beta.SAM.gov Update
The beta.SAM.gov Update delivers the latest information about consolidation efforts and other updates to IAE systems.
Latest update: February 2021
Stakeholder Forum Recap
On Tuesday, February 9, the U.S. General Services Administration’s Integrated Award Environment hosted an online Stakeholder Forum webinar. With almost 1,100 participants, the program focused on an introduction to the new design of beta.SAM.gov, which will launch on April 26, 2021.
A copy of the slide deck presentation is available for download here. A full recording of the program is available here.
The program began with an introduction and overview of the modernization project to-date. Next, participants were given a presentation about the differences between the current beta.SAM.gov design and the new design. And to wrap up, participants received a brief preview of some of the changes coming in the future when SAM.gov and beta.SAM.gov are merged into one, which will occur on May 24, 2021. There will be much more detail about that in the near future.
Please stay tuned to the IAE space on Interact for more information about all of the IAE systems, including the future migration of SAM.gov into beta.SAM.gov, as well as for details about future events.
Multi-Step Transition of SAM.gov: New Look and Feel Coming to beta.SAM.gov April 26; Systems Merge May 24
The General Services Administration launched beta.SAM.gov in 2017 as the modernized environment where the 10 Integrated Award Environment (IAE) systems will become one. To date, three IAE systems have migrated into beta.SAM.gov completely and some functionality from a fourth system has also merged into the new environment.
Now, we are preparing to merge legacy SAM.gov into the beta.SAM.gov environment. SAM.gov, IAE’s largest system, is where users register to do business with the federal government, find exclusion records, and perform other tasks. After the merger, the system will be known only as SAM.gov (no more “beta”).
Phase one, scheduled for April 26, 2021, will change the look and feel of beta.SAM.gov to prepare for the SAM.gov merge that will happen a few weeks later. The new look and feel will remain when the two systems merge. Essentially, we’re giving our current beta.SAM.gov users a head start and a chance to get used to the new design before SAM.gov functionality migrates over.
Phase two, scheduled for May 24, 2021, will migrate the functionality of SAM.gov into beta.SAM.gov (keeping the new design). The term “beta” will be retired, and there will be only one SAM.gov. This change affects all SAM.gov users.
After May 24, SAM.gov users will see a home page that enables them to perform tasks currently found at beta.SAM.gov such as searching for contract opportunities, finding wage determinations, and more, as well as the things they can do at SAM.gov today - all under a single sign-on.
More About the New Look for beta.SAM.gov Coming April 26
We are excited to introduce the new beta.SAM.gov experience coming April 26, 2021. Functionality within the system is not changing (yet!).
Users will notice beta.SAM.gov’s home page, help pages, and search all have a new design built to address the feedback we have heard from our users. The main menu also will have a new look and feel that will make the selections (that aren’t changing) easier to find. The feedback tool (which we rely on for input from our users) will move to the footer, providing a consistent location for every page throughout the system.
We are rolling out the new design of these key parts of beta.SAM.gov in preparation for and in conjunction with the upcoming transition of current (or legacy) SAM.gov into beta.SAM.gov. SAM.gov will transition on May 24, 2021, at which time the two merged systems will be known only as SAM.gov (the “beta” is being retired).
The new design provides a dedicated landing page or "home" for each of the different functions within the system (what we call “domains”) such as wage determinations, contract opportunities, or assistance listings. On May 24, entity registrations (SAM.gov) will be the newest domain. These new landing pages provide a helpful starting point for users interested in any specific domain.
Additionally, we also continue to enhance the integrated system’s search capabilities. The new design makes it easier to find advanced filters for each domain and improves the usability of the date filters. We've also made it easier to see what filters are available for each domain. The new design incorporates significant user feedback from our feedback tool and numerous discussions with stakeholders.
The original (current) design of beta.SAM.gov hasn’t changed since it’s initial launch in August 2017. In the three-plus years since launch, we have integrated several legacy IAE systems and other functionality into beta.SAM.gov, but haven’t changed the design, until now.
April’s new design adheres to new U.S. Web Design System and GSA standards for digital experiences. Those standards help agencies to streamline content and are secure, responsive, accessible, and consistent.
The new design of our home page, help, and search are the first steps in introducing our new SAM.gov design standards. As we continue to make improvements and add functionality, we will be further applying the most recent standards across our system.
New Security Offering for SAM.gov for Entity Administrators Available May 24
As with all of the IAE systems, security for SAM.gov is always paramount. With that in mind, we will be offering access to new security features in SAM.gov on May 24, 2021.
The new security enhancements - called identity proofing - will be voluntary (and recommended) at first, and will become mandatory in fiscal year 2022.
By introducing identity proofing, we are adding a layer of security that protects you, your entity, and the government by making it more difficult for someone to gain unauthorized access to your entity registration account. Your entity registration contains sensitive data that, if exposed, could cause harm or damage to your entity. Verifying the identity of entity administrators helps everyone ensure that entity data remains in the right hands.
Identity proofing will be for users who manage SAM.gov registrations. We will begin validating the identity of each entity administrator in SAM.gov as an optional benefit at first. However, we recommend that all existing entity administrators become familiar with and take advantage of this added level of security as soon as possible. Early adopters will have the opportunity to provide feedback that will help us improve the process moving forward.
After May 24, 2021, users will be able to initiate the identity proofing process directly from SAM.gov. Those who verify early will be well prepared once identity proofing is fully required in FY22.
Managed and run by login.gov, the identity proofing process will collect, validate, and verify information about a person. Entity administrators will be asked to upload a photograph of their state-issued photo identification, provide their social security number, and provide a valid phone number. To learn more about how the process works and how data is secured, visit Login Security.
A PDF of this page is available at this link [PDF - 176 KB]