CMMC Level 1
Also known as: Level 1, CMMC L1
CMMC Level 1 is the lowest of the three CMMC certification tiers, covering contractors who handle Federal Contract Information (FCI) but not CUI. It requires implementing the 15 safeguarding requirements in FAR 52.204-21(b)(1), an annual self-assessment, and an annual senior-official affirmation posted in SPRS.
Related terms
- FAR 52.204-21
FAR 52.204-21 is the Federal Acquisition Regulation clause that requires federal contractors to apply 15 basic safeguarding requirements to systems that process, store, or transmit Federal Contract Information (FCI). It is the regulatory basis for CMMC Level 1, the 15 Level 1 practices are drawn directly from paragraph (b)(1) of this clause.
- Federal Contract Information
Federal Contract Information (FCI) is non-public information provided by or generated for the federal government under a contract to develop or deliver a product or service. It is the information type protected under FAR 52.204-21 and is the trigger for CMMC Level 1.
- CMMC Level 2
CMMC Level 2 is the middle CMMC certification tier, covering contractors who handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It requires implementing all 110 controls of NIST SP 800-171 and undergoing either a self-assessment or a triennial assessment by a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO) depending on the program's prioritization. DoD suspended CMMC Phase 2 on July 13, 2026, which paused the phased arrival of the C3PAO assessment requirement pending a program review, while the obligations that drive Level 2 in the first place, DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171, are unaffected.
- Annual Affirmation
The annual affirmation is the electronic statement, posted in SPRS at least every 12 months by an Affirming Official under 32 CFR 170.22, that the contractor continues to meet the security requirements for its CMMC level. Knowingly false affirmations are the explicit enforcement target of the DOJ Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative.
- Supplier Performance Risk System
The Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) is the Department of Defense system of record where contractors post their NIST SP 800-171 assessment scores and CMMC affirmations. Contracting officers verify SPRS entries before award on solicitations that include DFARS 252.204-7019, -7020, or -7021.
Read more in the Library
- CMMC Level 1: The Complete 2026 Guide for Small DoD Contractors
The single page to read first. What CMMC Level 1 is, who it applies to, what's actually required, what it costs, and the fastest honest path through it in 2026.
- CMMC Level 1: All 15 FAR Safeguarding Requirements Explained in Plain English (2026 Guide)
Every CMMC Level 1 safeguarding requirement, in language a non-cybersecurity founder can act on, what each control means, what evidence satisfies it, and where teams trip up.
- CMMC Level 1 Is Binary. There Is No Score. Here's What That Means.
Level 1 isn't graded on a curve. Every one of the 15 requirements has to be MET, or the whole assessment fails. Here's how the rule actually works, and why that's good news for small contractors.