52.204-6 Unique Entity Identifier
Source: FAR 52.204-6 on acquisition.gov
Offerors must provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with their offer, or obtain one through SAM.gov if they do not have it, to ensure eligibility for federal contracts.
Overview
FAR 52.204-6 requires offerors to provide a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) when submitting offers for federal contracts. The UEI is a number or identifier used to uniquely identify commercial, nonprofit, or government entities in federal procurement systems. This provision ensures that each entity is properly identified for contract award, payment, and reporting purposes. If an offeror does not have a UEI, they must obtain one through the designated entity at www.sam.gov, providing specific business information as outlined in the regulation.
Key Rules
- Definition of Unique Entity Identifier and EFT Indicator
- The UEI is a unique number assigned to each entity; the EFT indicator is a suffix used to identify alternative payment accounts.
- Requirement to Provide UEI and EFT Indicator
- Offerors must annotate their UEI (and EFT indicator, if applicable) on the cover page of their offer, matching the name and address exactly as stated in the offer.
- Obtaining a UEI
- Entities without a UEI must contact the designated entity at www.sam.gov and provide detailed business information to obtain one.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Ensure offerors provide a valid UEI and EFT indicator (if applicable) with their offer.
- Contractors/Offerors: Obtain and provide a UEI and EFT indicator as required; ensure information matches the offer.
- Agencies: Oversee compliance and verify the accuracy of submitted identifiers.
Practical Implications
- This provision standardizes entity identification, streamlining contract administration and payment processes.
- Failure to provide a valid UEI can delay or disqualify an offer.
- Contractors must maintain accurate and up-to-date information in SAM.gov to avoid compliance issues.
As prescribed in 4.607(b), insert the following provision:
Unique Entity Identifier (Oct 2016)
(a) Definition. As used in this provision-
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator means a four-character suffix to the unique entity identifier. The suffix is assigned at the discretion of the commercial, nonprofit, or Government entity to establish additional System for Award Management records for identifying alternative EFT accounts (see subpart 32.11) for the same entity.
Unique entity identifier means a number or other identifier used to identify a specific commercial, nonprofit, or Government entity. See http://www.sam.gov" target="_blank">www.sam.gov for the designated entity for establishing unique entity identifiers.
(b) The Offeror shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation "Unique Entity Identifier" followed by the unique entity identifier that identifies the Offeror's name and address exactly as stated in the offer. The Offeror also shall enter its EFT indicator, if applicable.
(c) If the Offeror does not have a unique entity identifier, it should contact the entity designated at http://www.sam.gov" target="_blank">www.sam.gov for establishment of the unique entity identifier directly to obtain one. The Offeror should be prepared to provide the following information:
(1) Company legal business name.
(2) Tradestyle, doing business, or other name by which your entity is commonly recognized.
(3) Company physical street address, city, state and Zip Code.
(4) Company mailing address, city, state and Zip Code (if separate from physical).
(5) Company telephone number.
(6) Date the company was started.
(7) Number of employees at your location.
(8) Chief executive officer/key manager.
(9) Line of business (industry).
(10) Company headquarters name and address (reporting relationship within your entity).
(End of provision)