Before a government agency can issue a purchase order or award a contract to a vendor, they need to verify that vendor is legitimate, registered, and compliant with federal requirements. The CAGE code is one of the primary tools the federal government uses to identify, vet, and track contractors throughout the procurement lifecycle. Whether you are a contracting officer verifying a new supplier or a business preparing to compete for federal work, understanding CAGE codes is an essential first step.

One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) CAGE code is 9ME14 — active through April 2, 2027, and registered in SAM.gov under UEI QGV1XE1RXLN4.

What Is a CAGE Code?

CAGE stands for Commercial and Government Entity code. It is a five-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to every vendor establishment that does business with the U.S. federal government. The word “establishment” is important: a company with multiple physical locations may hold a separate CAGE code for each facility, since the code is tied to a specific address rather than just a corporate entity.

CAGE codes are required for virtually every type of federal business transaction, including:

All federal contracts and subcontracts above the micro-purchase threshold
Department of Defense (DoD) purchases and delivery orders
GSA Schedule (Multiple Award Schedule) contracts and task orders
Federal grants and cooperative agreements
Any procurement requiring SAM.gov registration

The system is administered through SAM.gov (System for Award Management), the federal government’s centralized vendor registration and award database. For international procurement involving NATO allies and partner nations, a parallel system called the NCAGE (NATO CAGE) code is used, assigned through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

CAGE Code vs. UEI vs. DUNS — What Is the Difference?

Procurement documents frequently reference three different identifiers, and confusion between them is common. Here is how they differ:

Identifier	What It Is	Assigned By	Format
CAGE Code	Physical establishment identifier for federal vendors	Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)	5-character alphanumeric (e.g., 9ME14)
UEI	Unique Entity Identifier — replaced DUNS in April 2022 as the primary SAM.gov identifier	SAM.gov	12-character alphanumeric (e.g., QGV1XE1RXLN4)
DUNS	Legacy 9-digit Dun & Bradstreet number — still referenced on older contracts but no longer required for new registrations	Dun & Bradstreet	9-digit numeric (e.g., 119013319)

For any procurement initiated after April 2022, the UEI is the primary identifier in SAM.gov. However, all three identifiers may appear on existing contracts and vendor records. The CAGE code remains a separate and distinct credential — it is tied to a physical location, whereas the UEI is tied to the legal entity.

For reference, One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) identifiers are: CAGE 9ME14 | UEI QGV1XE1RXLN4 | DUNS 119013319.

Why Does a CAGE Code Matter to Procurement Officers?

For a contracting officer or purchasing agent, the CAGE code is more than a reference number — it is a gateway to a vendor’s complete compliance profile. When you look up a CAGE code in SAM.gov, you are able to verify:

SAM registration status: Is the registration Active or Expired? An expired registration means the vendor legally cannot receive a federal contract award. This is the single most common compliance issue procurement officers encounter.
Active exclusions: Is the vendor debarred or suspended from federal contracting? The exclusions check is mandatory before issuing any award.
Business type and certifications: Small business, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, and other socioeconomic designations that affect set-aside eligibility.
NAICS codes: Confirms the vendor’s listed capabilities align with the procurement category.
Representations and certifications: Including TAA compliance (Trade Agreements Act), Section 889 compliance (NDAA 2019 prohibition on certain Chinese telecommunications equipment), and Buy American Act representations.
Physical establishment address: Confirms the vendor’s actual location, which matters for domestic sourcing rules and delivery logistics.

In short, a single CAGE code lookup in SAM.gov gives a procurement officer everything they need to confirm a vendor is eligible, compliant, and ready to receive an award. Skipping this step before issuing a purchase order is a common source of post-award compliance problems.

How to Look Up a CAGE Code: Step-by-Step

CAGE code lookup is free and requires no login. Here is how to do it:

Go to sam.gov
Click Search in the top navigation, then select Entity Information
In the search field, enter either the vendor’s CAGE code directly, or search by company name and filter results
Open the entity record and review: Registration Status (Active/Expired/Inactive), Expiration Date, Business Types, NAICS Codes, and Representations & Certifications
Check the Exclusions tab to confirm the vendor is not debarred or suspended

Always verify the registration is currently Active before issuing a purchase order or contract award. An “Expired” status means the vendor has not completed their annual renewal and is not eligible to receive federal awards — regardless of whether they held an active registration in the past.

To verify One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC), search CAGE code 9ME14 or UEI QGV1XE1RXLN4 at sam.gov. Registration is active through April 2, 2027.

What Is SAM.gov Registration and Why Is It Required?

SAM.gov — the System for Award Management — is the federal government’s authoritative database for vendor registration, contract award data, and exclusions. Registration in SAM.gov is mandated by FAR 4.1102 for all prime contractors performing work above the micro-purchase threshold (currently $10,000). Without an active SAM.gov registration, a vendor cannot legally receive a federal contract award, be added to a GSA Schedule, or be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT).

The SAM.gov registration record includes:

Entity information (legal name, DBA name, physical address, points of contact)
Banking/EFT payment details (required for government payments)
NAICS codes and product/service descriptions
Business type certifications (small business, veteran-owned, woman-owned, etc.)
Annual representations and certifications (TAA, Section 889, Buy American, etc.)
The assigned CAGE code and UEI

Registration must be renewed every 12 months. Vendors who allow their SAM registration to lapse — even by a single day — become ineligible for new awards until renewal is complete. Procurement officers should make it standard practice to check SAM.gov at the start of every procurement and again just before award.

What Business Certifications Are Tied to a CAGE Code?

