Effective October 1, 2003
	Beginning October 1, 2003, applicants will be required to have a Dun and Bradstreet (DUNS) number to apply for a grant or cooperative agreement from the Federal government. The DUNS number is a nine-digit identification number, which uniquely identifies business entities. Obtaining a DUNS number is easy and there is no charge. Although obtaining a DUNS number is not required for applications submitted in response to announcements with deadlines on or before September 30, 2003, regardless of when the award is made, or for other types of applications submitted before September 30 (e.g., unsolicited applications), you are encouraged to obtain a DUNS number now if you believe you will be submitting an application to any Federal agency on or after October 1, 2003. A DUNS number is not required to submit a continuation application within a previously approved project period. Proactively obtaining a DUNS number at the current time will facilitate the receipt and acceptance of applications after September 30, 2003. For further information, including how to obtain a DUNS number, please consult the following references: Federal Register Notice (June 27, 2003) [pdf] Dun and Bradstreet Requesting a DUNS number DUNS Number Guide: Government Vendors Dedicated Government DUNS Numbers Assistance:     1-866-705-5711 Central Contractor Registration