REMINDER–Annual DUNS Number Registration Renewal with System for Award Management Database

Author
Federal Student Aid
Subject
REMINDER–Annual DUNS Number Registration Renewal with System for Award Management Database

Note: The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is no longer expected to be implemented in December 2020. Currently, there is no new timeline established for the UEI initiative. If this initiative moves forward at a later time, we will provide information in future Electronic Announcements. Schools are still encouraged to complete their DUNS number registration renewals each year.

The G5 website verifies the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in the System for Award Management (SAM) website before carrying out administrative actions that involve a DUNS number. These actions could include making an award and performing DUNS number changes or reassignments. To ensure that administrative actions can be completed for Title IV recipients, schools must have “active” DUNS numbers by registering their grantee and payee DUNS numbers in the SAM website (https://www.sam.gov). This announcement is a reminder that all schools must complete the registration confirmation of their DUNS number annually.

Though registration of active DUNS numbers in the SAM system is not currently mandatory, Federal Student Aid requests all schools to complete the registration of their DUNS number as soon as possible. Completing the registration process now will allow schools to be automatically set up to later receive a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), a new school identifier expected to be implemented in all Department of Education systems (as well as government-wide) in December 2020. We will provide additional information and guidance about the UEI in forthcoming communications.

To complete the registration, a school must first create a SAM user account. Once the SAM user account is created, the school can log in to register each DUNS number associated with programs for which the school expects to receive funds from the Department of Education (the Department).

Other Reminders:

  • If a school’s Payee DUNS number is different than its Grantee DUNS number, it must register both numbers.

  • If a school has multiple DUNS numbers, it must register each of them individually.

  • Schools should allow 10-12 business days after completing the process for the registration to be active in SAM.

  • After completing the registration process, schools will receive reminder emails as they approach their annual renewal deadline. Reminder emails are sent at 60 days and 30 days before a school’s renewal deadline and are sent to the Point of Contact (POC) and alternate POC on file.

Contact Information

Additional information about registering a DUNS number can be found in the user guides located under the “HELP” tab on the SAM website. If you still have questions about the SAM website or the DUNS number registration process, contact the Federal Service Desk at 1-866-606-8220.