Do Not Pay Quick Reference Card

Is SAM the same thing as EPLS and CCR?

Yes, the System for Award Management (SAM) 

consolidated various databases into one central 

database. The Excluded Parties List System (EPLS), is 

now SAM Exclusion Records, and the Central Contractor 

Registration (CCR), is now SAM Entity Registration 

Records, is included within the centralized SAM 

database.

Does my agency need to use SAM?

In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation 

(FAR) 4.1102 states that prospective contractors shall 

be registered in SAM (which includes online 

representations and certifications) prior to contract 

award (with some exceptions) and FAR clause 52.204-7

(b)(1) currently requires the offeror to acknowledge the 

requirements that a prospective awardee shall be 

registered in SAM prior to award.

The FAR states the following about exclusions: 

“Contractors debarred, suspended, or proposed for 

debarment are excluded from receiving contracts, and 

agencies shall not solicit offers from, award contracts 

to, or consent to subcontracts with these contractors, 

unless the agency head determines that there is a 

compelling reason for such action (see 9.405-1(a)(2), 

9.405-2, 9.406-1(c), 9.407-1(d), and 23.506(e)). 

Contractors debarred, suspended, or proposed for 

debarment are also excluded from conducting business 

with the Government as agents or representatives of 

other contractors.

What is the difference between SAM Exclusion 

Records and SAM Entity Registration Records?

SAM Exclusion Records contains the data for all active 

exclusion records entered by the federal government 

identifying those parties excluded from receiving 

federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and federal 

financial and non-financial assistance and benefits.

Does DNP show if an entity has federal debt in 

SAM?

Yes, the Debt Subject to Offset data element displays 

Values: Y and N. Yes/No flag (whether entity has a 

delinquent federal debt. A non-entry [-] indicates that this 

registrant has not yet been verified with Treasury. Foreign 

registrations are not verified. DNP also offers access to 

the Treasury Offset Program (TOP) Debt Check data source 

which provides federal debt data. You must request 

access to TOP Debt Check in addition to the SAM data 

sources.

How do I gain access to SAM through DNP?

To initiate the DNP enrollment process, send an e-mail to 

donotpay@fiscal.treasury.gov or contact 1-855-837-4391.

DNP compiled the content of this Quick Reference Card to provide answers to frequently asked questions related to SAM. Content was found through research of the data source website, 

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-21-19. DNP does not own content listed within this data source.

SAM Entity Registration Records contains entity 

registration data publicly available under the Freedom of 

Information Act for those entities registered in SAM to 

do business with the federal government.

DNP recommends agencies access both data sources. 

Entities may have self-registered in SAM Entity 

Registration Records but may also have an active 

exclusion in SAM Exclusion Records that could prevent 

payment or federal assistance eligibility.

How will SAM appear in DNP?

For legal and privacy reasons, DNP offers SAM to federal 

agencies as separate data sources, SAM Exclusion 

Records and SAM Entity Registration Records. See pages 

2-4 for available data elements in a match result 

returned in the DNP Portal for an Online search.

How frequently is SAM updated within DNP?

SAM data sources are refreshed daily within the DNP 

Portal ensuring up-to-date results.

Why do some matches appear different through 

SAM and DNP?

DNP receives data directly from SAM but only returns 

limited data fields through the DNP application.

How should I investigate an excluded match?

Contact the excluding agency identified in the match 

result for further exclusion details. Payment or federal 

award eligibility may be determined by comparing the 

exclusion details to your internal business requirements.

How do I reduce false positives?

DNP offers access to restricted data sources which 

provide conclusive matches. See the Public vs. 

Restricted section.

Restricted vs. Public

Content provided in the DNP Portal is classified as Public

or Restricted. Eligibility to access Public and Restricted 

data sources in the DNP Portal are subject to the DNP 

legal review of the agency routine use of the data.

Restricted

DNP considers a Restricted data source one that requires 

approved or controlled access and is not available to the 

general public.

Public

DNP considers a Public data source one that is available 

without controls or restrictions to the general public.

How To Fix Incorrect Data

DNP does not own the data that appears within SAM and 

is unable to update its content. Contact SAM for data 

inquiries or disputes.

SAM Federal Service Desk

866-606-8220

www.fsd.gov

Frequently Asked Questions
Data Elements Returned in the DNP Portal for SAM Exclusion Records

When a match occurs, the search criteria along with the corresponding SAM data elements will be returned through 

the search method utilized within the DNP Portal.

SAM Exclusion Records Types

Ineligible (Proceedings Pending)

Cause: Preliminary ineligible based upon adequate evidence 

of conduct indicating a lack of business honesty or integrity, 

or a lack of business integrity, or regulation, statute, executive 

order or other legal authority, pending completion of an 

investigation and/or legal proceedings; or based upon 

initiation of proceedings to determine final ineligibility based 

upon regulation, statute, executive order or other legal 

authority or a lack of business integrity or a preponderance of 

the evidence of any other cause of a serious and compelling 

nature that it affects present responsibility.

