If you have spent any time looking at government contracting requirements, you have seen CAGE code referenced alongside UEI. They are not the same thing — and understanding the difference saves confusion down the line.
What a CAGE Code Is
CAGE stands for Commercial and Government Entity. A CAGE code is a 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to identify suppliers to the U.S. government and NATO. Every business that contracts with the Department of Defense has one. So does every business registered in SAM.gov.
CAGE codes are used primarily for logistics, procurement tracking, and identity verification across federal systems. They show up on contract awards, vendor databases, and in the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) systems.
CAGE Code vs UEI — What Is the Difference?
Your UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) is assigned by SAM.gov and is the primary identifier for federal procurement purposes — the number that shows up on your SAM.gov entity record, and that contracting officers use to look you up. It replaced the old DUNS number in April 2022.
Your CAGE code is assigned separately by DLA and is primarily used by DoD for vendor identification and logistics systems. Both end up in your SAM.gov registration and travel together through most federal procurement processes.
In practice: you need both. Your UEI is how civilian agencies and DoD find you in procurement systems. Your CAGE code is how DoD logistics and contracting databases track you.
How to Get a CAGE Code
The good news: if you register in SAM.gov, you get a CAGE code automatically. You do not need to apply separately. When your SAM registration is processed, DLA assigns a CAGE code and it populates into your entity record.
If you already have a CAGE code from previous DoD work (before you had a SAM registration), you can link it during the registration process. If your CAGE code has become inactive due to inactivity, it can be reactivated through the CAGE/NCAGE request process at SAM.gov.
What Your CAGE Code Is Used For
Beyond procurement, CAGE codes appear in:
- DD-254 forms (DoD security classification specifications)
- Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) — the DoD invoicing system
- PIEE (Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment) — DoD contracting portal
- DIBBS (DLA Internet Bid Board System) — for DLA supply chain solicitations
- NATO vendor databases if you do international defense work
For civilian-only contractors working with non-DoD agencies, the CAGE code matters less day-to-day. But it is still in your SAM record and may be requested in solicitation responses.
Finding Your CAGE Code
Once your SAM registration is active, you can find your CAGE code by searching your entity on SAM.gov under Entity Registration. It is listed in your entity summary and on your registration PDF.