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Announcement
The transition to the System for Award Management (SAM) has begun! While CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS will remain searchable until SAM is live, those systems are no longer accepting new data. Starting Monday, July 30, you'll find the capabilities of those systems here at SAM.gov. Please click here for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SAM?
The System for Award Management (SAM) is combining eight federal procurement systems and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance into one new system.
When will SAM launch?
SAM is being deployed in phases, beginning with the "Entity Management" capability and the Exclusions portion of the "Performance Information" capability. Currently, this first phase is scheduled to be available at the end of July 2012.
Other SAM FAQs
The following document is a compilation of the most frequently asked questions regarding SAM.
SAM Training Materials
Training materials are available online. Some materials are provided below. Others, such as a user guide and webinars to walk you through key functionality, will be provided when SAM goes live.
SAM overview briefing
The following video will provide a summary of the strategy, key advantages, and things to consider regarding SAM.
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing this YouTube-hosted video from your workplace, you may access the same video on a GSA server here.
SAM briefing: Managing users as an administrator
The following video offers a summary of how to manage users, for those individuals who will serve as administrators in SAM.
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing this YouTube-hosted video from your workplace, you may access the same video on a GSA server here.
SAM briefing: Registering new entities in SAM for contracts
Learn how to create an Entity Management registration so that your entity is eligible for Government contracts.
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing this YouTube-hosted video from your workplace, you may access the same video on a GSA server here.
SAM briefing: Registering new entities in SAM for grants and other federal assistance
Register a New Entity in SAM to be Eligible for Grants and Other Federal Assistance.
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing this YouTube-hosted video from your workplace, you may access the same video on a GSA server here.
SAM briefing: Migrating your legacy system roles
Learn how to migrate your permissions from your legacy system account to your new SAM account.
Note: If you are having difficulty accessing this YouTube-hosted video from your workplace, you may access the same video on a GSA server here.
SAM quick start guides
The following one-page presentation files are designed to prepare you to get up and running when SAM goes live at the end of July.
SAM user guide
The following document is the SAM User Guide.
- SAM User Guide (PDF format, 5.5MB)
Resources & documentation
Related links
Acquisition Central/IAE
Acquisition.gov is an E-Gov Initiative that aggregates federal acquisition content by providing one website for regulations, systems, resources, opportunities, and training. This website was designed to create an easily navigable resource to share the efforts to achieve its vision of more efficient and transparent practices through better use of information, people, processes and technology.
Federal Service Desk
The purpose of the Federal Service Desk is provide help to the visitors to the systems (websites) that FSD supports so that they can get the information and assistance they need from those systems.
How Will SAM Benefit Me?
The overarching benefits of SAM include streamlined and integrated processes, elimination of data redundancies, and reduced costs while providing improved capability. There are specific benefits for various users, some of which are highlighted below.
For contractors, assistance award recipients, and others who register in CCR
One login!
With SAM, one user ID and password will provide access to all the capabilities associated with:
- Registering to do business with the government
- Representing/self-certifying as a small business
- Viewing business opportunities
One process!
SAM integrates registration with representations and certifications to create a simplified, streamlined process. It divides data entry into four logical groupings:
- Core data (e.g. name and address, organization type, financial information)
- Assertions (e.g. NAICS, size metrics) and conditional/optional information (proceedings, disaster relief information)
- Reps and certs (e.g. FAR questionnaire)
- Points of contact
One reporting location!
SAM keeps all data in one place, so users enter it only once.
For owners of systems that pull data from legacy systems
One data location and new CSV files and WSDLs!
Capabilities will remain the same, but the data will be consolidated into one location, eliminating data redundancies and potential data conflicts. The configuration of your current data feed will change to align with the consolidated data model. The following documentation is available to support you in modifying your system to maintain the needed data flow:
SAM Extracts and Web Services Overview (May 2012): Provides an explanation of how extracts and web services will be changing in SAM.
SAM Master Extract Mapping v2.6: Version 2.6 of the master extract mapping spreadsheet is new as of 5/22/2012; reclassified TIN field to FOUO extract and revised availability of proceedings information.
SAM technical interface specifications for web services are available. The documentation includes:
- Sample files for each legacy extract type (in CCR format) (new as of 5/22/2012)
- Sample files for each to-be Entity Management extract type (in SAM format) (new as of 5/08/2012)
- Interface documentation and WSDLs for SAM Entity Management and Exclusion web services (new as of 4/28/2012)
- Interface documentation and WSDLs for legacy web services (new as of 4/28/2012)
SAM Extracts and Web Services Q&A: This spreadsheet provides a consolidation of answers to Extracts and Web Services-related questions that have been submitted to askSAM@gsa.gov as of 4/25/2012. Answers highlighted in yellow have been updated since they were originally posted.
Please note: This documentation is for those who need to make changes in the code of their systems in order to continue interfacing with the Phase 1 legacy systems. These are technical documents intended for use by developers.
Please email any questions about interfaces implementation to askSAM@gsa.gov.
For contracting officers
One login!
SAM provides one user ID and password that will provide access to all the capabilities associated with making an award determination:
- Determining appropriate Service Contract Act (SCA) and Davis-Bacon Act (DBA) wages
- Posting a solicitation
- Identifying excluded parties
- Verifying contractor eligibility
- Evaluating contractor and sub-contractor performance
One process!
SAM streamlines and integrates the currently siloed processes to:
- Simplify data entry and review
- Reduce the time required to complete a procurement
One reporting location!
SAM stores all data in one place, allowing for broader reporting capability.
