log into SAM.gov and check your entity status. If your registration shows as "Active," your CAGE code should be visible in your entity details. If it is still "Submitted" or "Work in Progress," the DLA has not yet processed your assignment. Allow the full processing window (up to 3-5 weeks) before contacting support.

2. "My CAGE code shows as inactive"

This almost always means your SAM.gov registration has expired. Log into SAM.gov, renew your registration, and your CAGE code will be reactivated automatically once the renewal is processed.

3. "My CAGE code has the wrong company information"

CAGE code records are linked to your SAM.gov registration. To update your CAGE code information (company name, address, etc.), update your SAM.gov registration. Changes will propagate to the CAGE system automatically. For complex changes like mergers or acquisitions, you may need to contact the DLA CAGE Program Office directly.

4. "I have multiple CAGE codes for the same business"

This can happen if your business has registered under different names or addresses over time. Contact the DLA CAGE Program Office to consolidate or deactivate duplicate codes. Having multiple active CAGE codes can cause confusion in procurement systems.

5. "I need a CAGE code but do not want to register on SAM.gov"

In some cases — such as manufacturers who supply parts through distributors but do not contract directly with the government — you can request a CAGE code directly from the DLA without a full SAM.gov registration. Contact the DLA CAGE Program Office at cage@dla.mil for guidance on standalone CAGE code requests.

Government contracting involves several identification numbers, and they serve different purposes. Here is how they relate:

• CAGE Code — A 5-character alphanumeric code assigned by the DLA. Used primarily in defense procurement, logistics, and NATO systems. Obtained automatically through SAM.gov registration.
• UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) — A 12-character alphanumeric identifier that replaced the DUNS number in April 2022. This is now the primary entity identifier across all federal systems. Generated automatically during SAM.gov registration.
• DUNS Number — The former 9-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet. No longer used for federal contracting as of April 2022. If you see references to DUNS numbers in older guides or documents, they should now refer to the UEI.
• EIN (Employer Identification Number) — Your IRS-issued tax ID. This is separate from your contracting identifiers but is required during SAM.gov registration.
• SAM.gov Registration — Not an identifier itself, but the registration platform where you obtain both your UEI and CAGE code. Think of SAM.gov as the hub that connects all your identifiers.

For most government contractors, you will use your UEI as your primary identifier in proposals and correspondence, while your CAGE code appears in contract documents, logistics systems, and your capability statement. Both are essential — make sure you know both numbers and include them on your capability statement.