Introduction
Prime contractors carry the heaviest compliance burden in the defense supply chain. They’re accountable not only for their own posture but also for the subcontractors they bring in.
That means the question every prime is asking right now is simple: “Will this partner strengthen us—or weaken us?”
For small and midsize subcontractors, the ability to answer that question with auditable evidence is the difference between winning work and being cut out.
Why Primes Are Tightening Standards
- DoD Pressure Primes face direct accountability under CMMC. If any subcontractor in their chain fails to meet requirements, the risk rolls uphill.
- Audit Risk Primes undergo their own assessments. They don’t want findings tied to vendors who can’t back up claims.
- Competition With tens of thousands of potential subs, primes have options. Why choose the contractor who “hopes” they’re compliant when others can prove it?
What Primes Look For in Subs
Primes aren’t looking for polish. They’re looking for confidence that a sub can carry its weight. That means:
- Clear SSPs that scope boundaries and match reality.
- Traceable POA&Ms showing what’s implemented, what’s pending, and who owns each action.
- Evidence that lines up with CFR methods—logs, interviews, and tests that prove controls are active.
- Consistency across outputs—SPRS score, SSP, and POA&M tell the same story.
If you can’t provide these quickly, primes see you as a liability.
The Subcontractor Dilemma
Small contractors often assume:
- “Level 1 is enough to slide by.”
- “Self-attestation will cover us.”
- “We won’t get audited directly, so it doesn’t matter.”
But primes aren’t waiting for formal audits. They’re running their own supplier due diligence checks. That means:
- Requests for SSPs and POA&Ms during onboarding.
- Evidence reviews before contract renewals.
- Pre-award questionnaires that go beyond self-scoring.
If you can’t produce defensible evidence on demand, you’re at risk of losing the work.
A Real-World Example
A small IT services subcontractor was up for renewal with a major defense prime. When asked for their compliance package, they sent:
- An SSP built from a template.
- A POA&M that lumped planned and implemented fixes together.
- A SPRS score of 88.
The prime pushed back, asking for evidence. Logs were missing, POA&Ms didn’t separate reality from intention, and nothing lined up cleanly.
The prime dropped them from the renewal pool. Another subcontractor—who could show version-controlled evidence—took their place.
Why Speed Matters
Primes move fast. They don’t have time to wait months while a subcontractor scrambles to build evidence from scratch.
They want:
- Immediate clarity: Can this contractor prove compliance today?
- Confidence in traceability: Are artifacts tied to controls and CFR validation?
- Scalability: Will this sub keep pace as requirements tighten?
Being “almost ready” isn’t good enough.
How Deep Fathom Equips Subs to Pass the Pressure Test
Deep Fathom gives subcontractors the ability to deliver audit-ready proof on demand—without needing a full compliance department.
- Quick, Auditable Evidence Packages Export SSPs, POA&Ms, and SPRS scores in clean, assessor-ready formats.
- Traceability Built In Artifacts are linked to NIST SP 800-171A objectives and CFR validation methods. Logs, ownership, and timestamps are attached.
- Structured POA&Ms Implemented, in-progress, and pending fixes are clearly separated per CFR standards.
- Confidence for Primes Evidence aligns to assessor expectations, not wishful claims.
Benefits for Subcontractors
- Stay in the Game Prove you’re not the weak link and avoid being cut from supply chains.
- Build Prime Trust Reliable evidence builds stronger relationships and future opportunities.
- Save Time Skip the scramble. Have audit-ready documentation at your fingertips.
- Scale Safely Whether you’re Level 1 today or aiming for Level 2 tomorrow, Deep Fathom grows with you.
The Bigger Picture
Defense primes are facing enormous pressure to secure their supply chains. They won’t risk contracts on subcontractors who can’t prove compliance.
That means the bar has shifted. Evidence isn’t optional. It’s the new currency of trust in the defense industrial base.
If your proof is scattered in spreadsheets or templated SSPs, you’re not ready for prime scrutiny. Don’t wait until a renewal or bid to discover you’re the weak link.
Deep Fathom equips you with quick, auditable evidence—so primes see resilience, not risk.