Central Contractor Registration

Central Contractor Registration
Name	Central Contractor Registration
Abbreviation	CCR
Established	1998
Merged into	System for Award Management
Purpose	Contractor database for federal procurement
Administered by	General Services Administration
Country	United States

Central Contractor Registration Central Contractor Registration was a centralized United States Department of Defense-linked contractor database used by agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to manage vendor information for procurement and grant activities. It served as a mandatory registration point for entities seeking awards under statutes including the Federal Acquisition Regulation and the Grants and Cooperative Agreements framework, interfacing with contracting systems like the Federal Procurement Data System and payroll/financial systems such as the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Overview

CCR functioned as a central repository that consolidated vendor identifiers, bank data, and representational statements for suppliers ranging from small businesses certified by the Small Business Administration to multinational firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Dynamics. It connected with identifier systems including the DUNS Number issued by Dun & Bradstreet and the Employer Identification Number maintained by the Internal Revenue Service. CCR played a role in policy discussions involving stakeholders such as the Office of Management and Budget, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Government Accountability Office.

Registration Process

Entities such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations completed registration by providing corporate information, financial routing details, and representations and certifications used under the Truth in Negotiations Act and the Buy American Act. Registrants often required support from accountants familiar with Internal Revenue Service filings or legal counsel cognizant of Small Business Act certifications. The process interfaced with identity mechanisms employed by Dun & Bradstreet, banking institutions like the Federal Reserve System, and verification checks involving agency contracting offices such as the Defense Contract Management Agency.

Data Elements and Structure

CCR stored standardized fields including legal business name, DUNS Number, NAICS codes, CAGE Code assignments from the Defense Logistics Agency, banking information for electronic funds transfer under the Treasury payment systems, and federal tax identifiers from the Internal Revenue Service. Data schemas aligned with exchange standards used by the Federal Acquisition Regulation community and were consumed by systems like the Wide Area Workflow and the Electronic Subcontracting Reporting System. CCR’s structure accommodated socio-economic classifications used by the Small Business Administration and procurement preference indicators under statutes such as the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program.

Verification and Maintenance

Verification workflows involved cross-checks with the Defense Logistics Agency, Dun & Bradstreet, the Internal Revenue Service, and bank verification processes coordinated with the Department of the Treasury. Maintenance required periodic updates by registrants and oversight by agency contracting officers within organizations such as the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Audit interactions occurred with the Government Accountability Office and internal inspectors general from agencies like the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

Role in Federal Procurement

CCR underpinned award eligibility, solicitation source lists, and database-driven notices used by contracting offices across the Federal Acquisition Regulation community. It influenced market research practices performed by agencies such as the General Services Administration and the National Institutes of Health and was cited in procurement reform discussions in the United States Congress, including hearings before committees like the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. CCR data fed acquisition analytics tools and supported compliance with statutes including the Competition in Contracting Act.

Transition to System for Award Management

CCR was consolidated into the System for Award Management, an integrated platform administered by the General Services Administration, replacing legacy services such as the Federal Procurement Data System, Excluded Parties List System, and parts of the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System. The transition effected migration of records, reconciliation with the DUNS Number regime, and policy coordination involving the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Defense to streamline processes for contractors and federal buyers.

Privacy and Security Considerations

CCR handled sensitive identifiers subject to protections enacted under laws and policies enforced by agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Security measures aligned with standards promulgated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including guidance from the NIST Special Publication series. Privacy impact assessments and controls were coordinated with agency chief privacy officers and overseen during audits by the Government Accountability Office and various inspectors general.

Category:United States federal procurement Category:Government databases