# IG5304.7202-1 Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Codes

Informational Guidance

IG5304.7202-1
Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Codes
Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) and CAGE Code Expedite Requests

June 2008

1. In order to be awarded a contract, any contractor or vendor bidding or proposing on Air Force solicitations MUST be registered in CCR (see FAR 4.1102 for exceptions). The vendor or contractor must register; the Government cannot do it for them! Contracting offices should inform your customers to encourage vendors and contractors to get a D&B number and register in CCR as soon as possible. The vendor must show up in CCR as "in process" in order to request a CAGE code to be expedited. "In process" indicates that the vendor has successfully initiated the CCR registration process and completed all mandatory data elements. The Air Force can request CAGE code expedites only after the vendor has done its part to register in CCR. CAGE code expedite requests should only be made if the buying activity has less than 48 hours to award the contract.

2. Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) - The steps for registering in CCR are below:

a. The vendor or contractor:

1) Obtains a Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) number by going to the D&B website or calling 866-705-5711. Once a D&B number is obtained go to Step 2.

2) Registers on the CCR website. Once there, the vendor must follow the prompts on the left side of the screen for new vendor registration. The vendor may call the CCR help desk if problems are encountered. For easy reference, the phone number is 888-227-2423 or 269-961-5757.

b. Ordinarily, a CAGE code will be assigned within 24-48 hours of the vendor completing the registration process. However, it is critical that the vendor completes all mandatory data fields in the registration process. If data is missing, it will delay their registration until the issue is resolved and the registration information is complete.

c. Once the vendor has initiated the registration process successfully, a temporary identification code is issued that can be referenced should the vendor need to call CCR for any registration problems. If the vendor has been successful, a message saying "in process" will appear when that vendor's name is called up through the search function in CCR Usually, this will automatically convert to "active" within 48 hours and a CAGE code will appear in the vendor's profile. (Hint: Use the D&B number of the vendor to conduct a search and determine vendor status.)

3. CAGE Code Expedite Requests:

a. Contracting offices may request that a CAGE code be expedited once you have determined that the vendor or contractor has initiated the CCR registration process as described above, and is showing up in the CCR database as "in process." However, a CAGE code expedite request should not be made unless you need to award in less than 48 hours. CAGE codes are usually assigned within 48 hours from the time the vendor registers. To request that a CAGE code be expedited, contact the Air Force CCR POC.

Mr. Richard Burk
754 ELSG/KSM
Comm 937-904-1190/DSN 674-1190
richard.burk@wpafb.af.mil

b. The preferred method of requesting a cage code is to email the Air Force CCR POC or the alternate CCR POC (but telephone calls are acceptable). The request should include the following:

1) Contractor or vendor name, and

2) Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) number. If you are making the request via email, you can "copy and paste" the vendor information from the CCR website (D&B number and correct vendor name) into your email request to facilitate the process.

c. Once the AF CCR POC has forwarded the expedite request, the contracting office may check the CCR website and do a vendor search to determine that the CAGE code has been assigned. Ordinarily, the AF CCR POC will send an email copy of the expedite request to the contracting office that initiated the request. From the time the request has been sent, a CAGE code is normally assigned within one business day.