APCI has recently been notified of members receiving emails from non-governmental agencies offering to assist them with their federal System for Award Management (SAM or sam.gov) registration.

Organizations who work within the federal grants community are required to have a SAM account in order to receive grants from the government. SAM registration is relatively easy and free. However, third-party non-governmental agencies often send emails or call with offers to manage registration for your organization.

These emails will typically warn of an impending registration expiration. For example, an email recieved by an APCI member read as follows:

"You're receiving this meassage because your registration in the U.S. Federal Government's System for Award Management (SAM) for [Pharmacy Name] is expriring [Date]. Recent changes in federal policy require entities to validate the authorized appointed administration when renewing their registration, so it is highly recommended you get an early start on your renewal.

If you do not update and complete the registration process, this may interfere with your government funding and awards, as your SAM registration must be active, complete, and compliant for any federal awards or funding assistance to be paid. Incomplete registrations may be placed into DELETED INFORMATION STATUS.

The email continues with a non-governmental link to follow in order to begin the updating process.

While the sender may actually follow through and provide the services as advertised, these services often cost hundreds of dollars and may include a multi-year agreement.

According to the Federal Service Desk wibsite, “There is NO FEE to register, or maintain your registration, in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). If you receive an email from a company claiming to represent SAM.gov, be cautious. If you get an e-mail from a company offering to help you register in SAM.gov [and] asking you to contact them and pay them money, be cautious. These messages are not from the Federal Government. It is FREE TO REGISTER in SAM.gov for any entity.”

Assistance in registering with SAM and maintaining your registration is also available at no charge from the Federal Service Desk at 866-606-8220 or www.fsd.gov.