Can Foreign Companies Get US Government Contracts?

Foreign companies can get US government contracts when the solicitation and applicable laws allow foreign participation. They may bid as prime contractors or work through US prime contractors, but registration alone does not make a company eligible.

The key is to check each opportunity for country, location, sourcing, security, and small-business rules before spending time on a bid.

When foreign companies can compete

The US government buys some goods and services from companies outside the country. Whether your company can compete depends on the agency, contract, funding, place of performance, and rules stated in the solicitation. A notice may be open to foreign bidders, limited to US sources, or subject to other restrictions.

Read the full solicitation, including attachments and contract clauses. Look for instructions on eligible countries, where work must be performed, where products must be made, and any required licenses or security measures. If a requirement is unclear, send a question to the contracting officer using the process and deadline in the notice.

Rules can also depend on what the government is buying. Domestic preference and trade agreement requirements may affect which products qualify. Export controls, sanctions, and other restrictions can apply to certain technology, destinations, or parties. Do not assume a rule applies to every contract in the same way; check the solicitation and ask qualified legal or trade-compliance counsel when needed.

• Check the solicitation’s eligibility and country-of-origin language.
• Confirm whether the work must take place in the United States.
• Review product sourcing, security, licensing, and delivery requirements.
• Ask the contracting officer about unclear terms before the question deadline.

Foreign company SAM registration

A foreign company generally needs an active full registration in SAM.gov to bid as a prime contractor on a federal contract. Registration is free. You do not need to pay a third-party registration service. SAM assigns a free 12-character Unique Entity ID (UEI), which replaced the DUNS number in April 2022.

Follow the foreign-entity instructions in SAM carefully. The process may direct a foreign entity to provide an NCAGE code before completing registration. A US business receives its CAGE code through SAM registration, with the Defense Logistics Agency assigning it. Do not assume a foreign entity follows the same code process as a US business.

SAM registration must be renewed every 365 days to remain active. Check the entity record and renewal instructions well before a bid deadline, since an incomplete or inactive registration can prevent an award. See the step-by-step SAM registration guide, and contact the Federal Service Desk for help with SAM.gov system issues.

Check whether your company qualifies

Registration is a prerequisite for many prime bids, not proof that your company is eligible for every opportunity. Some solicitations restrict participation based on the company’s location, ownership, country, or ability to meet security and performance requirements. A foreign-owned US subsidiary is not automatically eligible for every contract or program either.

Be especially cautious with small-business set-asides. The solicitation may require the bidder to qualify as a US small business under the applicable NAICS code and SBA rules. The SBA sets a size standard for each six-digit NAICS code, and ownership, control, affiliation, and other program requirements may matter. Do not claim small-business status or a certification based only on having a US office or subsidiary. Check the applicable rules at SBA.gov and the specific solicitation.

SBA certifications such as 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB and EDWOSB, VOSB, and SDVOSB are applied for at no cost through MySBA Certifications. Eligibility conditions vary, and some programs require specific ownership and control. A foreign company should verify that it can satisfy the relevant criteria before pursuing a set-aside or certification.

Find opportunities that allow international vendors

Federal contract opportunities appear on SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities. Use the notice to check whether the opportunity is open to your business and to identify submission instructions, deadlines, and required documents. Browse open federal bids from SAM.gov, filterable by industry, state and set-aside, then confirm every detail in the original solicitation.

Start with work your company can deliver reliably. Identify the relevant NAICS code, then compare the notice’s scope, performance location, delivery schedule, and contract terms with your capacity. The free NAICS code lookup can help you identify possible industry codes. For example, you can review government IT contracts (NAICS 541512) to explore one area of federal purchasing.

Searches for international vendors federal contracts often lead to very different opportunities. Some notices may be suitable for overseas suppliers, while others may require US performance, domestic products, or a specific security posture. Past awards on USAspending.gov can help you research what agencies have bought, but a past award does not guarantee that a new solicitation will have the same rules.

Consider subcontracting and local partnerships

If a prime contract’s rules or administrative requirements make a direct bid impractical, consider working as a subcontractor to a US prime. A subcontract can let you supply specialized products, technical expertise, or delivery capacity while the prime contractor manages its agreement with the government. It does not remove restrictions that apply to your company, products, or work, so check the prime contract requirements too.

Research prime contractors that buy the services or products you offer. Public award information can show which firms have received federal work, and agency procurement pages can help you understand likely buyers. For instance, review Department of State contracts alongside relevant awards and solicitations. Read more about government subcontracting before approaching a prime.

Prepare a concise capability statement that explains your services, relevant experience, delivery capacity, and any required registrations or certifications. Be specific about where you can perform and which products or services you can provide. A US partner may help with logistics or local delivery, but a partnership does not automatically make a foreign firm eligible for a restricted prime contract.

Build a compliant bid plan

Before writing a proposal, make a compliance checklist from the solicitation. Include every eligibility condition, required form, technical instruction, pricing rule, and deadline. Confirm whether your company can meet each requirement and document any assumptions that affect cost, shipping, taxes, staffing, or performance.

If a requirement makes a direct federal bid unsuitable, explore subcontracting or another market rather than submitting a proposal that fails a mandatory condition. Free help is available from APEX Accelerators, Small Business Development Centers, and SCORE mentors. APEX Accelerators can help businesses understand government contracting requirements, while the Federal Service Desk handles technical questions about SAM.gov.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be registered to bid on government contracts?

To bid as a prime on a federal contract, you generally need a complete, active SAM.gov registration. Some opportunities or assistance programs may have different registration requirements, so follow the solicitation. Subcontractors usually do not register in SAM just to work for a prime, but the prime may have its own screening requirements.

Is SAM registration free?

Yes. Registering in SAM.gov and receiving a UEI cost nothing. Paid third-party registration services are not required, so do not pay a company just to obtain a registration.

Can I get a UEI without registering in SAM?

Yes. A business can request a UEI without completing a full SAM registration. However, a foreign company that wants to bid as a federal prime generally needs a full active registration, not only a UEI.

What does foreign company SAM registration involve?

Foreign company SAM registration involves creating an entity record, providing the information SAM requires, and following the foreign-entity steps, which may include an NCAGE code. Registration is free, and you should use SAM’s current instructions because requirements can change. Renew the registration every 365 days to keep it active.

Can international vendors bid on federal contracts from outside the United States?

Sometimes. The solicitation may allow a foreign bidder and overseas performance, but other notices may require US-based work, restrict eligible countries, or impose sourcing, security, or licensing conditions. Check the specific notice and all incorporated clauses before bidding.