Ineligible (Proceedings Completed)

Cause: Determined ineligible upon completion of 

administrative proceedings establishing by preponderance of 

the evidence of a cause of a serious and compelling nature 

that it affects present responsibility; or determined ineligible 

based on other regulation, statute, executive order or legal 

authority.

Prohibition/Restriction

Cause: May be subject to sanctions pursuant to the conditions 

imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury: Office of 

Foreign Assets Control, or subject to a sanction, restriction or 

partial denial pursuant to the conditions imposed by the U.S. 

Department of State or federal agency of the U.S. 

Government.

Voluntary Exclusion

Cause: Accepted an agreement to be excluded under the 

terms of a settlement between the person and one or more 

agencies.

Exclusion Types categorize an exclusion available through 

SAM Exclusion Records based official proceedings or 

restrictions as outlined in SAM.gov. For further details on 

Exclusion Types, see the Important Links section.

Data Element Definition

SSN/EIN/TIN (SAM 

Exclusion-Restricted only)

Social Security Number / Employer Identification Number / Taxpayer Identification Number of the 

individual or entity on the exclusions list.

Name Full name of individual or entity on the exclusions list.

Unique Entity Identifier 

(UEI)

A twelve-character alpha numeric identifier assigned to registered entities by the General 

Services Administration (GSA) for use within the System of Award Management (SAM).

Agency UEI UEI of the agency that registered the exclusion.

Exclusion Program Identifies if the exclusion is Reciprocal, Nonprocurement, or Procurement.

Exclusion Type

Identifies the exclusion type that the exclusion falls under. Exclusion type is the successor to the 

CT code identifying the exclusion reason. Exclusion Type is a simplified, easier to understand way 

of identifying exclusion reasons. The types are generally “Prohibition/Restriction”, "Voluntary 

Exclusion", or “Ineligible”. In some cases the type may indicate “Proceedings Pending” or 

“Proceedings Completed.”

Exclusion Description This field provides the Agency performing the exclusion space to enter additional information as 

necessary, often an explanation on why the entity is being excluded.

Exclusion Date Identifies the date that the exclusion is/was to be terminated. If "indefinite" is in this field, there 

is no set date that the exclusion will terminate.

Agency The name of the agency that assigned the exclusion to the entity or individual.

Cage Code

Commercial And Government Entity (CAGE) Code is a five-character ID number used extensively 

within the federal government, assigned by the Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics 

Agency (DLA).

SAM Number

The internal number used by SAM to identify exclusion records—since only Firm exclusion 

records are required to have a UEI, SAM needed a way to uniquely track exclusion records of 

other Classification Types.

Action Date The date that the exclusion became active.

Create Date Identifies when the data was first entered into SAM Exclusions.

National Provider 

Identifier (NPI)

The NPI replaced the Unique Personal identification Number (UPIN) as the unique number used 

to identify health care providers other than by Social Security Numbers (SSNs). The Centers for 

Medicaid & Medicare Services first began assigning NPIs in 2006, and providers were required to 

use NPIs as of mid-2008.

Address, City, State, 

Country, Zip Address of the individual or entity on the exclusions list.

Classification Classification Type: Individual, Firm, Vessel, or Special Entity Designation

Important Links

SAM FAQs

https://sam.gov/content/help

Do Not Pay

Data Correction Contacts

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/dnp/privacy-program.html#datacorrection-process

FAQs

https://fiscal.treasury.gov/dnp/faqs.html
Data Elements Returned in the DNP Portal for SAM Entity Registration Records

When a match occurs, the search criteria along with the corresponding SAM data elements will be returned through the search method utilized within the DNP Portal.

Data Element Definition

Registration Status Current status of the registration. It is the SAM Extract Code field in the 

monthly SAM Entity file. Values are Active and Expired.

CAGE / NCAGE

Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) / NATO Commercial and 

Government Entity (NCAGE) is a unique identifier assigned to an entity which 

provides a standardized method of identifying a given facility at a specific 

location.

Legal Business Name SAM Legal Business Name.

Doing Business As (DBA) The commonly used other name, such as a franchise, licensee name, or an 

acronym. This name must be different from the Legal Business Name.

Division Name Company Division Name. If you do business or are identified as a division of a 

larger company.

Division Number Company Division Number. If a number identifier commonly distinguishes your 

division.

Company Uniform 

Resource Locator (URL) Corporate URL. Entity's web page URL.

Unique Entity Identifier 

(UEI)

A twelve-character alpha-numeric identifier assigned to registered entities by 

the General Services Administration (GSA) for use within the System of Award 

Management (SAM).

Electronic Funds 

Transfer (EFT) Indicator

A four-character suffix to the UEI. The suffix is assigned at the discretion of the 

commercial, nonprofit, or government entity to establish additional SAM 

records for identifying alternative EFT accounts for the same entity. Used to 

identify alternative EFT accounts for the same entity at the same physical 

location.

