A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) Code is a 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to entities that conduct business with the federal government. It identifies a commercial or government entity by unique location and is used as a contractor identifier across DoD and other agency procurement systems.

How do I get a CAGE code?

U.S. entities receive a CAGE code automatically as part of registering in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Once you submit a SAM registration, the data is routed to DLA for CAGE Code assignment, then sent back to SAM and included in your Entity Registration. There is no separate application or fee.

How do I look up a CAGE code?

CAGE codes are searchable through the public SAM.gov entity search and through DLA's CAGE Search at cage.dla.mil. You can search by company name, CAGE code, or address. Both tools return the registered entity's name, address, and assignment status.

What is an NCAGE code?

NCAGE (NATO Commercial and Government Entity) is the international equivalent of a CAGE code, used for entities located outside the United States and its territories. NCAGE codes are assigned through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) by the country's national codification bureau and are required for foreign entities before completing a SAM registration.

What's the difference between a CAGE code and a UEI?

The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric ID that identifies a legal entity registered in SAM.gov; it replaced the DUNS number in 2022. The CAGE code is a 5-character ID that identifies a specific physical location of an entity. A single legal entity (one UEI) may have multiple CAGE codes, one per location.

How long is a CAGE code valid?

CAGE codes themselves are perpetual identifiers, but they are tied to active SAM.gov registration. If your SAM registration lapses, your CAGE code remains assigned but your entity becomes ineligible to receive federal awards until the registration is renewed. CAGE codes must also be reviewed and updated when entity information changes.

What format does a CAGE code follow?

A CAGE code is exactly 5 characters, alphanumeric (letters and digits, with the letters I and O excluded to avoid visual confusion with 1 and 0). Example: 0ABC1.

CAGE Codes — Commercial and Government Entity Code Guide

A CAGE code is a 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to every entity that does business with the federal government. U.S. firms get one automatically when they register in SAM.gov; international entities use the NATO equivalent (NCAGE).

What is a CAGE code?

The Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code is a unique 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the DLA CAGE Branch. It identifies a commercial or government entity by physical location and serves as the universal contractor ID across Department of Defense and other federal agency procurement systems — appearing on contract documents, invoices, shipping records, and the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS).

A CAGE code is location-specific: a single company with multiple facilities will have multiple CAGE codes, one for each location. That’s the practical distinction from a UEI, which identifies the legal entity itself.

How to get a CAGE code

For U.S. entities, CAGE assignment is automatic and bundled with SAM.gov registration. The flow is:

Submit your SAM.gov entity registration (free; requires legal business name, physical address, banking information, and NAICS codes).
SAM routes your information to DLA for CAGE assignment.
DLA reviews and assigns a CAGE code, then returns it to SAM.
Your CAGE code appears in your active SAM Entity Registration — typically within 5–10 business days of registration submission.

There is no separate application or fee. Companies that solicit payment for CAGE assignment outside the SAM/DLA process are not authorized; CAGE assignment is always free.

How to look up a CAGE code

Two authoritative public lookup tools exist:

DLA CAGE Search (cage.dla.mil) — DLA’s authoritative CAGE database. Search by CAGE code, company name, or address.
SAM.gov Entity Information — Public entity search showing CAGE alongside UEI, NAICS codes, and registration status. Best for general-purpose contractor research.

GovBeacon does not maintain a CAGE lookup tool — for authoritative CAGE data, always use the DLA or SAM.gov sources directly.

NCAGE codes (for international entities)

Entities located outside the United States and its territories receive NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) codes instead of standard CAGE codes. NCAGE follows the same 5-character alphanumeric format and is assigned by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) through the codification bureau of the entity’s home country. A foreign entity must obtain an NCAGE before it can complete a SAM.gov registration to bid on U.S. federal contracts.

CAGE vs UEI vs DUNS

Identifier	Format	Identifies	Status
CAGE	5 chars alphanumeric	Specific location of an entity	Active
UEI	12 chars alphanumeric	The legal entity itself	Active
DUNS	9 digits	Legal entity (third-party)	Retired (April 2022)

For more on UEI specifically, see the UEI glossary entry.

Frequently asked questions

What is a CAGE code?
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) Code is a 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency to entities that conduct business with the federal government. It identifies a commercial or government entity by unique location and is used as a contractor identifier across DoD and other agency procurement systems.
How do I get a CAGE code?
U.S. entities receive a CAGE code automatically as part of registering in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). Once you submit a SAM registration, the data is routed to DLA for CAGE Code assignment, then sent back to SAM and included in your Entity Registration. There is no separate application or fee.
How do I look up a CAGE code?
CAGE codes are searchable through the public SAM.gov entity search and through DLA's CAGE Search at cage.dla.mil. You can search by company name, CAGE code, or address. Both tools return the registered entity's name, address, and assignment status.
What is an NCAGE code?
NCAGE (NATO Commercial and Government Entity) is the international equivalent of a CAGE code, used for entities located outside the United States and its territories. NCAGE codes are assigned through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) by the country's national codification bureau and are required for foreign entities before completing a SAM registration.
What's the difference between a CAGE code and a UEI?
The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) is a 12-character alphanumeric ID that identifies a legal entity registered in SAM.gov; it replaced the DUNS number in 2022. The CAGE code is a 5-character ID that identifies a specific physical location of an entity. A single legal entity (one UEI) may have multiple CAGE codes, one per location.
How long is a CAGE code valid?
CAGE codes themselves are perpetual identifiers, but they are tied to active SAM.gov registration. If your SAM registration lapses, your CAGE code remains assigned but your entity becomes ineligible to receive federal awards until the registration is renewed. CAGE codes must also be reviewed and updated when entity information changes.
What format does a CAGE code follow?
A CAGE code is exactly 5 characters, alphanumeric (letters and digits, with the letters I and O excluded to avoid visual confusion with 1 and 0). Example: 0ABC1.

Related references

AMSC Codes Reference — acquisition method codes
Source Approval Request Process — qualifying as a new source
UEI (glossary) — Unique Entity Identifier
SAM.gov (glossary) — federal registration system