It's simple: If you want to do government contracting at the federal level, then your company needs to be registered in the CCR.
The Central Contractor Registration database is the government's online repository for information about vendors that supply goods and services to federal agencies. According to the CCR website, "prospective vendors must be registered in CCR prior to the award of a contract; basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement."
The CCR was created to streamline the acquisition process for both the agencies and the suppliers: Instead of having to submit company information on paper to each agency for each bid, a prospective vendor submits that information only once online and then makes updates as necessary; agencies are then able to access the info over the web at any time.
There are several exceptions to the CCR registration requirement, such as in the case of national emergencies or when a contract involves classified information (see the CCR website for more details).
To register with the CCR, go to https://www.bpn.gov/ccr and click on "Start New Registration."
Note that in order to complete your registration, you will need your DUNS number, provided by Dunn & Bradstreet; your tax identification number; information about your business, such as the number of employees and annual receipts; and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information for invoice payments. If you have questions about your DUNS number or need a DUNS number, call 1-866-705-5711 or visit the D&B website.
