Glossary
What is a CAGE code?
A Commercial and Government Entity code is a five-character ID used to identify a business on federal contracts. It is tied to your SAM.gov registration. It is not an award and not a set-aside.
Defense Logistics Agency issues CAGE codes. For most firms the practical path is the SAM.gov entity registration. When that record is active, the CAGE code is part of it. You do not buy the code from Govacha.
A company can end up with more than one CAGE code if it has more than one location or entity. Use the code that matches the entity named on the bid. Mixing a parent and a subsidiary is how invoices and past performance get attached to the wrong record.
NATO uses a related identifier, the NCAGE code, for entities outside the U.S. system. If you are not a U.S. firm, read the current SAM.gov instructions rather than assuming a domestic CAGE code is the right path.