The DUNS number is an identity number for a business via the Data Universal Numbering System, created by old pals D&B (Dun and Bradstreet). Basically, the DUNS number is kind of like a business’s social security number, except it’s used for credit reporting and nobody wants to try to steal it. The DUNS database has 300+ million DUNS numbers in it, making it rain all over the globe with their identifying numbers.
While the DUNS was created by some company in New Jersey, it’s considered universal and is used by big boys such as the UN, the U.S. government, and the European Commission. No big deal.