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What is a CAGE Code?
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is a five-character identifier assigned to businesses that register in SAM.gov. It is used by the Department of Defense and other government agencies to identify your company in procurement and contracting systems.
Why Do You Need a CAGE Code?
- Required for Department of Defense contracting
- Used in many state vendor registration systems
- Identifies your facility and business location in government databases
- Required on many bid and proposal forms
How to Get a CAGE Code
You do NOT need to apply for a CAGE code separately. A CAGE code is automatically assigned when you complete your SAM.gov registration. If you have already registered in SAM.gov and obtained your UEI, your CAGE code was assigned during that process.
To find your CAGE code, log into SAM.gov and view your entity registration details.
What Happened to CCR?
The CCR (Central Contractor Registration) system was the predecessor to SAM.gov. In 2012, CCR, ORCA, EPLS, and several other federal procurement systems were consolidated into the single SAM.gov platform. If you previously registered in CCR, your registration was migrated to SAM.gov.
Summary of Business IDs You Need
- FEIN/EIN — from the IRS (free, immediate)
- UEI — from SAM.gov (free, 7-10 days)
- CAGE Code — automatically assigned with SAM.gov registration
Once you have all three, you’re ready to register as a vendor with individual states.
Last updated: April 2026.