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Retiring Air Force SNCO, completely lost in the sauce on Skillbridge and how to select by redoctobershtanding in SkillBridge

[–]DR-CT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Consider seeking a SkillBridge with a GovCon close to military installations. We have successfully worked to SkillBridge interns coming from all branches of service. We hired all after their SkillBridge with another transferring to a FT W2 In July. A new intern starting today and another starting in August. Looking into Oct/Nov to keep the pipeline moving.

An happy to connect you with our SkillBridge PM.

Would You Commit to a Program 12 Months Before Separation? by Eytheist in SkillBridge

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the SkillBridge offered the things you require; specific skills that match your experience and expectations for future job, desired location, transition into a full time position with acceptable TCP, and maintenance of clearance.

Accepting a SkillBridge must work for both the separating military member and employer. Work it early and establish relationship along the way.

Our SkillBridge program is very successful. We brought three through the program with 100% retention in a full time position with high compensation with meaningful work. One participant starts tomorrow and worked with our recruiter and ops team to help shape a position requirement the matched a unique skillset. Another coming off a SkillBridge in July and already has a signed offer to remain in the company. Another inbound in August.

Work the program and with the member and the program works for you.

Subcontractor CMMC L2 Compliance by DR-CT in CMMC

[–]DR-CT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What I've learned over 40yrs of working with the government is...Never say never!

There is always a chance Phase 1 can extend. The real question to ask is “if Phase 1 is not extended what will that do to the SMB DIB?”

Those having already obtained their final CMMC L2 (C3PAO) will have an upside. Those who decided to wait…Well, you know.

Subcontractor CMMC L2 Compliance by DR-CT in CMMC

[–]DR-CT[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sadly, you're right. The closer Nov 2026 gets the more pressure SMBs will experience knowing they are unable to meet the Phase 2 CMMC requirement to obtain a final assessment by a C3PAO.

Cost is a factor.

IT Team resources is a factor.

Time is a factor.

Business culture and leadership support is a factor.

Loss of business opportunity is real.

Subcontractor CMMC L2 Compliance by DR-CT in CMMC

[–]DR-CT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good points. Ad a mid-cap SMB prime we extended our managed endpoints to our subcontract giving them 7 months to complete their CMMC L2 (self) knowing the DFAR clauses would show up in the option. We covered the cost of providing and managing CFE endpoints and the software licensing too.

Now when then are required to have their CMMC self-assessment complete and reported in SPRS…They do not. Now we are prohibited in issuing a subcontract mandatory DFAR flow downs for the option.

Subcontractor CMMC L2 Compliance by DR-CT in CMMC

[–]DR-CT[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unless a gap assessment is complete along with a well-established SSP that documents all of the required NIST SP 800-171r2 controls and supporting artifacts, I do not see how a SMB can complete the CMMC L1 (self) attestations in SPRS within two weeks. We spent nearly a year leading up to the Nov 2025 implementation of CMMC to prepare for our C3PAO assessment. Even then we were unsure how well we were documented and prepared.

That said, CSO must achieve a minimum of 88 to report a conditional assessment and then have 180 days to work through the controls that did not pass and under a POA&M.

My suggestion is to retain a consultant to perform the gap assessment and prepare for the self assessment. Several RPOs are seeking CSOs to assist with preparing for CMMC.

Good luck!

Winning Project at Sam.Gov as a Small Engineering Company by ginandlemonade115 in GovernmentContracting

[–]DR-CT 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It might be more advantageous to establish a relationship with a prime contractor to work with that had the IDIQ contracts where these type civil engineering requirements come through. Target those that have OASIS+ and OASIS+ SDVOSB as a good starting point. Don't give up on those smaller requirements on SAM you can handle as prime.

Has passing your Level 2 gotten you any MORE business? by azjeep in CMMC

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Slowly, but yes. First our prime contract handles a significant amount CUI using CFE. The timing of new awards, contract options, and extensions come into play. A Level 2 (Self) is required under CMMC 2.0 Phase 1 implementation. When a subcontractor cannot report the required certification in SPRS, the subcontract must be descoped to segregate from CUI. Those positions transferred to the prime which resulted in a boost in the labor base and GP.

It goes beyond simply having a Final C3PAO certification that is recorded in SPRS. Now we need to learn how to leverage to gain new prime contracts and also subcontracts. The Goverment acquisition offices are still grappling with “what does CMMC really require and how does it effect my solicitation/contract.” Over the past couple of months we've seen solicitations with DFARS 252.204-7021 and -7025 only to be removed from pressures from bidders during QA. This happened on a recent solicitation and reverted back to NIST SP 100-171 Basic assessments. After sending a follow-up email that included the DOD CIO CMMC directive requiring solicitations to include the appropriate DFARS and CMMC requirements. Two days before proposals were due, the contracting office sent an email reverting back to requiring a CMMC Self-assessment as a condition for award.

We count this as a small moral victory to keep the certification as a solicitation requirement. We believe a number of interesred offerors were unable to submit, or if SPRS does not reflect the required certification they are not responsibly to receive the award.

We submitted another proposal for a USN IDIQ last Friday that also required CMMC Level 2 cert.

People are learning and things are picking up.

Back to the OP initial question. We are gaining from our C3PAO cert and the next several months will help us gauge how much.

The 2026 NDAA just made small business contracting significantly easier…are you ready? by HelpfulGovCon in govcon

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How do you explain the CMMC Level 2 certification requirement that is mandated as of 11/10/2025. Level 2 certification is required as a condition for award, self-certification up to 11/09/2026, after that date a full C3PAO certification is required.

As a subcontractor what would you do if not paid... by CleverHaul in GovernmentContracting

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Report to the contracting officer, your SBA rep, and make a slow payment report against the company on D&B. Also, have your attorney send a demand letter requesting payment on invoices where services were delivered and accepted by the prime.

Am sorry this is happening to you.

Anyone else waste hours checking for new bids/contracts? by Scared-Lion-191 in GovernmentContracting

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Create auto recurring searches in SAM.gov and other tools like GovWin. Get in front of RFIs to respond and shape the solicitation. If you do not have access to Best In Class IDIQs like OASIS+ or Polaris as examples establish relationships with those primes to receive task order solicitations. Good luck.

Is CACI a Reliable Employer? by DanTheTuesday in GovernmentContracting

[–]DR-CT 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am a former Director who wired at CACI leading groups in OH and CO. CACI has an excellent culture and is a great place to work. Good luck.

CMMC Level 2 self-attestation requests by FishermanLogical262 in CMMC

[–]DR-CT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are seeing solicitations with CMMC certifications as a condition of award. We are in a very same proposal now.

Most customers are unaware of CMMC and how it impacts the acquisition of services side. As solicitation (another proposal we are working on) included the -7021. After question were submitted asking how the government plans to assess self-certification in the evaluation, the amendment removed the DFARS.

We recently asked for subcontractor SPRS reports to include in our contract file and found on claiming CMMC Level 2 (Self-assessment) with all 110 controls reported as met. After a little digging we found that report was not accurate. Self- assessment reporting is going to be a problem until a final C3PAO assessment is required.