Security and Information Safeguarding Compliance

The contract requires implementation of NIST SP 800-171 basic safeguarding controls to ensure the protection of covered contractor information systems that handle data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is a subcontract for security and information safeguarding compliance, with a strong focus on meeting federal cybersecurity standards to secure sensitive USDA data. The contractor must establish and maintain the necessary technical, administrative, and physical controls outlined in the NIST publication to mitigate risks associated with unauthorized access, disclosure, or compromise of the information systems involved. The solicitation was posted on May 12, 2026, with a firm response deadline of May 19, 2026, at 9:00 PM Eastern Time. It falls under NAICS code 541611, which pertains to administrative management and general management consulting services, indicating the work involves advisory and compliance-related activities rather than pure technical implementation. The contracting agency is the USDA ARS AFM APD, and while the place of performance and point of contact details are not specified, the requirement applies to any system processing USDA data regardless of geographic location. Compliance is mandatory and must align with federal guidelines to ensure data integrity and confidentiality across the contractor’s operations.