Does it cost money to register on SAM.gov?

No. SAM.gov registration is free. Be wary of companies that imply a fee is required to register; paying a third party is optional.

Is a Unique Entity ID (UEI) enough to bid federal welding work?

No. A UEI-only request is for entities such as sub-awardees that do not apply for awards directly. To bid on federal contracts as a prime, you need a full entity registration, which assigns your UEI during the process.

How often do I have to renew my SAM.gov registration?

Every 365 days. If it lapses, your registration goes inactive and you cannot receive new federal awards until it is renewed.

Which NAICS codes should a welding shop list on SAM.gov?

Common choices are 238990 (All Other Specialty Trade Contractors) for on-call and field welding, 332312 for shop-fabricated structural metal, 238120 for steel erection, 238220 for welded heating and boiler piping, and 811310 for millwright and industrial machinery repair. List every code that matches work you actually perform.

Where can I get free help registering on SAM.gov?

APEX Accelerators (formerly PTACs) provide free government contracting help, including SAM.gov registration. SAM.gov also publishes a free Entity Registration Checklist.

SAM.gov Registration for Welding, Fab, Millwright & HVAC Contractors (2026 Step-by-Step)

Updated October 29, 2026 · Written for owner-operators, mobile rigs, and small fab shops.

Short answer: SAM.gov registration is free. Sign in through Login.gov, choose Register Entity (not "UEI only"), enter your legal business name and address exactly as the IRS has them, your EIN, a bank account for payment, and every NAICS code that matches your work, then complete the representations and certifications. Your Unique Entity ID is assigned during registration, and you must renew every 365 days to stay eligible for awards.

1. Full registration vs. "UEI only"

Option	What you get	Can you bid federal work as a prime?
Register Entity	Full registration; UEI assigned during the process	Yes
Get a Unique Entity ID only	A UEI from just your legal name and physical address	No. This is for sub-awardees and similar cases

Source: SAM.gov Entity Registration.

2. What to gather before you start

Legal business name and physical address, matching your IRS records exactly. A mismatch with your TIN records is a common reason registrations stall.
EIN (or TIN) for the business.
Bank account and routing number for electronic payment of federal awards.
Your NAICS codes (see the table below).
Basic business facts like start date, fiscal year end, and number of employees, used in the size and representations sections.

SAM.gov publishes a free Entity Registration Checklist you can download first.

3. NAICS codes welding and mechanical shops usually list

Code	Official title	Typical work
238990	All Other Specialty Trade Contractors	On-call welding, field repair, misc. metals
332312	Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing	Shop-fabricated stairs, platforms, rails, beams
238120	Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors	Steel erection, structural field welding
238220	Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors	Welded heating piping, boiler and chiller work
811310	Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Repair and Maintenance	Millwright, conveyor, pump and plant repair

Federal buyers usually pick one NAICS per solicitation, so list every code you can honestly perform. More detail in our government welding bids guide and the 238220, 332312 and 811310 pages.

4. Step by step

Sign in: select Sign In on SAM.gov. Your login is managed by Login.gov, then you return to SAM.gov to finish your profile.
Get Started, then Register Entity. Don't pick "Get a Unique Entity ID" if you want to bid.
Core data: legal name, address, EIN, banking.
Assertions: your NAICS codes and size information.
Representations and certifications: the standard federal answers buyers rely on instead of asking you on every bid.
Points of contact, then submit and watch the status in your Entity Workspace. Activation isn't instant, so register well before a bid you care about is due.

5. After you're active

Renew every 365 days. Put the date on your calendar; a lapsed registration can't receive new awards.
Fill out your SBA small business profile (Dynamic Small Business Search) so contracting officers searching for welders can find you.
Have a one-page capability statement ready. Many buyers and primes ask for one: core competencies, NAICS codes, UEI/CAGE, past work, certifications (AWS D1.1, ASME IX), and contact info.
Get free help from your local APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC) if you get stuck.

Registered? Now get the bids. IronBid Pro checks SAM.gov plus state and county portals and emails trade-matched welding, fab, millwright and HVAC bids every morning at 7:00 AM Eastern.
Get tomorrow's 7 AM bid digest

Need the capability statement buyers ask for? We'll write a one-page SAM.gov capability statement for your shop for $99. Order a capability statement

IronBid Pro is an independent bid-alert service and is not affiliated with SAM.gov, GSA, SBA, or any government agency. SAM.gov registration itself is free; our capability statement service is optional and does not register you. Always confirm current requirements on SAM.gov.