The Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) recently published Mortgagee Letter 2022-14, Unique Entity Identifier for FHA-Approved Lenders, Mortgagees, and Institutions Seeking FHA Approval, to announce the requirement that entities in business with or seeking to do business with the FHA have an active Unique Entity Identifier (“UEI”). The UEI is an alpha-numeric identifier used by federal government agencies to maintain an accurate and consistent database of the names and addresses of non-federal entities doing business with the government. All UEIs are issued by the System of Award Management (SAM.gov) under the General Services Administration.
The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 added the requirement for federal agencies to report data about federal awards. In 2019, the federal government began using UEIs to track data for recipients of federal funding and award types. The definition of award types was expanded to include loans, insurance, and loan guarantees in 2 CFR part 25, making UEIs a requirement for all lenders, mortgagees, and institutions approved for FHA Title 1 and/or Title II programs as well as institutions seeking FHA approval.
FHA approved lenders, mortgagees, and institutions must include an active UEI in their institution data in the Lender Electronic Assessment Portal and new applicants must include a UEI on their application for FHA approval.
This requirement went into effect beginning on August 23, 2022, the date of Mortgagee Letter 2022-14, but is not mandatory until December 31, 2022.
