The countdown to CMMC Phase 1 is nearly over. On November 10, the Department of Defense will begin enforcing the final rule that launches the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program in full.
For contractors across the Defense Industrial Base, this is the turning point. The years of speculation are behind us. CMMC is no longer a proposal or pilot. It is now an operational requirement that directly affects how defense contracts are awarded, renewed, and competed.
Until now, contractors could rely on self-attestations through SPRS scores. That flexibility ends once Phase 1 begins. The rule gives contracting officers new authority to verify compliance, confirm evidence, and request certification details before award.
In short, self-attestation gives way to independent verification.
Phase 1 introduces several immediate changes that contractors will feel across their programs:
These changes do more than raise compliance expectations. They alter how contractors compete and collaborate.
Primes will begin requiring clear evidence of readiness from their suppliers. Subcontractors that can prove a strong CMMC posture will move up the list for teaming and awards. Those without proof may find themselves waiting while others move ahead.
Readiness now influences contract velocity, pricing leverage, and supply chain trust. It is becoming a competitive differentiator, not a compliance checkbox.
Across the DIB, contractors are using these final weeks to prepare in different ways. Some are completing mock assessments to confirm evidence before engaging a C3PAO. Others are organizing documentation and mapping their environments so they can move quickly once CMMC requirements appear in solicitations.
The most proactive teams are treating November 10 as a capacity event. They understand that early scheduling reduces risk later and that being documentation-ready creates confidence once the assessment begins.
As one of the few accredited C3PAOs performing official CMMC Level 2 assessments, Coalfire Federal has already seen how preparation directly affects outcomes. Contractors who approach CMMC as an ongoing discipline rather than a one-time project experience smoother assessments and faster decisions.
Our role is to keep the process consistent, transparent, and aligned with DoD expectations. Every assessment we conduct is designed to uphold fairness, evidence quality, and trust in the certification process.
November 10 marks the start of accountability, verification, and action. The rule’s activation signals a measurable shift across the Defense Industrial Base.
Contractors who enter this phase with verified evidence, organized documentation, and confidence in their posture will move forward without disruption. Those who wait will face the same requirements under greater time pressure and fewer scheduling options.
This is the last quiet moment before CMMC becomes part of every contract conversation. Readiness now determines how fast and how far contractors move once Phase 1 begins.
Confirm your readiness before the rush begins.
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