A free starting point for international businesses exploring U.S. government contracting.
Find official registration guidance, understand country-related purchasing rules, and learn how direct contracts, subcontracts, and Foreign Military Sales differ.
Start with your route
| Your goal | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Sell directly to a U.S. agency | Review the solicitation’s eligibility and registration requirements. Use SAM.gov registration guidance ↗. |
| Supply a prime contractor | Follow the prime’s supplier qualification process and applicable subcontract requirements. Do not assume prime-award registration rules apply identically to every subcontract. |
| Understand a foreign government’s defense purchase | Explore the Foreign Military Sales process ↗ and the LOA explanation below. |
CAGE, NCAGE, and UEI: know the difference
- CAGE: A location-specific identifier assigned by DLA to entities in the United States or its outlying areas.
- NCAGE: The corresponding identifier for entities outside the United States and its outlying areas. For contract registration, obtain it before SAM.gov registration. An NCAGE is not limited to businesses in NATO-member countries.
- Unique Entity ID (UEI): The identifier assigned through SAM.gov. A UEI-only record is different from a complete entity registration.
Use your entity’s physical location and the applicable registration instructions—not ownership nationality alone—to determine the route. See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.204-16 ↗.
Registration: a practical starting checklist
- Confirm the opportunity fits. Read country-of-origin, place-of-performance, security, and eligibility requirements before investing in a bid.
- Prepare consistent business records. Use the same legal business name and physical address across validation, NCAGE, and SAM records.
- Request or verify the NCAGE. Use the appropriate national codification bureau or the NSPA route described in FAR 52.204-16. DLA NATO CAGE guidance ↗ and SAM.gov’s NCAGE request gateway ↗ provide official starting links.
- Complete the appropriate SAM registration. Follow SAM.gov’s current instructions ↗ for validation, representations, and registration. SAM registration and UEI assignment are free.
- Follow the specific solicitation. Registration identifies your entity; it does not establish eligibility for every award.
Country and eligibility resources
There is no single country list that guarantees access to all U.S. government contracts. Use these official lists for the particular question they answer.
| Resource | What it helps you check |
|---|---|
| NATO member countries ↗ | Alliance membership. Membership alone does not establish procurement eligibility. |
| DFARS qualifying countries ↗ | Department of Defense treatment of qualifying-country end products under reciprocal procurement arrangements. This is a different category from NATO membership. |
| FAR designated-country definitions ↗ | Trade-agreement country categories. Check applicability and product origin under the actual solicitation. |
| FAR Part 25 — Foreign Acquisition ↗ | Domestic preferences, trade agreements, and foreign acquisition restrictions. Follow applicable agency supplements and deviations as well. |
What is a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA)?
In Foreign Military Sales (FMS), an LOA is the binding agreement between the U.S. Government and a foreign partner for the transfer of specified defense articles or services. It is a government-to-government instrument, separate from a company’s vendor registration or contract award.
Read DSCA’s LOA definition ↗ · DFARS 225.7302 ↗
Before you pursue an opportunity
Check the solicitation for applicable sourcing restrictions, sanctions, export controls, security and information-handling requirements, and required certifications. Ask the issuing contracting office about unclear solicitation requirements. An NCAGE, SAM registration, or country classification does not override those requirements.
Reviewed October 25, 2026. Educational starting points only; official requirements and country lists can change. External resource links open in a new tab.
