FAR 4.1803—Verifying CAGE codes prior to award.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 4.1803 addresses how contracting officers must verify a contractor’s Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code before award. It covers two verification paths: first, checking the offeror’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM), where an active registration indicates the associated CAGE code has already been verified; and second, for entities that are not required to register in SAM, validating the CAGE code through the Defense Logistics Agency’s CAGE code search feature at https://cage.dla.mil. The purpose of the rule is to ensure the government awards only to entities whose identifying code is accurate and validated, which supports proper entity identification, reduces award-processing errors, and helps prevent misidentification or fraud. In practice, this means the contracting officer must not rely on an unverified code or assume a code is correct simply because it appears in an offer. The section is narrow, but operationally important because CAGE code accuracy affects award documentation, payment setup, and downstream contract administration.
Key Rules
Verify through SAM first
For offerors required to be registered in SAM, the contracting officer must verify the CAGE code by reviewing the entity’s SAM registration. An active SAM registration is treated as confirmation that the associated CAGE code has been verified.
Use DLA search when SAM does not apply
If the entity is not required to be registered in SAM, the contracting officer must validate the CAGE code using the CAGE code search feature at https://cage.dla.mil. This is the required alternate verification method for non-SAM entities.
Verification is a pre-award duty
The rule requires verification before award, not after. The contracting officer must complete the check as part of the award decision process so the government does not award based on an unvalidated identifier.
CAGE code must be associated with the entity
The verification is not just about whether a code exists; it is about confirming the code is tied to the specific offeror/entity being considered for award. This helps ensure the correct legal entity is being awarded the contract.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Must verify the offeror’s CAGE code before award by checking SAM for entities required to register there, or by using the DLA CAGE code search for entities not required to register in SAM. The contracting officer is responsible for ensuring the code is validated and tied to the correct entity.
Offeror / Contractor
Must provide accurate entity information and a valid CAGE code as part of its offer or registration information. If the entity is required to be in SAM, it must maintain an active registration so the contracting officer can rely on SAM verification.
Agency
Must support acquisition processes that depend on accurate entity identification and ensure contracting personnel follow the required verification method before award. The agency also relies on the verified code for proper award processing and recordkeeping.
Practical Implications
Contracting officers should treat CAGE verification as a mandatory pre-award check, not a clerical formality.
An active SAM registration simplifies verification, but it does not eliminate the need to confirm the registration is current and tied to the correct offeror.
For entities outside SAM requirements, officers must use the DLA search tool rather than relying on the offeror’s statement or a prior record.
A common pitfall is assuming a CAGE code is valid because it appears in a proposal or past contract file; the rule requires current verification for the specific award action.
If the CAGE code cannot be validated, award processing may be delayed until the discrepancy is resolved, so early checking can prevent last-minute award problems.
Official Regulatory Text
(a) Contracting officers shall verify the offeror’s CAGE code by reviewing the entity’s registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Active registrations in SAM have had the associated CAGE codes verified. (b) For entities not required to be registered in SAM, the contracting officer shall validate the CAGE code using the CAGE code search feature at https://cage.dla.mil .