This week’s episode covers the Cyber AB’s recently released pre-decisional draft CMMC Assessment Process, an SBA final rule that implements new methods for evaluating expanded sources of small business past performance, a GSA OIG Alert about the Transactional Data Reporting rule, and Senate passage of an amended version of the Preventing Organizational Conflicts of Interest
CMMC
No Summer Break for Cyber: Newly Unveiled CMMC Assessment Process Provides Industry with Upcoming Assessment Insights





After much anticipation, the Cyber AB, formerly known as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Accreditation Body, recently released its pre-decisional draft CMMC Assessment Process (CAP). The CAP describes the overarching procedures and guidance that CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) will use to assess entities seeking CMMC certification. The current version of the CAP applies to contractors requiring CMMC Level 2 certification, which will likely be most contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) based on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) provisional scoping guidance for CMMC 2.0.
Crowell & Moring Achieves CMMC Registered Provider Organization Status to Help Defense Contractors Prepare for Upcoming DoD Cybersecurity Assessments

More than 300,000 companies within the Defense Department’s supply chain will need to meet new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements and pass a third-party assessment to ensure they are adequately protecting sensitive information on their networks. Now, Crowell & Moring has become the first AmLaw 100 firm to achieve Registered Provider Organization (RPO) status…
NIST Finalizes Enhanced Security Requirements for Combating Advanced Cyber Threats





The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently released the final version of NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-172, Enhanced Security Requirements for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information. Designed to supplement the requirements in NIST SP 800-171—the applicable standard under DFARS 252.204-7012—800-172 provides 35 enhanced security requirements to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) associated with…
DoD’s Stocking Stuffer: Defense Department Announces Proposed CMMC Pilot Programs



This week, the DoD announced the first group of pilot programs under the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification. Although still under review, these programs will likely be among a small group to issue solicitations in FY2021 that will require a CMMC certificate to be eligible for award. The DoD expects to identify eight other programs…
The DoD’s Own Cyber Monday: Defense Department Releases CMMC Assessment Guides





Fresh off the heels of the DFARS Interim Rule, the Department of Defense (DoD) released Assessment Guides for Levels 1 – 3 of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). These Guides will be used by Certified Assessors to determine whether contractors have satisfied the practices and processes required to attain CMMC certifications at…
No More “Wait & See” for CMMC: DoD Releases Final Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification





The Department of Defense (DoD) has released Version 1.0 of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), Appendices A-F, and an Overview Briefing. While Version 1.0 largely mirrors the draft Version 0.7, the final version includes notable revisions, such as:
- Process and Practice Descriptions in Appendix B, which include discussions and clarifications
…
DoD Acquisition Chief Looks Back at the Year that Was and Previews the Year to Come



On December 10, 2019, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Ellen Lord, briefed the press on the Department of Defense’s (DoD) significant acquisition reform achievements in 2019 and outlined many of the DoD’s top priorities for the coming year. Among a litany of other topics, the Secretary discussed efforts to streamline the…