FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 4: Administrative and Information Matters › Subpart 4.11
FAR 4.1103 Procedures.
The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.
In plain English
This section outlines how contracting officers must verify that an offeror or quoter is registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) before making an award. It also specifies when a contractor must be registered in SAM after award and requires agencies to protect SAM information. Contractors need to be aware of these registration requirements to be eligible for contract awards and to avoid payment delays.
Applies to: Contracting officers and contractors involved in federal acquisitions
What it requires
- Contractor must be registered in SAM within 30 days after contract award or at least three days prior to submission of the first invoice, whichever occurs first, if the contract action is awarded under 4.1102(a)(5).
Key terms: SAM · unique entity identifier · System for Award Management Maintenance · Governmentwide commercial purchase card · Electronic Funds Transfer indicator
Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.
The text
(a) Unless the acquisition is exempt under 4.1102(a), the contracting officer—
(1) Shall verify that the offeror or quoter is registered in SAM (see paragraph (b) of this section) at the time an offer or quotation is submitted;
(2) Should use the unique entity identifier to verify SAM registration—
(i) Via https://www.sam.gov; or
(ii) As otherwise provided by agency procedures; or
(3) Need not verify SAM registration before placing an order or call if the contract or agreement includes the clause at 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance, or a similar agency clause, except when use of the Governmentwide commercial purchase card is contemplated as a method of payment. (See 32.1108(b)(2).)
(b) If the contract action is being awarded in accordance with 4.1102(a)(5), the contractor is required to be registered in SAM within 30 days after contract award, or at least three days prior to submission of the first invoice, whichever occurs first.
(c) Agencies shall protect against improper disclosure of information contained in SAM.
(d) The contracting officer shall, on contractual documents transmitted to the payment office, provide the unique entity identifier, or, if applicable, the Electronic Funds Transfer indicator, in accordance with agency procedures.
← 4.1102 Policy. · 4.1104 Disaster Response Registry. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 4
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 39, 40, and 53 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · final rule 2025-08-27 · effective 2025-10-01
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs ↗ · proposed 2025-06-12
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Controlled Unclassified Information ↗ · proposed 2025-01-15 · comments due 2025-03-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-Related Financial Risk ↗ · proposed 2025-01-13
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Rerepresentation of Size and Socioeconomic Status ↗ · final rule 2025-01-03 · effective 2025-01-17
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Prohibition on Unmanned Aircraft Systems From Covered Foreign Entities ↗ · final rule 2024-12-30
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Inflation Adjustment of Acquisition-Related Thresholds ↗ · proposed 2024-11-29 · comments due 2025-01-28
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.