If your business is registered in the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM), you must renew your registration annually.
Be alert: Change is coming!
Whether you are familiar with the SAM renewal process or a newcomer to the process, things are about to change on June 29th.
Beginning June 29, 2018, two changes take place:
- A new login process for SAM takes effect. As a result of the new process, all users attempting to log in to SAM will be automatically be re-directed to create a Login.gov user account. Your current SAM username and password will no longer work beginning on June 29th, and you will be unable to access your SAM account until you have created a Login.gov account. (See “Creating a Login.gov Account” below.)
- You’ll have more time to submit a notarized letter. Businesses who create or update their registration in SAM also will no longer need to have an approved Entity Administrator notarized letter on file before their registration is activated or renewed. Once your SAM account is activated, you’ll have 30 days to submit the notarized letter. (See “Creating a Notarized Letter” below.)
Creating a Login.gov Account
- The email address and password associated with your SAM account.
- Access to the same email account to receive all confirmation emails.
- A working telephone number through which you can receive the security code that will be sent to you from Login.gov.
Remember, once June 29, 2018 arrives, your SAM username and password will be deactivated, and you will no longer be able to access your SAM account with those credentials.
Creating a Notarized Letter
Each business must mail an original, signed notarized letter to GSA’s Federal Service Desk within thirty (30) days of their SAM activation or risk having their SAM registration deactivated.
Because of recent fraudulent activity associated with the SAM database, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a rule in late March 2018 that requires all SAM registrants (“entities”) to provide an original, signed notarized letter identifying your company’s “authorized Entity Administrator.” The notarized letter must follow a strict format. GSA’s notarized letter template is available here: SAM_Notary_Letter_Template_4.12.18_GSA_version
Need help with any step of the SAM registration or renewal process?
Never fear! The Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) will provide you with help at no charge. Simply contact the GTPAC counselor located nearest you; our staff directory is at: http://gtpac.org/team-directory. (Businesses located outside the state of Georgia can obtain free help from their nearest procurement technical assistance center. Consult the national contact list at: http://www.aptac-us.org/find-a-ptac.)
In instances where businesses have federal contract awards or contract payments pending, GTPAC — and the other PTACs across the country — can offer special assistance to expedite the processing of their notarized letters. When contacting your PTAC counselor, be sure to let us know if you are facing either of those two circumstances.
