State of Alabama Supply Chain Resiliency Phase 2
Abstract
Due to uncertainty in the defense manufacturing sector created by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and continuing until present, Alabama 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. Cybersecurity is one of the greatest modernization areas of need for these small to mid-sized businesses. Beginning in December 2017, Department of Defense (DoD) contractors were required to achieve cybersecurity standards specified in Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012. Failure to achieve these specified cybersecurity standards meant that businesses could not be awarded any DoD contract until the standards were met. Small to mid-sized defense firms tend to be more at risk for a lack of compliance in cybersecurity than are larger defense contractors. The University of Alabama at Huntsville - Office for Operational Excellence (UAH-OOE) intends to ensure a resilient supply chain for DoD while also maintaining a robust local economy by assisting these companies with cybersecurity compliance concerns. The overall objective of this grant is to support the both local business concerns as well as the national security industrial base by the 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 Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). In partnership with the Alabama Technology Network (ATN) the UAH-OOE team will conduct a series of workshops across the state to provide education and identify small and medium size defense dependent companies needing assistance. The team will conduct individual company assessments and gap reports and then complete system security plans for select qualifying companies. Many of these companies would otherwise be at risk of not meeting the DFARS 252.204-7012 standard and/or CMMC standard and this assistance will ensure they will be able to continue to work as DoD suppliers.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 09, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00052010026
Entities
People
- Brian Tucker
Organizations
- Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Alabama in Huntsville