Data Universal Numbering System

January 2005

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) enacted a new requirement for recipients of federal awards (e.g., loans, grants, subsidies).  If you recently applied for a federal award, you may be familiar with the “DUNS” number that was assigned to your organization.

The DUNS number, or Data Universal Numbering System number, is nine digit identification number given to all individuals or organizations participating in federal awards programs.

Beginning with fiscal years ending in 2005, this number must be reported on your organization’s SF-SAC Form (Data Collection Form).  (This form, submitted annually, provides information to federal awarding agencies specific to your organization and includes the results of your financial statement and governmental compliance audits.) 

The Central Contractor Registry maintains a list of all current DUNS numbers.  If you are uncertain as to whether your organization has a number or what that number is, you can search their database by company name at http://www.ccr.gov.

You can obtain a DUNS number (at no charge) in one of two ways:

1) Over the phone – 866-705-5711; be prepared with the following information:

  *        Name, address and phone number of business
  *        Name of chief executive officer or executive director
  *        Legal structure if business
  *        Year business started
  *        Primary line of business
  *        Total number of employees (full and part time)

2) Online – eupdate.dnb.com/requestoptions/government/ccrreg/

Additional information is available at the Central Contractor Registry website at http://www.ccr.gov.  There are also some “Frequently Asked Questions” available on the web at harvester.census.gov/sac/.

Please contact Lou McCollum if you have any questions.