One of the most practical uses of a CAGE code lookup is verifying a vendor’s certifications and representations on file with the federal government. These are self-certified annually as part of SAM.gov renewal and carry legal weight — a vendor who misrepresents their certifications faces False Claims Act liability.

Key certifications and representations visible through a SAM.gov CAGE code lookup include:

Business size: Small, large, or micro-business designation, which affects set-aside eligibility
Socioeconomic certifications: 8(a) Business Development, HUBZone, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB)
TAA compliance: Confirms the vendor’s products are manufactured or substantially transformed in TAA-designated countries — required for most federal IT hardware purchases
Section 889 compliance: Confirms the vendor does not provide or use covered telecommunications equipment or services prohibited under NDAA 2019 (primarily certain Huawei, ZTE, and related Chinese manufacturer equipment)
Buy American Act: Domestic preference representations
Ownership and control: Foreign ownership disclosures

One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) — CAGE 9ME14 — certifications currently on file in SAM.gov:

Small Business
TAA-Compliant (Trade Agreements Act)
Section 889 Compliant (NDAA 2019)
Delaware-incorporated

How to Get a CAGE Code (For New Federal Vendors)

If your business is new to federal contracting and does not yet have a CAGE code, the process is straightforward — the CAGE code is issued automatically as part of the SAM.gov registration process. You do not need to apply for a CAGE code separately.

Create an account at sam.gov/register using your login.gov credentials
Submit your entity information: legal business name, physical address, Tax Identification Number (TIN) or EIN, applicable NAICS codes, and business type
Complete representations and certifications: This includes your TAA, Section 889, and small business certifications — answer every question carefully, as these carry legal weight
DLA assigns your CAGE code: This typically takes 7–10 business days after submission. You will receive the CAGE code by email once the DLA validates your entity information
Set a renewal reminder: SAM registration expires after 12 months. Put a calendar reminder 60 days before expiration — renewal processing can take 1–2 weeks, and you cannot receive awards during any lapse period

Note that the CAGE code is permanent — unlike your SAM registration, which expires annually, the CAGE code assigned to your establishment does not change unless your business address changes significantly. If you open a new facility in a different location, you will receive a separate CAGE code for that establishment.

CAGE Code Red Flags Procurement Officers Should Watch For

During vendor vetting, a SAM.gov CAGE code lookup can surface compliance issues that should stop a procurement in its tracks. Here are the most common red flags to watch for:

Expired SAM registration: The most frequent issue. An expired registration means the vendor cannot legally receive the award — do not proceed until the vendor renews.
Active exclusion (debarment or suspension): An excluded vendor is prohibited from receiving federal contracts. This is a hard stop — no exceptions.
Address mismatch: If the address associated with the CAGE code does not match the vendor’s invoice or letterhead, investigate before awarding. This can indicate fraud or an outdated record.
Company name discrepancy: The legal name in SAM.gov must match the name on the contract and invoice. A mismatch — even a minor abbreviation difference — can create payment and audit problems.
No relevant NAICS codes: If the vendor’s SAM.gov NAICS codes do not cover the product or service category you are procuring, their certifications (including small business status) may not apply to your requirement.
Missing TAA or Section 889 representations: For IT hardware procurement, these are non-negotiable. A vendor with incomplete representations has not certified compliance, which creates contracting risk.

Why One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) — CAGE 9ME14 — for Federal IT Procurement

For federal IT procurement officers and program managers sourcing IT hardware, One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) offers a fully vetted, compliant, and actively registered federal supplier option. Here is a summary of our credentials:

CAGE Code: 9ME14 (Active through April 2, 2027)
UEI: QGV1XE1RXLN4
DUNS: 119013319
Business Size: Small Business
TAA-Compliant: Trade Agreements Act compliant IT hardware
Section 889 Compliant: No covered telecommunications equipment
Incorporated: Delaware
Primary NAICS: 334111 (Electronic Computer Manufacturing) — directly applicable to IT hardware and computer equipment procurement
Authorized Distributors: TD SYNNEX and Ingram Micro — providing access to a broad catalog of brand-name IT equipment with fast fulfillment
Purchasing terms: Purchase Order accepted | Net 30 terms available

Whether your agency needs laptops, servers, networking equipment, or workstations, One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) can fulfill requirements compliantly and efficiently under a government purchase order on Net 30 terms.

Summary: Key CAGE Code Facts for Procurement Officers

A CAGE code is a 5-character alphanumeric identifier assigned by the DLA to each federal vendor establishment
All federal vendors above the micro-purchase threshold must maintain an active SAM.gov registration with a valid CAGE code
Use SAM.gov to verify CAGE codes — check Active status, exclusions, certifications, and representations before issuing any award
The CAGE code is distinct from the UEI (entity identifier) and DUNS (legacy identifier) — all three may appear on federal procurement documents
SAM registration must be renewed annually — an expired registration disqualifies a vendor from receiving awards
One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) CAGE 9ME14 is Active, Small Business, TAA-Compliant, and Section 889 Compliant

Ready to Source IT Equipment from a Verified Federal Supplier?

One Stop Shop Solutions Inc (OSSS INC) — CAGE 9ME14 — is ready to support your agency’s IT hardware requirements with compliant, competitively priced equipment through TD SYNNEX and Ingram Micro distribution channels. Our SAM.gov registration is current, our certifications are on file, and we accept government purchase orders on Net 30 terms.

Request a quote today and get a same-business-day response from our federal procurement team. Already have a requirement in hand? Send us your specifications and we will provide pricing and delivery timelines for your IT equipment needs.

What Is a CAGE Code? The Federal Vendor Identifier Every Buyer Should Know Leave a comment