DoDAAC

The Department of Defense Activity Address Code (DoDAAC) is a six position 

code that uniquely identifies a Department of Defense (DOD) unit, activity, or 

organization that has the authority to requisition, contract for, receive, have 

custody of, issue, or ship DOD assets, or fund/pay bills for materials and/or 

services.

SSN/EIN/TIN

Social Security Number / Employer Identification Number / Taxpayer 

Identification Number of the individual or entity on the entity registration list.

Financial Institution The name of the bank to use for EFT/banking purposes.

ABA Routing Number American Banking Routing ID is a financial institution's nine-digit routing 

transit number assigned by the American Banking Association (ABA).

Account Number Account number to which EFT payments are deposited. If an award is received, 

the Federal Government will use this information to process the payment.

Account Type Account Type: C=Checking or S=Savings

Activation Date The date on which the SAM Entity Registration Record was activated.

Data Element Definition

Authorization Date

The date the registered entity authorized the use of the financial information 

included in the SAM Registration Record related to the acquisition of 

government goods or services.

Initial Registration Date The date on which the entity was first registered with SAM.

Fiscal Year End Close 

Date

The date on which the entity ends their fiscal year; this is the same day/month 

every year for a given entity.

Last Updated Date The date on which the SAM Entity Registration Record was last updated.

Physical Street Address 1 D&B Registration Physical Street Address 1

Physical Street Address 2 D&B Registration Physical Street Address 2

Physical City D&B Registration Physical City

Physical State D&B Registration Physical State

Physical Foreign Province D&B Registration Physical Foreign Province

Physical Zip D&B Registration Physical Zip Code

Physical Country D&B Registration Physical Country

Mailing Name Mailing Name. Full name: First, Middle, and Last. Comes from the Government 

Business Point of Contact name fields.

Mailing Street Address 1 Mailing Street Address 1 (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing Street Address 2 Mailing Street Address 2 (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing City Mailing City (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing State Mailing State (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing Foreign Province Mailing Foreign Province (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing Zip Mailing Zip Code (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Mailing Country Mailing Country (if unable to receive mail at physical address.)

Business Start Date Date the entity was formed or established.

Expiration Date The date when the entity's registration expires.

Debt Subject to Offset

Debt Subject to Offset. Values: Y and N. Yes/No flag (whether entity has a 

delinquent federal debt. A non-entry [-] indicates that this registrant has not 

yet been verified with Treasury. Foreign registrations are not verified.
Data Elements Returned in the DNP Portal for SAM Entity Registration Records (Cont.)

The following are subfield data elements selectable within the DNP Portal. All subfields are automatically included in the report generated by the Save/Print Detail hyperlink.

Organization Code 

Data Element Definition

Organization Code

The structure of the entity as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

Example values include 2J-Sole Proprietorship, 2L-Corporate Entity (Not Tax 

Exempt), CY-Country - Foreign Government, and X6-International 

Organization.

Business Code Data 

Element Definition

Business Code 

Description

Translation of a 2 digit Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Type code 

into a textual description of the code. Examples include: 20: Foreign Owned 

and Located, A3: Labor Surplus Area Firm, A2: Woman Owned Business, 23: 

Minority Owned Business, etc.

Disaster Response 

Data Element Definition

Display Description Textual description of the Area Served or the services rendered for the 

Disaster Response Registry. Example value is "Geographic Area Served.”

Display Value The state, city, county, or MSA where the service was rendered. Examples: 

"Any Area- Any Area" and "State - North Carolina."

NAICS Data 

Element Definition

Emerging Small Business 

Indicator

Any small business concern whose size is no greater than 50 percent of the 

numerical size standard applicable to the Standard Industrial Classification 

( SIC ) code assigned to a contracting opportunity.

NAICS Code North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes. A method for 

classifying business establishments.

NAICS Description Expanded definition of NAICS Code.

Small Business Indicator Certified as a Small Business by the Small Business Administration.

Product Service 

Code Data Element Definition

Product Service Code

Four-character, and alpha-numeric codes. Product service codes are used by 

the United States government to describe the products, services, and research 

and development purchased by the government.

Product Service Code 

Description

Textual description of Product Service Code. Explains the meaning of the four 

digit code.

Federal Supply 

Classification Data 

Element

Definition

Federal Supply 

Classification Code

Federal Supply Classification Code: A subset of Product Service Code. Federal 

Supply Class (FSC) codes are used to group products into logical families for 

management purposes. They are four-digit fields.

Federal Supply 

Classification Description

Textual description of Federal Supply Classification Code. Explains the 

meaning of the four digit FSC.

SBA Code Data 

Element Definition

SBA Code Small Business Administration Code. Examples include: A4, A6, JT, XX

SBA Description Textual description of the SBA Code

Address 

Information 

Data Element

Definition

Name Point of Contact name

Address 1 The first line of the address

Address 2 The second line of the address

Address Type Code Indicates which address type is captured

City City

State State

Fax Fax Number

Foreign Province Foreign Province; if outside the United States, this would be the Province of 

the foreign country

Country Country

US Phone US Phone Number

Zip Postal Zip Code