Colorado · Mountain West / Rocky Mountain US
Colorado cybersecurity grants for defense contractors
Colorado Springs anchors one of the country's largest space and defense economies, home to the Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Fort Carson, Schriever Space Force Base, and Peterson Space Force Base, with Buckley Space Force Base in nearby Aurora. If you hold or pursue DoD work, a CMMC gap assessment shows exactly where you stand, and the Cyber Grants Alliance grant can cover it.
- 200+Space & defense firms, Colo. Springs
- 5Military installations, Pikes Peak region: Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain SFS, Fort Carson, Schriever SFB, Peterson SFB
- 100Grants available
CMMC Phase 2 status: under DoD review. DoD suspended the CMMC Phase 2 third-party certification requirement in July 2026 pending a program review. Phase 1 self-assessment against NIST SP 800-171 remains mandatory now, and self-certified compliance carries more liability with third-party verification on hold.
Why it matters here
Where does Colorado's defense work come from?
Colorado's defense economy is concentrated around Colorado Springs, home to the Space Force's satellite command-and-control mission, and Fort Carson to the south, creating significant contracting opportunities, and CMMC obligations, for local businesses. The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC counts five military installations in the Pikes Peak region: the Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Fort Carson, Schriever Space Force Base, and Peterson Space Force Base. Buckley Space Force Base, in nearby Aurora, is part of the broader Denver metro defense footprint.
Colorado Springs
Peterson Space Force Base
Home to Space Base Delta 1 and host to more than 100 mission partners, including North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Space Command.
Colorado Springs
Schriever Space Force Base
Home to the GPS Master Control Station and several Space Deltas responsible for satellite navigation, missile warning, and space electronic warfare operations.
Colorado Springs
Air Force Academy
The U.S. Air Force's undergraduate service academy, a major institutional presence and source of contracting and support opportunities in the Pikes Peak region.
Colorado Springs
Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station
Home to hardened command-and-control facilities supporting North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command missile warning and space surveillance missions.
Colorado Springs
Fort Carson
Home to the Army's 4th Infantry Division, Colorado's largest military installation and a major source of Army logistics, equipment, and services contracts.
Aurora
Buckley Space Force Base
A hub for space-based missile warning and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations supporting national security missions, located in the Denver metro area rather than the Pikes Peak region.
Your local partner
Who is Colorado's CMMC and manufacturing partner?
Manufacturer's Edge, headquartered in Lakewood, is Colorado's official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center and the state's representative of the NIST MEP National Network. It provides technical assistance, training, and consulting to small and mid-sized Colorado manufacturers.
Cybersecurity readiness
Manufacturer's Edge supports manufacturers with technology adoption and operational-improvement services, including guidance relevant to NIST 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 requirements.
Supply chain & federal contracting support
Through the Colorado Manufacturing Network, Manufacturer's Edge helps manufacturers strengthen supply chains and connect with government contracting resources statewide.
More resources
What other cybersecurity support can Colorado businesses use?
Beyond the grant, Colorado businesses can tap additional support through state programs and federal resources.
Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT)
Oversees statewide cybersecurity policy and information-security direction for Colorado's executive branch agencies under state statute.
CISA Region 8
Serves Colorado, along with Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming, providing no-cost cybersecurity advisories, risk assessments, and incident-response support.
Colorado APEX Accelerator
Formerly the Colorado PTAC, this program offers free counseling on government contracting, from registration through contract administration and closeout.
The grant
How much does a CMMC gap assessment cost in Colorado?
Through the CMMC gap assessment grant, it is an in-kind award. You receive the assessment itself, delivered by a certified partner. 100 grants are available.
Confirm you qualify
Open to U.S. defense contractors and manufacturers in the supply chain that hold or pursue DoD contracts and have not yet completed a CMMC assessment.
Get assessed against NIST 800-171
A certified partner reviews your current controls and identifies the gaps that stand between you and CMMC Level 2.
Leave knowing where you stand
You receive a prioritized list of your compliance gaps by severity, so you know what to fix first.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Colorado CMMC grants
Who qualifies for the CMMC gap assessment grant in Colorado?
The grant is open to U.S. defense contractors and manufacturers in the DoD supply chain that hold or are pursuing DoD contracts and have not yet completed a CMMC assessment. Colorado businesses supporting Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Buckley Space Force Base, or Fort Carson are typical candidates.
How much does a CMMC gap assessment cost in Colorado?
Through the Cyber Grants Alliance program, the assessment is delivered as an in-kind grant. You receive the assessment itself from a certified partner. 100 grants are available.
What is Colorado's MEP center?
Manufacturer's Edge, headquartered in Lakewood, is Colorado's official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) center and the state's representative of the NIST MEP National Network. It provides technical assistance, training, and cybersecurity readiness support to Colorado manufacturers, including guidance relevant to CMMC and NIST 800-171.
Is CMMC Level 2 enforcement still happening on November 10, 2026?
No. DoD suspended the CMMC Phase 2 third-party (C3PAO) certification requirement on July 13, 2026, pending a program review, so there is no confirmed enforcement date at this time. Phase 1 self-assessment against all 110 NIST SP 800-171 controls remains mandatory now, and self-certified SPRS scores carry more liability while third-party verification is paused. A gap assessment is still the essential first step.
Do subcontractors in Colorado need CMMC?
If your contract or a prime's contract involves Controlled Unclassified Information, CMMC requirements generally flow down to subcontractors that handle that information. A gap assessment is the fastest way to confirm what applies to you.
Ready when you are
Apply for your CMMC gap assessment grant
100 in-kind awards. Confirm eligibility and submit in minutes.
Or email info@cybergrantsalliance.org or call +1 (888) 323-9991