State of South Carolina - Supply Chain Resiliency
Abstract
Due to uncertainty in the defense manufacturing sector created by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and continuing until present, South Carolina Defense manufacturers have been under unusual economic pressure. In order to respond to these economic pressures most firms are seeking to become more resilient by modernizing equipment, processes, and systems. Cyber security is one of the greatest modernization areas of need for these small to mid-sized businesses. Beginning in December 2017, DoD contractors were required to achieve cyber security standards specified in the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012. Failure to achieve these specified cyber security standards meant that businesses could not be awarded any DoD contract until the standards were met. An earlier grant to the State of South Carolina enabled it to complete a thorough supply chain analysis of the South Carolina’s defense industry to identify the Tier I, II, III and IV suppliers and the potential economic impact the state and regions could face due to potential defense budget cuts or other supplier issues. Small to mid-sized defense firms are the most at risk for lack of compliance in cyber security and are at risk of losing their current defense contracts. South Carolina wants to ensure a resilient supply chain for DOD while also maintaining a robust local economy. South Carolina seeks to develop and implement a Defense Cyber security Assistance Program to assist defense firms in obtaining cyber security compliance. Therefore, the objective of this grant is to support the military in South Carolina through the recruitment, education, and provision of technical assistance to defense firms in achieving compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012/NIST 800-171 security control requirements and DoD s new Cyber security Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). The project team consists of the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), the SC Department of Commerce (DoC), and the SC Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP) who will work closely to engage small and mid-sized defense firms, align them with the resources to assess their compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012, and provide follow up assistance on any gaps in compliance. This project supports national security priorities by targeting defense manufacturers in South Carolina who produce parts and products and services that are critical to military operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00052010016
Entities
People
- Nina Staggers
Organizations
- Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce