Army's NCODE pilot takes shape with eight-company cyber pool
Gettyimages.com/ mohd izzuan
By
Nick Wakeman
The $49 million contract gives defense small businesses a secure, Pentagon-funded cloud environment to work on CMMC and other security requirements.
A group of eight companies have won spots on a pilot program that the Army will use to help its small business contractors mitigate cybersecurity threats.
The eight companies will compete for task orders under the $49 million Next-Gen Commercial Operations in Defended Enclaves contract to help small businesses implement standards written by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
This includes NIST 800-171, which is required for compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification.
NCODE will give small businesses a secure Defense Department-funded cloud environment to meet CMMC and other defense cybersecurity compliance requirements.
DOD received 31 bids in total for the opportunity and announced these winners on Tuesday:
- ATX Defense
- Beryllium Infosec
- Cytex
- David T. Scott & Associates
- Eccalon
- Exostar
- Security Centric
- Summit 7 Systems
These eight companies form a pool of what are known as verified external service providers. Through the NCODE vehicle, small business DOD contractors will use defense funds to more quickly improve their cybersecurity posture.
The contract runs through May 14, 2031.
NEXT STORY: Army's $50B MAPS vehicle hit with second protest