CAGE Code vs. UEI: Understanding the Difference

Federal contractors frequently confuse the CAGE code and the UEI because both are unique identifiers assigned to businesses doing work with the government. They serve different purposes and are issued by different organizations — knowing the distinction will save you headaches during proposal preparation and contract execution.

What Is the UEI?

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric code assigned by SAM.gov to identify a legal entity for federal financial and award transactions. It replaced the nine-digit DUNS number in April 2022, following a federal mandate to reduce reliance on Dun & Bradstreet as a third-party data provider. The UEI is generated automatically when you register on SAM.gov and does not require a separate application.

What Is the CAGE Code?

The CAGE code is a five-character identifier issued by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to catalog every entity in the federal procurement system. Unlike the UEI, the CAGE code has its roots in military logistics and is used extensively by the Department of Defense, the Defense Logistics Agency, and NATO allies. Every entity that receives a SAM.gov registration is also assigned a CAGE code. Use our CAGE Code Decoder to look up any code instantly.

Key Differences at a Glance

• Issuing authority: UEI = SAM.gov (GSA); CAGE code = DLA
• Length: UEI = 12 characters; CAGE code = 5 characters
• Primary use: UEI = financial awards, grants, contracts; CAGE code = logistics, catalog, defense procurement
• International: UEI is U.S.-centric; CAGE codes have a NATO counterpart called NCAGE codes
• Expiration: Neither expires directly, but your SAM.gov registration (which activates both) must be renewed annually

When Does Each Identifier Appear?

On a federal contract award, both identifiers typically appear. The UEI appears prominently in USASpending.gov data and FPDS records as the primary entity link. The CAGE code appears in contract documents, particularly on DD250 receiving reports, WAWF invoices, and logistics tracking. If you have ever browsed your company's award history on FedAtlas.com, you have seen both identifiers in action.

Can a Company Have Multiple CAGE Codes or UEIs?

Yes. Large organizations with multiple legal entities, divisions operating under different names, or joint ventures may have separate CAGE codes for each registered entity. Each entity has its own SAM.gov registration and UEI. A parent company and its subsidiary are treated as distinct entities with distinct codes. This is important for joint ventures and teaming agreements, where each partner's CAGE code may appear on the same proposal.

What Happened to the DUNS Number?

As of April 2022, the DUNS number is no longer accepted in federal procurement. SAM.gov stopped accepting DUNS-based registrations and migrated all existing records to UEIs. If you had an active SAM.gov registration before the transition, your records were automatically converted. The CAGE code was unaffected by this change — it remains a permanent, parallel identifier maintained by DLA.

Bottom Line

You need both a UEI and a CAGE code to operate as a federal contractor. Both are free, both are assigned through SAM.gov registration, and both must remain active for you to receive contract awards. See our step-by-step registration guide for the full walkthrough, and use the CAGE Code Decoder to verify any code in seconds.