SAMS stands for the Secure Access Management Services Partner Portal. It is a website that provides centralized access to computer applications operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). SAMS is already being used by many public health partners and providers like yourself.

Some of the assisted reproductive technology (ART) data that you report to CDC through the National ART Surveillance System (NASS) are considered sensitive. Using SAMS to log into NASS is one of the ways CDC will continue to control and protect this information. This will be the only way to log into NASS and report your ART data to CDC, effective summer 2022.

Establishing a SAMS account requires two steps.

1. The first step is to complete SAMS online registration.
2. The second step is to provide proof of your identity.

ART clinic staff with a NASS user account will receive an email invitation from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov with the subject “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal - Invitation to Register.” After receiving the invitation email with instructions, you will complete your online SAMS profile. You have up to 30 days to complete this registration step. You will be asked to provide the following information:

• Your home address / mailing address
• Your organization / employer and their address
• Your telephone number

Please note that you must register with SAMS using the same email address to which your invitation was sent.

After completing this registration step, you will immediately receive a second email with instructions for completing the identity verification step.

Identity verification is the process required by the U.S. federal government to help ensure that the person registering for access to non-public information is who they claim to be. Verification also protects you by preventing someone from taking actions in your name while using NASS. Since the data you report to NASS are considered sensitive, this second step is to confirm that you have registered with SAMS using your true identity.

No. This is not a background or criminal history check. Identity verification is only used to confirm that you have registered using your true identity and that no one is attempting to impersonate you.

After completing the initial registration step, you will immediately receive a second email from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov with the subject “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – Identity Verification Request”. This second email includes instructions and options for completing identity verification.

SAMS supports two options for validating your identity. The process depends on the option you select.

Option 1 is the fastest method to complete the SAMS identity proofing process. It uses a secure online Experian service to validate your identity based on information contained in your credit history. CDC does not have access to your credit information and relies on Experian instead. You will provide your Social Security Number and date of birth directly to Experian. This information is not stored or saved by CDC. Experian will attempt to validate your information and may ask you a series of questions based on your credit history. This will not have any impact on your credit score or credit worthiness (i.e., other services provided by Experian).

If you choose Option 1, Experian will let you know instantly if your identity was able to be verified. Typically, within 2–3 business days after successfully completing Experian identity verification, you will receive your SAMS account approval by email.

Option 2 requires you to complete a form included in the SAMS identity verification email. This form, along with appropriate identification, will need to be reviewed in-person by a notary. Then you will need to submit copies to the CDC Proofing Authority via secure upload or by mail. CDC will not accept any identity verification information submitted via email and will never ask you to submit by email. The initial SAMS email you receive requesting identity verification will include instructions and details about this process.

If you choose Option 2, once your documentation is received by CDC, it will be reviewed and validated. The manual process and review (Option 2) can take several weeks to complete. After successfully completing this manual identity verification process, you will receive your SAMS account approval by email within 2–3 business days.

In some situations, Experian will be unable to validate your identity based on the information you provide and your credit history. This does not indicate an issue with your credit report or credit worthiness. If this happens you can retry the Experian process a maximum of two additional times (total of 3 attempts).

If using Experian is not feasible or if Experian cannot validate your identity for any reason, you will need to complete the manual identity proofing process (Option 2). You may contact the SAMS Help Desk with questions about the process (see contact information at end of this page). However, please note that CDC does not have access to your Experian credit information or to the reason that Experian may not be able to confirm your identity.

No. Costs associated with this Experian identity proofing service are not charged to SAMS users.

No. Using Experian for this SAMS identity proofing will not impact your credit score. This type of check, called a soft inquiry, will not show up on your credit report and does not impact your credit score.

No. Most people can complete the identity verification form with the information they carry with them every day. In some cases, such as a recent move or name change, you may need an additional supporting document such as a utility bill.

No. The CDC Proofing Authority will never ask you to send your identity information by email. CDC also will not accept any identity information submitted via email.

The information you supply for identity verification is used only for the purpose of establishing a SAMS account and is not shared outside the CDC Proofing Authority.

You will receive your SAMS approval by email from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov with the subject “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – SAMS Account Activation.” This means your SAMS account is activated.

When your SAMS account is activated, you will receive an additional email from SAMS specifically authorizing you to access NASS. This email from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov will have the subject “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal – SAMS Activity Authorization”. This means that once you have your SAMS account and you log into it, you will see a link to go to NASS.

If your SAMS account is inactive for 12 months (i.e., if you do not log into SAMS at least once a year), your SAMS account will be automatically terminated. In this case, you will need to go through the full registration and identity verification process again to re-establish a SAMS account. To ensure your SAMS account remains active, you must log into SAMS at least once within 12 months after your SAMS account was approved, and within every 12 months after each time you log in.

If your SAMS account is terminated, please note that you will not be able to access the NASS website to report or submit your annual ART data to CDC until you re-establish your SAMS account.

Clinic staff can be added or deleted in NASS as usual by your clinic’s NASS account administrator(s), which will trigger the SAMS account process. Clinic staff that no longer have a NASS account will not be able to access NASS through SAMS, regardless of their SAMS account status.

You cannot change your first or last name after completing the SAMS registration, but you can update your “Preferred Name”. If a name change is required, you will need to request a new account. Please contact the NASS Help Desk for more information at 1-888-650-0822 or NASS@Westat.com.

After a total of three consecutive incorrect login attempts, regardless of the time between trying, your SAMS account will lock. The account will remain locked for two hours. Contact the SAMS Help Desk (1-877-681-2901 or SAMShelp@cdc.gov) for assistance with unlocking it sooner or if you continue to have issues logging in.

No. SAMS will not share your registration information with anyone except the CDC Proofing Authority (since you are required to provide proof of your identity).

No. SAMS will not distribute your email address to anyone outside of CDC. SAMS will only send you email communications in reference to your account. All emails will begin with the following subject line: “U.S. Centers for Disease Control: SAMS Partner Portal.”

CDC has implemented a wide variety of controls that protect the information, computer systems, and applications it maintains. These controls include, but are not limited to:

• Technical controls such as virus protection, encryption, and firewalls.
• Policy controls such as rules and requirements for data sharing and distribution.
• Process controls such as user identity verification.

The NASS Help Desk can answer your general questions about the process to set up your SAMS account. In addition, instructions will be provided in the emails you receive from SAMS for each step of the process. If, along the way, you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the SAMS Help Desk or the NASS Help Desk.

You can reach the SAMS Help Desk at the following:
Toll Free: 1-877-681-2901 (Select option 2 when prompted for the SAMS Help Desk.)
Email: SAMShelp@cdc.gov

You can reach the NASS Help Desk at the following:
Toll Free: 1-888-650-0822
Email: NASS@Westat.com