SAM.gov exclusions
Check whether a vendor appears on the SAM excluded parties list. Search by UEI, CAGE code, USDOT number, or company name. Exclusion records are linked using deterministic identifiers — not name-only matching.
A SAM exclusion is a formal prohibition that prevents an entity from receiving federal contracts, subcontracts, loans, or grants. Exclusions are issued by federal agencies and recorded in the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) within SAM.gov. They apply government-wide: an exclusion issued by one agency is in effect across all federal programs and agencies.
Checking the SAM exclusion list is a mandatory step in federal contractor due diligence. Under FAR 52.209-6, prime contractors must verify that subcontractors are not excluded before awarding any subcontract. Knowingly contracting with an excluded party can jeopardize the prime contract and expose the buyer to audit findings and liability.
Federal requirement
FAR 52.209-6 requires prime contractors to verify that prospective subcontractors are not on the excluded parties list before award. The obligation extends to all tiers of subcontracting for covered contracts.
Debarment
A formal prohibition issued after a legal proceeding. The excluded party cannot receive federal contracts, subcontracts, or assistance awards for the debarment period. Debarments are typically issued for fraud, bribery, or willful failure to perform.
Suspension
A temporary exclusion issued while an investigation is pending. Suspensions are shorter than debarments and may be lifted if the investigation concludes without a finding. An active suspension carries the same procurement restrictions as a debarment.
Proposed Debarment
A notice that debarment proceedings have been initiated. During the proposed debarment period, the same restrictions apply as for an active debarment. The entity can contest the proposed debarment before it becomes final.
Voluntary Exclusion
An agreement between the excluded party and the government to exclude the party from federal programs, usually as part of a settlement. Voluntary exclusions carry the same procurement restrictions.
The most reliable SAM exclusion search uses the vendor's UEI. A UEI lookup matches the exclusion record directly to the vendor's current SAM registration at confidence 0.99. A CAGE code lookup is less definitive and is flagged for review. A name-only search is the least reliable and may return false positives for common entity names.
Search by UEI (recommended)
Enter the vendor's Unique Entity Identifier from their SAM.gov registration. KnowVendor matches exclusion records to the UEI at confidence 0.99, providing the most reliable exclusion link available.
Search by CAGE code
CAGE codes often appear on older exclusion records issued before the UEI system. A CAGE-only match is flagged for review in KnowVendor, not confirmed as a hard exclusion link, because CAGE codes can be reassigned.
Search by company name
Name searches return candidates. Common entity names may match multiple unrelated companies. KnowVendor returns name-based candidates at a maximum confidence of 0.45 — these are never surfaced as confirmed exclusions without a supporting identifier match.
KnowVendor imports SAM exclusion records from the full SAM.gov Exclusions extract. Exclusion records are matched to legal entities using UEI at confidence 0.99 or CAGE code (confidence 0.97, flagged for review). Name-only matches are stored as candidates at maximum confidence 0.45 and are never shown as confirmed exclusions.
The SAM exclusion list is historical. Many excluded entities predate the UEI system or have not re-registered. KnowVendor's identifier-based match rate for exclusion records is approximately 1% of total exclusion records. This low rate is expected and correct: it reflects the proportion of historical exclusions that have a current deterministic identifier link. It is not an indicator of a data quality problem.
0.99
UEI match confidence
~1%
Historical exclusion match rate
0.45
Max confidence for name-only candidates
A no-match for a SAM exclusion search does not mean the vendor is confirmed clear. It means no deterministic identifier match was found between the vendor and any exclusion record in the dataset. A vendor may still appear on the SAM exclusion list under a historical identifier that cannot be linked to their current SAM registration.
For high-stakes procurement, a KnowVendor no-match result should be complemented with a direct search on SAM.gov using the vendor's legal name and any available identifiers. KnowVendor provides a starting point with deterministic identifier coverage; SAM.gov provides the authoritative record.
What is the SAM.gov excluded parties list?
The System for Award Management (SAM.gov) maintains a list of individuals, companies, and other entities excluded from participating in federal procurement and non-procurement programs. Exclusions are issued by federal agencies for reasons including fraud, tax delinquency, suspension pending investigation, and failure to perform on prior federal contracts. The list applies across all agencies: an exclusion issued by one agency applies to all federal programs.
Is a company with an expired exclusion still a risk?
An expired exclusion no longer legally bars the entity from federal contracts, but it is part of the historical record and should be documented in your vendor screening. Patterns of repeated past exclusions may indicate systemic issues even when no current exclusion is active.
Why does the SAM exclusion match rate appear low?
The SAM exclusion list is historical. Many excluded entities were excluded before the UEI system was established (UEI replaced DUNS in April 2022) or have not re-registered with SAM after exclusion. KnowVendor's identifier-based match rate for exclusion records is approximately 1%. This is expected and correct: a no-match does not mean the vendor is confirmed clear — it means there is no deterministic link to a current SAM entity.
What is the difference between a CAGE code search and a UEI search?
A UEI search links exclusion records to the vendor's current SAM registration at confidence 0.99. A CAGE code search is less definitive: CAGE codes may be reassigned and are not unique to a single legal entity over time. KnowVendor uses CAGE-only matches as supporting evidence, not as a confirmed exclusion link, and flags them for review.
Does a SAM exclusion apply to subcontractors?
Yes. Under FAR 52.209-6, prime contractors must verify that all subcontractors are not on the excluded parties list before award. The exclusion applies to direct contracts, subcontracts, and assistance awards across all federal agencies. Prime contractors that award to an excluded party face potential contract termination and liability.
SAM exclusion data is sourced from SAM.gov public records. KnowVendor is not affiliated with SAM.gov or the US General Services Administration. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For authoritative exclusion records, consult SAM.gov directly and review with qualified legal counsel.