If you've searched "how to register for federal grants" in the last few years, you've probably seen conflicting information about DUNS numbers. Some guides say to get one; others say they were eliminated. Here's the definitive answer.
The Short Version
You do not need a DUNS number. The federal government replaced DUNS numbers with a new identifier called the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) on April 4, 2022. If you're registering for federal grants or contracts today, you only need a UEI — which is assigned automatically when you register on SAM.gov.
What Was a DUNS Number?
A DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) number was a 9-digit identifier issued by Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), a private company. For decades, the federal government required every entity doing business with the government to have one.
The problem: D&B was a private company controlling a key piece of federal procurement infrastructure. Getting a DUNS number required registering with D&B, creating a dependency on a commercial entity for a government process. It also created data consistency issues when D&B's records diverged from SAM.gov records.
What Is a UEI?
A UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is a 12-character alphanumeric identifier issued directly by the General Services Administration (GSA) through SAM.gov. It replaced DUNS numbers for all federal awards purposes.
The transition happened in two stages:
- April 2022: New registrations began receiving UEIs automatically. DUNS numbers were no longer accepted for new awards.
- Existing entities: Organizations already registered in SAM.gov had their DUNS numbers automatically converted to UEIs. They didn't need to do anything.
How to Get a UEI
You don't apply for a UEI separately. It's assigned automatically when you begin registering on SAM.gov.
- Go to SAM.gov and start a new entity registration
- Enter your legal business name and EIN
- SAM.gov assigns your UEI immediately — you'll see it on screen before you even complete the registration
- Save that UEI. You'll use it on every federal application.
The UEI is visible in your SAM.gov workspace at any time after registration.
Do I Still Need to Register with D&B?
No. Dun & Bradstreet no longer has a role in federal registrations. You do not need a D&B account, a DUNS number, or any interaction with D&B as part of federal grant or contract registration.
D&B still exists and still issues DUNS numbers as part of their commercial credit and business intelligence products. Some private-sector organizations (banks, large enterprises) still use DUNS numbers for their own purposes. But for federal awards: DUNS is gone.
What If Old Forms or Guides Ask for a DUNS Number?
Ignore the DUNS field or leave it blank. Some older grant application PDFs, guidance documents, and third-party tutorials still reference DUNS numbers because they haven't been updated. The federal systems themselves no longer accept or require DUNS.
If a federal grant application form has a DUNS field and you can't leave it blank, contact the agency's grants management office — they can confirm the field is legacy and can be ignored.
What If I Had a DUNS Number Before April 2022?
Your old DUNS number was automatically converted to a UEI when the transition happened. You can find your UEI by logging into your SAM.gov account. You don't need to re-register or do anything else.
UEI vs EIN: What's the Difference?
These are different identifiers for different purposes:
- EIN (Employer Identification Number): issued by the IRS, used for federal taxes, opening bank accounts, and business identification in the private sector
- UEI (Unique Entity Identifier): issued by the GSA through SAM.gov, used specifically for federal awards (grants and contracts)
You need both. The EIN comes first (from the IRS), then you use it when registering on SAM.gov to get your UEI.
The Practical Checklist
To be eligible for federal grants and contracts:
- Form your entity (LLC, corporation, etc.)
- Get your EIN from the IRS (free, 5 minutes online)
- Register on SAM.gov → your UEI is assigned automatically
- Wait 7–10 business days for SAM.gov to activate
- Apply for grants through Grants.gov using your UEI
That's it. No D&B. No DUNS. Just SAM.gov.
Founder Kit's federal registration guide walks through each of these steps in order, including links to the exact pages on SAM.gov and IRS.gov you need.