FAR 4.1802—Policy.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 4.1802 establishes the policy for collecting and recording Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) information in federal contracting. It covers when offerors must provide their own CAGE code, when the contracting officer must place that code in the contract and related electronic data transmissions, and when an offeror must also identify the CAGE code and legal name of any parent or controlling entity. The rule applies before award of contract actions above the micro-purchase threshold, but only when the solicitation or procurement also requires SAM registration or a unique entity identifier. In practice, this section helps the Government accurately identify the legal business entity it is awarding to, supports data integrity across procurement systems, and reduces confusion where a company is owned or controlled by another entity. It is especially important for award processing, contract administration, and automated reporting because the CAGE code is used as a key identifier in federal acquisition systems.
Key Rules
Offeror must provide CAGE code
Before award of a contract action above the micro-purchase threshold, an offeror must give the contracting officer the CAGE code assigned to the offeror’s location when SAM registration is required or the solicitation requires a unique entity identifier. This ties the offeror to the correct physical location and entity record for award processing.
CO must include CAGE code
When the offeror provides the CAGE code under paragraph (a)(1), the contracting officer must include that code in the contract and in any electronic transmission of contract data to other systems. This ensures the award record is consistent across procurement and reporting systems.
Ownership or control disclosure required
If the offeror is owned or controlled by another entity, the offeror must provide the contracting officer the CAGE code and legal name of that other entity before award, again when SAM registration or a unique entity identifier is required. This gives the Government visibility into the controlling relationship behind the offeror.
Applies only above micro-purchase threshold
These disclosure requirements are triggered only for contract actions above the micro-purchase threshold. Below that threshold, this section does not impose the same CAGE disclosure requirement.
Linked to SAM or UEI requirements
The rule is not universal for every procurement; it applies when the solicitation or procurement includes a requirement to be registered in SAM or to have a unique entity identifier. That linkage makes the CAGE requirement part of the broader entity-validation process.
Responsibilities
Offeror
Provide the contracting officer the CAGE code for the offeror’s location before award when the action is above the micro-purchase threshold and SAM registration or a UEI requirement applies. If the offeror is owned or controlled by another entity, also provide that entity’s CAGE code and legal name before award.
Contracting Officer
Obtain and verify the required CAGE information before award, include the contractor’s CAGE code in the contract when provided under this section, and ensure the code is carried into any electronic transmission of contract data to other systems.
Agency/Procurement Systems
Receive and store the CAGE information in contract records and downstream systems so award data remains consistent across reporting, administration, and integration platforms.
Practical Implications
Contractors should make sure their SAM record, UEI information, and CAGE code are aligned before submitting an offer, because mismatches can delay award.
If a company is part of a parent-subsidiary or controlled-entity structure, the offeror should be ready to identify the controlling entity’s legal name and CAGE code; this is a common source of omissions.
Contracting officers should check that the CAGE code provided matches the offeror’s location and entity record, especially when the offeror operates from multiple sites.
Because the rule affects electronic transmissions as well as the paper or contract file, errors can propagate into downstream systems and create reporting or administration problems.
The requirement is tied to award timing, so missing CAGE information can become a pre-award compliance issue rather than a post-award cleanup item.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Commercial and Government Entity code. (1) Offerors shall provide the contracting officer the CAGE code assigned to that offeror's location prior to the award of a contract action above the micro-purchase threshold, when there is a requirement to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) or a requirement to have a unique entity identifier in the solicitation. (2) The contracting officer shall include the contractor’s CAGE code in the contract and in any electronic transmissions of the contract data to other systems when it is provided in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section. (b) Ownership or control of offeror. Offerors, if owned or controlled by another entity, shall provide the contracting officer with the CAGE code and legal name of that entity prior to the award of a contract action above the micro-purchase threshold, when there is a requirement to be registered in SAM or a requirement to have a unique entity identifier in the solicitation.