Enrolling in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database is a requirement for all firms interested in selling to the government for a contract to be awarded by any federal government agency.
Enrolling in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database is a requirement for all firms interested in selling to the government for a contract to be awarded by any federal government agency. The registration process not only collects general information about a company, but it also gathers the information required to perform Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), which is a requisite for all federal agencies.
According to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), prospective contractors must be registered in the CCR database before the award of a contract or agreement, except under the following circumstances:
1. purchases made using a government-wide commercial purchase card for both the purchasing and payment mechanism, in lieu of using the purchase card only as the payment methods for national or civil emergencies.
2. classified contracts when registration in the CCR database, or use of CCR data could compromise the safeguarding of classified information or national security.
3. contracts awarded by 1) deployed contracting officers in the course of military operations including but not limited to contingency operations as defined by 10 U.S.C. (a)(13) or for humanitarian or peacekeeping operations as defined by 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(13), or 2) contracting officers conducting emergency operations, such as responses to natural or environmental disasters needs;
4. awards made to foreign vendors for work performed outside the United States; if it is impractical to obtain CCR registration; and
5. micro-purchases that do not use the electronic funds transfer method of payment and are not required to be reported.
Small business owners may register in CCR online or by fax. The recommended method, however, is online because it is quick and the process is user friendly. You can register online at one of the following sites www.ccr.gov or www.bpn.gov; once you log on, read the instructions and follow the prompts.
It is important to keep your information current in CCR or any database where acquisition opportunities are posted. This assures that as contracting opportunities become available, and if a contracting officer is interested in your company, he or she has the most current contact information and can reach you to discuss this opportunity. CCR data should be kept current at all times and must be updated/confirmed at least once each year after initial registration.
