Vendor identity field guide
Similar name. Different record. Which one belongs in your file?
Match the UEI, CAGE code and physical location to the vendor documents you are reviewing. A familiar name, matching punctuation or a registration label is not enough to select the record.
Nearly the same name, two different identifier pairs
These two public CageCheck records use the SAM extract dated October 5, 2026. They have different UEIs, CAGE codes and locality labels. This comparison does not establish a parent, subsidiary or branch relationship, ownership, or current eligibility.
Anaheim record
RAYTHEON APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY INC
- UEI · 12 characters
- CN53BBKSPGV8
- CAGE · 5 characters
- 4WDL3
- Recorded locality · U.S.
- ANAHEIM, CA
Annapolis Junction record
RAYTHEON APPLIED SIGNAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
- UEI · 12 characters
- KF8AVNFEFXQ1
- CAGE · 5 characters
- 0SL07
- Recorded locality · U.S.
- ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD
The cards omit street addresses. To decide whether a location matches your paperwork, compare the full physical address in the record and confirm the current information on official SAM.gov and DLA CAGE Search. City and state alone do not establish a match.
One review, three possible next steps
Start with the identifier and location supplied for this vendor review. Compare the legal name as a supporting field; do not repair a conflicting identifier by choosing the closest name.
1. Identity aligns
The requested UEI or CAGE and the full location align with the supporting documents, with no unresolved name or identifier conflict. Keep that record and note the source date.
Next: check status and exclusions separately.
2. Identifiers conflict
A document points to the other UEI, CAGE or address. Keep the discrepancy open and ask for the identifier and location intended for this review. Do not merge the two records.
Next: resolve the conflict before selecting a record.
3. Evidence is missing
You have only a name or an old address. Search by name to identify candidates, then obtain the missing UEI or CAGE and full physical address. Record the identity as unresolved.
Next: request evidence; do not guess from the name.
Worked example — hypothetical paperwork
If your vendor document specifies CAGE 4WDL3, the Anaheim card has that code; the Annapolis Junction card has 0SL07. Selecting Annapolis Junction because the name looks familiar would leave an identifier conflict. Compare the full address and any supplied UEI, then verify the current official record. This is an illustration, not a completed supplier review.
Keep the reason for your choice with the record
Copy this outline into your existing review file. Keep unresolved fields visible rather than filling them from a similar-looking company.
Vendor document and date: [reference] Identity requested: [legal name / UEI or CAGE / full physical address] Record reviewed: [URL and identifier] Source date: [extract date] · Reviewed on: [date] Identity outcome: [aligns / conflict / unresolved] Reason and missing evidence: [comparison and next step] Current registration and exclusions: [separate official checks / pending]
For an existing CageCheck record, the free dated PDF can preserve the snapshot you reviewed. It does not refresh the record or prove that an exclusions check was completed. Use the registration status guide and the separate exclusions check for those questions.
Sources and limits
- DLA: Commercial and Government Entity Code — definition and official CAGE resources. CAGE identifies a facility at a specific location.
- SAM.gov Entity Information — official registration and exclusions resources. These are separate checks from choosing the right identity.
- Example fields transcribed from the two linked public CageCheck entity records, checked October 31, 2026; both state data as of October 5, 2026. No live refresh, current eligibility finding, ownership inference or endorsement is made here.
This is an identity-review aid, not a procurement approval or a statement of legal requirements. Verify the current official record before relying on it.