Redstone Government Consulting Blog | System Award Management (SAM)

Contractors are required to keep their System of Award Management (SAM) registration up to date. FAR 52.204-7(b)(1) requires an offeror to be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM) when submitting an offer/quote, registered until the time of award, during performance, and through final payment. Sounds pretty easy. However, contractors are not always registering or updating their registration, resulting in ineligible awards, as noted in recent court cases (See our blog: SAM Registrations: Check Often and Never Let it Lapse!).

On July 9th, 2021, the Department of Defense (DoD)issued a final rule in the Federal Register to implement 10 U.S.C. 2330a which requires the DoD to establish a data collection system to provide certain management information about an awarded contract or task order that is valued in excess of $3 million. This new rule is applicable for the following service acquisition portfolio groups:

• logistics management services
• equipment-related services
• knowledge-based services
• electronics and communications services

You may read the entire rule here.

What is SAM.gov?

SAM.gov is the System for Award Management (SAM) in which businesses must register to contract with the US Government and for non-profits to receive grants. The registration is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. It is recommended to renew 45-60 days prior to expiration.

System for Award Management is a GSA managed application. Businesses desiring to do business with the federal government must ensure they are registered in SAM with accurate information about their business and current representations and certifications.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

We’ve previously released a few blogs on the topic to make our clients and friends aware of the emerging requirement for registration at SAM.gov.  While the Government has not been entirely forthcoming on why this requirement has emerged, there has been a lot of speculation from a data breach to fictitious registrations stemming from a few unscrupulous “consultants” that charge to register entities in SAM.