The '''Trading Partner Identification Number''' (or '''TPIN''',) is a confidential number assigned to organizations which are or intend to be contractors[[military contractor|contractor]]s to the [[Federal Government of the United States]]. It is issued by the [[Central Contractor RegistryRegistration]] (CCR) of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]. Contractors are consistently advised by CCR to treat the TPIN as if it were a password, and not to reveal it to others not directly involved in their business operations.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=uK7bDWO6jB8C&dq=%22Trading+Partner+Identification+Number%22&pg=PA114 The Beginners Guide to Government Contracting], Jeffery Corbin, {{ISBN|9781430312048}}, page 114</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=sa0qmTKr_QgC&dq=%22Trading+Partner+Identification+Number%22&pg=PT23 Getting a Gsa Schedule: A Step by Step Guide], Scott Orbach, {{ISBN|9780615220239}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5mWHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Trading+Partner+Identification+Number%22 Doing Business with the Government Using EDI: A Guide for Small Businesses], Jan Zimmerman, {{ISBN|9780470343128}} pages 34, 53, 214</ref><ref>[http://www.calstate.edu/cce/meetings/documents/NatlEndowArts_RFP.pdf Beattie, Daniel J. "Grants for Arts Projects: Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth."]</ref>
A T.P.I.N. is obtained by any organization that may need it via an [[Secure Sockets Layer|SSL]] connection over the Internet from the [https://web.archive.org/web/20050830213650/http://www.ccr.gov/ CCR].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/26/business/smallbusiness/26sbiz.html There’s Safety in Military Contracts], New York Times, Kate Murphy, 25 March 2009</ref>
==See also==
* [[Commercial and Government Entity|CAGE Code]] code issued by the [[Defense Logistics Information Service]] (DLIS) to identify suppliers to the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]].
* [[Employer identification number]] issued by the [[IRS]]
* [[D.U.N.S.]] number issued by [[Dun & Bradstreet]]
