DOW CMMC RFI Response Builder

CISC community submission deadline: Sunday, August 2 · Department RFI closes 12 PM ET, Friday, August 14, 2026

CMMC Industry Standards Council seal

Department of War: Request for InformationDue August 2

The Future of CMMC Is Being Written.
Your Experience Matters.

The Department of War has issued an RFI seeking practical recommendations on how to improve the CMMC Program while continuing to safeguard federal information. There are two ways to participate: directly, or collaboratively with the CMMC Industry Standards Council.

“The strongest cybersecurity programs are not built solely through regulation. They are strengthened by the collective experience of the Patriots that implement them every day. Protecting CUI protects our Warfighters.”

CMMC Industry Standards Council

Where things stand

This Is Not a Pause in Protecting CUI

Following the Department’s announcement temporarily suspending implementation of CMMC Phase II, it established a CMMC Reform Task Force and issued this RFI. For perhaps the first time since CMMC was introduced, every organization, from the smallest supplier to the largest prime, has a direct line to influence the next evolution of the program.

This review is not a reduction in the importance of protecting Controlled Unclassified Information. It is an opportunity to improve how those protections are implemented and assessed across the DIB.

What changes
Advancement into CMMC Phase II is suspended while the Reform Task Force conducts its 60-day review.
What stays
DFARS 252.204-7012 safeguarding requirements and all CMMC Phase I requirements remain fully in effect for contract eligibility.
In the interim
The Department maintains its existing cybersecurity expectations, including continued reliance on self-assessments, and enforcement continues: the False Claims Act, with its whistleblower provisions, still applies to cybersecurity compliance representations.

Two ways to participate

Choose your path.
Doing both is encouraged.

CISC submissions are compiled separately into a consensus-based industry response for the CMMC Reform Task Force. A CISC submission does not replace a direct response to the Department; the two channels are complementary. Either way, the response builder below assembles your draft.

Community response

Contribute to the CISC industry response

Your input is compiled with the rest of the ecosystem into a single consensus-based response. Submit as an individual, on behalf of an organization, or anonymously, in whole or in part. One strong, specific recommendation is enough.

DeadlineSunday, August 2
Send toxavierlemond@dtcglobal.us

Build your response below

Direct to the Department

Respond to the official RFI on SAM.gov

Organizations are strongly encouraged to also respond directly to the Department in accordance with the official instructions in the RFI notice on SAM.gov.

Deadline12 PM ET, Friday, August 14, 2026
Send toThe Department’s submission addresses, listed in the instructions below

Build your response below

The seven questions

Pick the ones you have lived.
Build your response.

You do not need to answer all seven. One strong, specific recommendation on a single question can be more valuable than a lengthy response to every one. Use this to capture your thinking; your finished response goes in as a Word or PDF document, and the panel walks you through the steps.

How can the DoW better leverage existing commercial cybersecurity capabilities to protect CUI and reduce compliance burden?

Not yet written

How can the DoW optimize self-attestation or other self-verification mechanisms to maintain trust while reducing cost and administration?

Not yet written

What specific requirements, processes, or documentation could be streamlined or eliminated to reduce burden without reducing security?

Not yet written

What are the top cost drivers in achieving and maintaining compliance, and how can they be reduced?

Not yet written

How can CMMC requirements be structured to support, not hinder, small, medium, and non-traditional businesses in the supply chain?

Not yet written

What reforms would best encourage innovation, operational resilience, and broad adoption of secure commercial solutions?

Not yet written

What other ideas, approaches, or policy changes should the CMMC Reform Task Force consider?

Not yet written

Your draft
0
of 7 questions answered. One is enough.

Full
instructions

Choose where you are sending this draft:

Open each question you have experience with and write your recommendation.
Copy the draft into a Word or PDF document. The format rules apply.
Email it as an attachment by August 2 with the required subject line.
Need help with your submission? Email us at support@futurefeed.co
Your details

The Department asks for the point of contact name, address, phone, email, and fax in the submitted document.

Send to

xavierlemond@dtcglobal.us
Required subject line

Reforming CMMC and Reducing Compliance Burden for the Defense Industrial Base (DIB)
Open a pre-addressed email

The email opens pre-addressed to the CISC with the subject line filled in. Attach your finished Word or PDF document.

Response instructions

What to send, and what to leave out.

Format and length
  • MS Word or PDF only
  • 10 pages maximum, single-spaced, 10-pt Times New Roman, 1 inch margins
  • Text in graphics, tables, and figures no smaller than 9-pt
  • Plus a 1-page cover letter, not counted toward the limit
  • Responses must be unclassified
Include
  • Company name, DUNS or UEI, CAGE Code, and point of contact, unless submitting anonymously
  • Responses to any of the seven questions
  • Feedback on feasibility
  • Potential risks, challenges, or innovations worth considering
Please do not include
  • Proprietary information. Materials marked proprietary will not be considered or returned
  • Hard copies
  • Extraneous materials such as brochures
Submitting directly to the Department: official RFI requirements
Due 12 PM Eastern, Friday, August 14, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered.
How Electronic submissions only, to whs.mc-alex.ad.mbx.eosd-psb-branch-mailbox@mail.mil and leanne.m.condren.civ@mail.mil. Only submissions to Ms. Leanne Condren will be considered.
Reference Subject line: Reforming CMMC and Reducing Compliance Burden for the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The official notice is posted on SAM.gov.

This RFI is for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. Responses are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. The Department will not reimburse any costs associated with responding. Submissions to this RFI do not equate to self-attestation for CMMC.

The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement. The CMMC Industry Standards Council will compile and consider all submissions received by August 2 for inclusion in a consensus-based industry response. Individual submissions to the Department are also encouraged.

This page is provided by FutureFeed as a contribution to the CISC community response effort. Publication does not imply FutureFeed’s endorsement of the CISC final submission or of any individual recommendation contained within it. CMMCISC.org · futurefeed.co