Federal contracting · lookup
CAGE code lookup, explained
A CAGE code (Commercial and Government Entity code) is a five-character alphanumeric identifier the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) assigns to a business at a specific physical location. It threads through federal contracting, payment, and logistics systems as a compact way to identify a supplier. A domestic entity is issued a CAGE code by DLA; a foreign entity is issued an NCAGE code by its national codification bureau. A single SAM.gov registration carries both the CAGE code and the 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI).
How to look up a CAGE code
- Search DLA CAGE Search. Open cage.dla.mil (DLA CAGE Search) and search by company name, address, or the CAGE code itself. DLA is the agency that issues the code, so this is the authoritative source for the code and the entity it maps to.
- Cross-check the SAM.gov registration. Open the entity's registration at SAM.gov; the registration lists the CAGE code next to the 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI) and the registration status.
- Screen the entity for exclusions and awards. Use Fonteum's procurement screening surface to resolve a CAGE code to its reconciled entity and return the SAM.gov exclusion and USASpending award records on file, each source- and date-stamped.
CAGE code vs. the other federal identifiers
| Identifier | Length | Issued by | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAGE code | 5 characters | Defense Logistics Agency | Supplier ID tied to a specific location; heavy use in defense logistics |
| UEI (Unique Entity ID) | 12 characters | SAM.gov (GSA) | Primary entity identifier for federal registration and awards |
| NCAGE code | 5 characters | National codification bureau | The CAGE equivalent for a foreign entity |
| DUNS number | 9 digits | Dun & Bradstreet (retired) | Retired for federal registration in April 2022; replaced by the UEI |
Checking a CAGE code against the federal exclusion record
A SAM.gov exclusion record carries the excluded party's CAGE code where one is on file, so a CAGE code can be matched directly to an exclusion. In the SAM.gov exclusion extract Fonteum holds, a CAGE code is recorded on a subset of exclusion records — a reminder that the UEI, not the CAGE code, is the complete entity spine.
Source: SAM.gov Exclusions extract, queried 2026-06-20 — 855 active exclusion records carry a CAGE code (384 distinct codes); the rest are keyed on the UEI. Re-derivable from the Federal Suspension & Debarment Scorecard SQL. Confirm current status at SAM.gov →
CAGE code lookup — common questions
What is a CAGE code?
A CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code is a five-character alphanumeric identifier the Defense Logistics Agency assigns to a business at a specific physical location. It is used across federal contracting, payment, and logistics systems to identify a supplier. A domestic CAGE code is issued by DLA; a foreign entity gets an NCAGE code from its national codification bureau.
How do I look up a CAGE code?
Use DLA CAGE Search at cage.dla.mil to look up a code by company name, address, or CAGE code, or open the entity's registration at SAM.gov, which lists the CAGE code alongside the Unique Entity ID (UEI). Both are free and authoritative — DLA issues the code and SAM.gov is the federal registration system of record.
What is the difference between a CAGE code and a UEI?
Both identify a federal entity, but they are issued by different systems. The UEI (Unique Entity ID) is a 12-character code assigned by SAM.gov and is the primary entity identifier for federal awards. The CAGE code is a 5-character code assigned by the DLA, tied to a specific location, and used heavily in defense logistics. A single SAM.gov registration carries both.
Can I check a CAGE code against the federal exclusion list?
Yes. The SAM.gov exclusion record carries the excluded party's CAGE code where one is on file, so a CAGE code can be matched to an exclusion. Fonteum's procurement screening surface resolves a CAGE code to its reconciled entity and returns the exclusion and award records on file, each source- and date-stamped.
Is a CAGE code the same as a DUNS number?
No. The DUNS number was a proprietary D&B identifier the government retired for entity registration in April 2022, replaced by the SAM.gov-assigned UEI. The CAGE code is a separate, still-current government-issued identifier. Fonteum keys its public records on the UEI and reports CAGE where the source publishes it.
Go to the source
- DLA CAGE Search — look up a CAGE code →official source
- SAM.gov — entity registrations →official source
- SAM.gov — federal exclusions →official source
Reviewed by the Fonteum Government Contracts Desk
This page reports how the CAGE code works as published by the DLA and SAM.gov (retrieved 2026-06-20). It names no entity and makes no determination about any party. Codes and registration details change — confirm a specific code at cage.dla.mil. Published 2026-06-20. Part of Fonteum (fonteum.com).