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The exclusions information is public; the documented SAM.gov Exclusions API requires an API key. That key is needed to use the programmatic endpoint, not because the underlying public dataset is private. You can also search exclusions on SAM.gov or download public extract files through documented data services, though the extracts API itself also requires an account and key.
Why does SAM.gov require an API key for exclusions?
The apparent contradiction comes from treating the data and the way you retrieve it as the same thing. GSA describes the Exclusions API as a way to request public exclusion information using optional parameters. The API key identifies and validates API users; it does not, by itself, grant access to restricted or sensitive data. See GSA’s SAM.gov Exclusions API documentation.
SAM.gov provides a browser-based search and public data services as well as the key-gated API. SAM.gov’s Terms of Use direct users to documented APIs and downloads rather than automated scraping, and caution against using a SAM.gov login for data mining or automated gathering. Use only data you are authorized to access, do not share a personal API key, and share publicly only data from public API versions.
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Choose based on how specific your query is, how much data you need, how often you need updates, and how you plan to process the results.
| Route | Best fit | Behavior and limit | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAM.gov browser search | One-off lookups and manual filtering | Search offers classification, exclusion-type, program, location, and date filters. | Public search is available; some registrant information requires federal sign-in. See SAM.gov Entity Information. |
| Exclusions API v4 | Filtered programmatic queries | Synchronous paginated JSON: 10 records per page, up to 10,000 records. | Requires a registered SAM.gov user and API key; daily request limits vary by account category. See GSA’s API documentation. |
| Exclusions API extract mode | Larger filtered downloads | Asynchronous JSON or CSV file generation, up to 1,000,000 records. | Uses the API and key; generation may take time. See GSA’s API documentation. |
| Public exclusions bulk extract | Broad or repeated local processing | GSA says the public extract contains currently active public exclusions and is produced daily. | The documented extracts API requires a SAM.gov account and API key, including for public extracts. See GSA’s extracts documentation. |
What the Exclusions API provides
Paginated JSON for targeted queries
The production v4 endpoint is https://api.sam.gov/entity-information/v4/exclusions?api_key=<value>. GSA documents a default page size of 10 records and a ceiling of 10,000 records for this paginated response. The production endpoint is for live use; GSA also documents an alpha endpoint for testing. Request a personal API key through a registered SAM.gov account.
Optional parameters and q expressions can narrow searches. Documented examples cover classification, geography, exclusion type, agency, and FASCSA order. The q parameter supports operators such as AND, OR, NOT, wildcards, and free text, but its behavior is not identical to a general-purpose search language: GSA notes restrictions, including limits on null, not-null, and NOT searches. Check the current parameter table before relying on a particular expression.
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Asynchronous JSON or CSV extracts
Adding the format parameter switches the API to file-extract mode. GSA documents JSON and CSV output, with a maximum of 1,000,000 records. File creation is asynchronous: the response can provide a download URL or an email notification. The extract workflow uses a token to retrieve the generated file; a request may still be pending, or a token may be invalid or expired.
How API request limits vary by account
GSA’s Exclusions API documentation lists these default daily limits, accessed in 2026. The applicable limit depends on account category, not just on whether the information is public.
| Account category | Default requests per day |
|---|---|
| Non-federal user with no SAM.gov role and a personal key | 10 |
| Several personal-key and non-federal system-account categories | 1,000 |
| Federal system accounts | 10,000 |
These are documented defaults, not a guarantee that every account has the same allowance. Check the current GSA Exclusions API guidance for the category that applies to your account.
What is in the public bulk extract?
GSA describes the public exclusions extract as a list of parties with a currently active exclusion in SAM.gov and says daily exclusion extracts are produced every day. Its separate extracts documentation describes a daily ZIP containing a CSV, named SAM_Exclusions_Public_Extract_V2_YYDDD.ZIP, where YYDDD represents the Julian date. The documentation says to check after 7 a.m. Eastern; that is a stated schedule, not a guarantee that a particular file will be available at an exact time. See GSA’s Entity/Exclusions Extracts Download APIs documentation and the SAM.gov Exclusions Public V2 listing.
Is the SAM.gov exclusions list public?
Yes, the public exclusions information and public extract are available through SAM.gov’s documented public services. That does not mean every associated data field is public, every search result is available without sign-in, or that automated access is unrestricted. Some registrant information requires federal sign-in, and the extracts API documents an API-key requirement even for public extracts. Use the appropriate documented route rather than scraping the site.
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Check the current API update notice
SAM.gov has an active notice titled “Exclusions API Update,” subtitled “Change is Coming for SAM.gov Exclusions APIs,” last updated August 11, 2026. The notice does not specify the change or its effective date, so no particular technical change can be inferred from it. Before building or changing an integration, check the SAM.gov announcement and current GSA API documentation.
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