System for Award Management (SAM) Search

The System for Award Management (SAM) is the official, government-wide portal used by the U.S. federal government to manage the acquisition and financial assistance processes. A SAM exclusion search is a critical compliance tool used to determine if an individual or entity is legally prohibited from doing business with the federal government.

What Does the Search Cover?

The federal government maintains strict standards regarding who can receive federal contracts, subcontracts, financial assistance, and grants. This search queries the official SAM database to identify if an individual or organization is currently subject to an active exclusion.

An active exclusion means the party is:

• Debarred: Banned from doing business with the federal government for an indefinite or strictly defined period.
• Suspended: Temporarily prohibited from receiving federal funds until a specific requirement or legal issue is resolved.
• Proposed for Debarment: Currently under review and declared ineligible for the award of contracts by any U.S. Federal agency.

Exclusions are typically the result of serious infractions, including fraud, tax delinquency, criminal convictions related to business integrity, or a failure to meet federal compliance standards.

How Does the Search Work?

The SAM database is continually updated based on federal requirements and real-time agency reporting. Our team searches this database to ensure your candidates are clear to work.

1. Direct Search: We query the SAM exclusion database (formerly known as the Excluded Parties List System, or EPLS) by entering the name of the individual or the entity to locate any active exclusion records.
2. Identity Verification: Any potential matches are carefully reviewed to ensure the record belongs to your candidate. For entities, this is verified using official identifiers like a physical address or Unique Entity ID (UEI). For individuals, previous addresses and other identifying information are used to confirm the match.
3. Record Delivery: If an active exclusion is verified, the details of the debarment or suspension are made available directly in the attachments section of your Verified First report.

Who Needs This Search?

Because SAM exclusions apply to all federal funding, this search is essential for a wide variety of industries. It is highly recommended, and often legally required, for:

• Federal Contractors and Subcontractors: Any company bidding on or participating in government contracts.
• Healthcare Organizations: Providers receiving Medicare/Medicaid funds often run SAM checks alongside their OIG-LEIE searches to ensure total compliance.
• Educational Institutions & Non-Profits: Organizations receiving federal grants, cooperative agreements, or federal financial assistance.

Why Make This Part of Your Screening Process?

• Ensure Funding Eligibility: If your organization receives federal grants or contracts, hiring an excluded individual or partnering with an excluded subcontractor can immediately jeopardize your federal funding and eligibility.
• Avoid Severe Penalties: Doing business with an excluded party can result in massive fines, legal action, and your own organization being added to the SAM exclusion list.
• Protect Business Integrity: A SAM exclusion is a major red flag indicating a history of fraud, embezzlement, or severe regulatory violations. Running this search helps you filter out high-risk candidates and vendors before they enter your organization.

FAQ

Are the System for Award Management (SAM) and the Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) the same thing? No, but they are related. The System for Award Management (SAM) replaced the EPLS. SAM is a much broader, consolidated database used for federal contractor registration and debarment checks. However, when you run a SAM search through Verified First, we are specifically searching the active exclusions database (which is what the EPLS originally tracked).

The information and opinions expressed are for educational purposes only and are based 
on current practice, industry related knowledge and business expertise. The information
provided shall not be construed as legal advice, express or implied. 

If you have any further questions, or need a product enabled on your account, 
please contact Verified First Client Services for assistance.

Call 844-709-2708 or email clientservices@verifiedfirst.com