People tend to be hesitant to reach out for help with their SAM Registration because they do not want to be tricked by a third party. It is important to do your due diligence before trusting someone outside of your entity to handle your SAM Registration. Entities or individuals must register in the System for Award Management to conduct business or receive grants from the Federal Government. Registration and all required materials are free online, but the government reviews submissions only after they are filed, often causing delays. Continuous updates to the process can complicate matters further, and there is no governmental support to ensure registration accuracy or visibility.
There are a few questions that should be asked when considering using a filing assistance firm:
- Are they claiming to be SAM.gov or affiliated with the government in any way?
- Are they transparent about any associated costs or fees?
- Do they have experience with successfully assisting other entities with the filing process?
- Are they willing and able to answer any questions I may have about what to expect?
If you are able to confidently navigate through these questions with a firm, it is more than likely they will be a helpful asset in completing your SAM Registration in an accurate and timely matter.