Identifiers
CAGE vs. NCAGE: What the Difference Actually Is
7 min read
Same five characters, same job, different issuer. Here is what separates a CAGE code from an NCAGE code, who issues each one, and which one a non-U.S. supplier actually needs.
CAGE code & federal supplier guides
Plain-English answers to the questions that come up mid-registration — which identifier a buyer actually wants, what a code costs, and how to check a supplier before you contract.
Every figure checked against the SAM.gov extract of
- Data Access
Is There a Public CAGE Code List? The Honest Answer
8 min read
No complete, current, freely downloadable CAGE code list exists — and the reason is the same reason a stale one is dangerous. Here is what to do instead, by use case.
- Registration
How to Get a CAGE Code (It Costs Nothing)
8 min read
A CAGE code is not something you buy — it is assigned free of charge as part of registering in SAM.gov. Here is the real path, what you need before you start, and why some sites charge for it anyway.
- Tools
BINCS Is Gone. Where DLA CAGE Search Actually Lives Now
7 min read
BINCS was retired and folded into a tool called CAGE Search & Inquiry (CSI). Here is where it actually lives now, what it searches, and how it differs from a live lookup.
- Identifiers
What Is a CAGE Code? A Plain-English Definition
7 min read
CAGE stands for Commercial and Government Entity. Here is what the code actually identifies, who assigns it, and the one misconception about it worth clearing up.
- Identifiers
CAGE Code vs. UEI vs. DUNS: What Each One Actually Is
8 min read
Three identifiers, three different jobs. Here is what changed when the DUNS number was retired, and why your CAGE code did not go anywhere.