On April 4, 2022, the federal government ceased using the data universal numbering system (DUNS) number to identify entities, replacing it with the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) created in SAM.gov. The transition from DUNS to UEI has been anything but smooth. At one point this quarter, some 30,000 UEI applications were reportedly backlogged. The delays are having enormous impacts on those seeking to work with US foreign assistance funding – particularly new and local partners to the US government.
Humentum members and their local partners report that programs in Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and more have been adversely impacted. For more on Humentum members’ experiences, read our Government Affairs and Advocacy Director, Cynthia Smith’s comments in this quarter’s newsletter.