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CMMC COMPLIANCE FOR CONTRACT MANUFACTURING

CMMC Compliance for Contract Manufacturing

Contract manufacturers build defense products from customer-owned CUI every day. We get your build, test, and ship operations to CMMC Level 2 without collapsing throughput or customer responsiveness.

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Why Contract Manufacturing Companies Need CMMC Compliance

Contract manufacturers are the backbone of the defense industrial base. You receive technical data packages, bills of material, approved vendor lists, and build instructions from primes and OEMs, then turn that data into hardware on tight schedules. Almost every piece of that input data is Controlled Unclassified Information under NIST SP 800-171, and your customers increasingly expect you to prove it is protected.

The challenge is that contract manufacturing runs on shared infrastructure. A single engineering team, a single ERP, and a single shop floor serve dozens of customers simultaneously. CMMC Level 2 requires you to prove that CUI from one customer is not accessible to unauthorized staff, that configuration is controlled across the build, and that every change to the TDP is logged and authorized.

Primes such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, and General Dynamics are flowing CMMC down on new subcontracts. Contract manufacturers that cannot demonstrate Level 2 readiness will find themselves designed out of new programs and dropped from approved vendor lists.

We build CMMC programs that fit how contract manufacturers actually work — multi-customer, multi-product, build-to-print, and schedule-driven — without creating a compliance organization that slows down the plant.

$5.1M
average cost when a contract manufacturer experiences a breach of customer-owned technical data.

Our CMMC Services for Contract Manufacturing

End-to-end CMMC consulting tailored to contract manufacturers. Whether you are starting from scratch or preparing for your C3PAO assessment, we meet you where you are.

Gap Assessment

Full evaluation of engineering, operations, ERP, MES, and shop floor systems against all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls with an SPRS-ready report.

Readiness Assessment

A C3PAO-style pre-assessment that tests your evidence package for multi-customer CUI segmentation.

Policy & Documentation

SSP, POA&M, and contract-manufacturing-specific policies covering customer IP segregation, ECN control, and AVL management.

Technical Controls Implementation

MFA, FIPS encryption, ERP role-based access control, configuration management, and shop-floor endpoint hardening.

Managed Compliance

Quarterly evidence refresh, managed log review, and continuous monitoring to sustain your CMMC posture between assessments.

C3PAO Certification Support

Mock assessments, interview coaching for engineering and operations leads, and on-site support during your assessment.

Which CMMC Level Do You Need?

The CMMC level you need is dictated by the information you handle under your DoD contracts. Here is how CMMC 2.0 breaks down for contract manufacturers.

Level 1

Foundational

  • 17 basic safeguarding practices from FAR 52.204-21
  • For contractors that handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) only
  • Annual self-assessment with senior-official affirmation in SPRS
  • No CUI in scope
Level 2 — Most Common for Contract Manufacturing

Advanced

  • All 110 controls from NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2
  • Required for any contractor that stores, processes, or transmits CUI
  • Third-party C3PAO assessment every three years
  • The level most contract manufacturers will need
Level 3

Expert

  • All Level 2 controls plus selected NIST SP 800-172 enhanced requirements
  • Required for contractors on the DoD's highest-priority programs
  • Government-led DIBCAC assessment every three years
  • Applies to a narrow set of contractors

Most contract manufacturers serving DoD primes will need Level 2. A small share handling only FCI may qualify for Level 1. We will review your contracts and DFARS clauses with you at no cost to confirm.

Controlled Unclassified Information We Protect in Contract Manufacturing

Under NIST SP 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012, every one of these artifacts is typically CUI when tied to a DoD contract. Each one is in scope for CMMC Level 2.

Build-to-Print Drawings & BOMs

Customer TDPs, bills of material, and approved vendor lists that control how the product is built.

Engineering Change Notices

ECNs and ECOs that modify the configuration of CUI products.

Test Procedures & Results

ATPs, acceptance test results, and burn-in data tied to CUI products.

Customer-Furnished Equipment

CFE and GFE records that identify sensitive hardware on the shop floor.

Traceability & Serialization Data

Serial-number-level traceability records tied to DoD end items.

Purchase Orders & Statements of Work

Customer POs and SOWs citing DFARS 252.204-7012 flow-down.

$5.1M
average breach cost for contract manufacturers exposing customer technical data
67%
of contract manufacturers run single-tenant ERPs without customer-by-customer access controls
6-9 Mo
typical Level 2 readiness timeline for a mid-size CM
110
NIST SP 800-171 controls required at Level 2

Our 5-Step CMMC Process for Contract Manufacturing

1

Initial Consultation

We map every customer, every program, and every CUI touchpoint across engineering, operations, and quality.

2

Gap Analysis

Control-by-control review with technical testing, policy review, and interviews.

3

Remediation Planning

A prioritized roadmap that sequences work by risk, C3PAO weight, and program delivery impact.

4

Implementation

We deploy technical controls, author policies, train staff, and build evidence artifacts.

5

Assessment Support

Mock audits, evidence walkthroughs, and on-site support during the C3PAO assessment.

Why Telco United for Contract Manufacturing CMMC

Multi-Customer Expertise

We know how to segregate customer CUI in a shared ERP and shared shop floor without buying a new plant.

Fixed-Price Engagements

Scoped, capped deliverables with no hourly drift.

Supply Chain Savvy

We help you flow DFARS 7012 to your suppliers without losing your AVL.

24/7 Managed SOC

In-house US-person SOC for continuous monitoring controls.

ISO & AS9100 Integration

Our documentation maps to your quality system instead of fighting it.

End-to-End Delivery

Implement, document, train, and stand with you at the audit.

Contract Manufacturing CMMC FAQ

When do contract manufacturers need CMMC?
CMMC clauses are flowing down on new DoD subcontracts now under Phase 1. If you bid defense work in the next 12-24 months, you need to be on a readiness path today.
How do we segregate CUI from multiple customers?
We design role-based access controls in your ERP and file shares, add customer-tagged data classifications, and apply need-to-know policies so a program engineer only sees their program.
Does Level 2 require a separate enclave per customer?
No. One Level 2 enclave can protect CUI from many customers as long as logical access controls enforce customer-by-customer need-to-know.
How long does CMMC take for a contract manufacturer?
Six to nine months is typical for a 50-300 employee CM.
How much does it cost?
$80,000-$200,000 for initial Level 2 readiness for most CMs, plus ongoing managed security costs and the C3PAO fee.
Will CMMC slow down our build schedules?
Not if the program is scoped correctly. We design controls that fit around your MES and ERP workflows rather than bolting onto them.

Start Your Contract Manufacturing CMMC Journey Today

Get a free consultation with our CMMC experts. No commitment, just clear next steps tailored to your contracts, your environment, and your timeline.

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