What is a DUNS number?
Data Universal Numbering System, known as DUNS, is a unique nine-digit sequence that is used by businesses and the federal government to keep track of more than 70 million businesses world-wide. Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) is a company that provides business information for credit, marketing, and purchasing decisions and issues DUNS numbers. Some entities, such as states and universities, will also have what is known as DUNS + 4, which is used to identify specific units within a larger entity.
*Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number: The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is a unique nine character identification number provided by the commercial company Dun & Bradstreet. Call Dun and Bradstreet at 1-800-333-0505 or 610-882-7000 if you do not have a DUNS number. The process to request a DUNS number takes about 10 minutes and is free of charge. If you already have a DUNS number, the D&B representative will advise you over the phone. You must have a different 9 digit DUNS for each physical location/different address in your company as well as each legal division that may be co-located. When entering your DUNS number, enter only the numbers; do not include dashes. DUNS +4: The use of DUNS+4 numbers to identify vendors is limited to identifying different CCR records for the same vendor at the same physical location. For example a vendor could have two records for themselves at the same physical location to identify two separate bank accounts. Vendors wishing to
It is not always necessary to quote your organisation’s D-U-N-S Number to get a Digital Certificate but it may help fast-track your application. D-U-N-S Numbers are only provided by Dun & Bradstreet the leading global business and credit information provider with one of the largest commercial directories of businesses in Australia and the world. Every business or organization in their directory has their own unique D-U-N-S Number and it can make it easier for your customers and suppliers to do business with you. According to D&B’s website D-U-N-S Numbers are: “…now the standard for all Australian Federal Government electronic commerce transactions to help streamline and reduce federal procurement costs. The D&B D-U-N-S Number is easy to obtain, simple to use and accepted worldwide.
