# How to Get a DUNS Number 

## Breadcrumb

-  Home 
-  Resources 
-  How to Get a DUNS Number  

If you are entering into a partnership agreement, a federal contract, or grant agreement with NRCS you will need a Federal Tax Identification Number — a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) —for the purposes of identification.

### Who Needs a DUNS Number?

If you are entering into a cooperative, contribution, interagency, partnership agreement, a federal contract, or grant agreement with NRCS and you use an **Employer Identification Number** (EIN), also referred to as a Tax Identification Number (TIN), you will need a **Data Universal Numbering System** (DUNS) number and be registered with the **System for Award Management** (SAM). These entities must register with SAM to receive payments. If you enter into the contract, agreement, or grant with NRCS as an individual person and use your social security number as your TIN, you DO NOT need to obtain a DUNS number or SAM registration.

### DUNS Number

**DUNS** is Dun & Bradstreet's (D&B) "Data Universal Numbering System".  It is a copyrighted, proprietary means of identifying business entities on a location-specific basis. 

A **DUNS number** is a unique nine-character identification number Dun & Bradstreet **provides free of charge.**

### SAM

The **System for Award Management**(SAM) is the Official U.S. Government system that consolidates the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), Federal Contract Registry (FedReg), Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA), and Excluded Parties List System (EPLS). 

Business entities that have obtained a DUNS number must register annually on SAM to be eligible to receive financial assistance. 

**There is NO charge to register or maintain your entity registration record in SAM.**

##   Attention

**Effective March 23, 2018**, landowners and producers who participate in Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) financial assistance programs and conservation easement programs as a legal entity are now exempt from the requirement to obtain a DUNS number or to register SAM. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (2018 Omnibus Bill), exempted landowners and producers participating in NRCS conservation programs from these requirements. *If you are a landowner or producer operating as a legal entity and are interested in participating in an NRCS conservation program on land you own or control, you are no longer required to obtain a DUNS number or be registered in SAM to be eligible to participate.*

NRCS does enter into Federal contracts, grants, and agreements with parties that are not landowners or producers. These customers continue to be subject to the DUNS and SAM registration and reporting requirements. The exemption does not apply to any current or future agreements or federal contracts with eligible entities, project sponsors, vendors, partners, or other non-exempt landowners or producers.

DUNS_SAMS_Fact_sheet.pdf(1.08 MB)

## How to Get a DUNS Number

### Step 1: Obtain a DUNS Number

Your entity may obtain a DUNS number in two ways:
              -  **By Toll-Free Telephone**  Business entities may request the DUNS number by calling a toll-free telephone number: 1-(866) 705-5711. Tell the operator that you are applying to a Federal financial assistance program and need to register for a DUNS number. 
              -  **Over The Web**  Business entities can also obtain a DUNS number through D&B's Web site at:https://www.dnb.com/duns/get-a-duns.html?search 

To complete the process to obtain a DUNS number, you will need to provide the following information:
              - Legal name of your business entity
              - Address
              - Phone number
              - Name of the CEO or business owner
              - Legal structure or type of business (corporation, partnership, proprietorship, etc.)
              - Year the entity was created
              - Primary line of business
              - Total number of employees (full- and part-time)

**Note:** Obtaining a DUNS number places your organization on D&B’s marketing list that is sold to other companies. You can request not to be added to this list during your application. D&B should not charge you a fee for requesting a DUNS number. You are also not obligated to purchase any of their products as a condition to obtain DUNS. It may take 2 -3 days for you to obtain a DUNS number.

### Step 2: Register on SAM.gov

Once you have been assigned a DUNS number, **you must annually register on SAM.gov to remain eligible** to receive program financial assistance. To complete the process on SAM, you will need the same kind of information used to obtain your DUNS number as well as your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and other data to complete registration and reporting requirements.

If your organization has the necessary information ready, online registration will take about 30 minutes to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of your business entity. It may take 3 business days or up to 2 weeks before your SAM registration becomes active.

If you are updating or renewing your registration information it will take approximately 24 hours to become active.