CMMC 2.0 Compliance — L1, L2, L3 Readiness | C3PAO Coordination

CMMC 2.0 done by people with actual defense industrial base experience

We run end-to-end CMMC 2.0 readiness for defense contractors and subs — Level 1 self- attestation, Level 2 C3PAO assessment readiness, and the SSP / POA&M / SPRS scoring machinery that contracting officers actually look at. NIST 800-171 aligned, scoped tightly to keep the budget defensible, and built to survive the assessor walk-through.

For the framework overview, see our blog: CMMC 2.0 Explained — what defense contractors need to know.

Who we work with

• Prime contractors with direct DoD contracts requiring CMMC Level 2 or 3.
• Sub-contractors with flowdown obligations from primes — often at Level 2 with a 110-control NIST 800-171 footprint.
• Manufacturing and aerospace SMBs handling CUI for the first time and trying not to scope their entire IT estate into the assessment.
• Software and engineering firms serving the defense industrial base who need CMMC alongside ITAR and DFARS obligations.
• MSPs and IT consultancies who refer CMMC work for their DIB clients.

What we deliver

• Scoping workshop. The single most expensive mistake at CMMC is over-scoping. We map where CUI actually lives, where it could leak, and what enclave architecture reduces the assessment footprint by 60-90%.
• Gap analysis against NIST 800-171. 110 controls, current implementation status, evidence inventory, and a documented remediation roadmap with cost estimates.
• System Security Plan (SSP). Not a template — your actual systems, your actual control implementations, written so an assessor reading it understands your environment within an hour. The SSP is the document.
• Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M). Every gap, with a realistic remediation plan, owner, and target date. Under CMMC 2.0 only certain POA&M items are allowed at assessment time and must be closed within 180 days — we know which.
• SPRS scoring submission. Calculated against the 110-control deduction model, posted with a credible POA&M attached. Negative scores are a discriminator, not a disqualifier — but only with the right context.
• Control implementation. We don't just write the SSP — we stand up the actual controls. Access management, audit logging, configuration management, incident response, FIPS-validated cryptography where required.
• Pre-assessment dry-run. Internal walkthrough before a C3PAO walks in. We rehearse the assessment, identify weak evidence, and shore it up before the formal engagement.
• C3PAO coordination. We have working relationships with C3PAOs across price points. We help you select, schedule, and run the assessment day-of.

The three levels — who needs which

• Level 1 (Foundational). 17 basic safeguards from FAR 52.204-21. For contractors handling only FCI. Self-attested annually by a senior company official. The attestation carries personal liability.
• Level 2 (Advanced). 110 controls from NIST 800-171. For contractors handling CUI. Most contracts require triennial C3PAO assessment.
• Level 3 (Expert). Level 2 + a subset of NIST 800-172. For the highest-priority CUI. Triennial DIBCAC assessment.

Where contractors burn cash unnecessarily

1. Scoping too broadly. If CUI is processed in one segmented enclave, assess the enclave — not your entire IT estate. Scope discipline cuts budget more than any other lever.
2. Buying "CMMC-in-a-box" SaaS. Tools help; tools do not produce a working SSP, a credible POA&M, or assessor-ready evidence. The work is the work.
3. Confusing FCI scope with CUI scope. Level 1 covers a much larger footprint with much cheaper controls. Level 2 covers a tightly-scoped enclave with expensive controls. Mixing them blows up the budget.
4. Skipping the dry-run. The first time a C3PAO walks in should not be the first time anyone outside the company has audited the SSP.
5. FIPS-validated crypto. "We use AES-256" is not the same as "we use FIPS 140-2/3 validated AES-256." Assessors check.

Engagement structures

• Level 2 readiness, full build-out. 16-26 weeks. Scoping, gap analysis, SSP, POA&M, control implementation, dry-run, C3PAO coordination. Fee: $80K–$280K depending on starting maturity and enclave architecture.
• Level 1 self-attestation prep. 4-6 weeks. SSP, evidence binder, attestation guidance. Fee: $15K–$35K.
• Annual SPRS refresh + POA&M management. Monthly retainer keeping your score current and POA&M items moving toward closure.
• Pre-assessment dry-run only. 3-4 weeks. For contractors who built their program internally and want a third-party walkthrough before the C3PAO. Fee: $25K–$55K.
• Sub-flowdown advisory. When your prime is asking for evidence of your CMMC posture and you need to respond credibly without overcommitting.

What we will not do

• Help you scope around CUI you actually have
• Sell you "CMMC tooling" as a substitute for the work
• Write an SSP that does not describe your actual environment
• Sign attestation language as a senior official — that's yours

Referral partnerships welcome

We work with C3PAOs needing remediation partners, prime contractors flowing CMMC to subs, IT firms whose defense-industrial-base clients need a specialist, and defense- focused law firms on contract review. You introduce the client, we sign a mutual NDA and a referral agreement, and we deliver under our own brand directly to the client.

Compensation is negotiated per partnership, calibrated to volume, scope, and ongoing co-marketing. Recurring referral partners earn richer terms than one-off introductions. Non-circumvention language standard.

Related

• NIST 800-171 Compliance — the foundation under CMMC L2
• ITAR Compliance — defense contractor companion obligation
• Defense Industrial Base Cyber Advisory — strategic DIB program development
• CMMC 2.0 Explained (blog)