What happens if defense contractors miss the CMMC requirement date?

Missing the CMMC requirement date will result in immediate contract eligibility restrictions, as DoD cannot award contracts to non-compliant organizations handling controlled unclassified information. The CMMC requirement date compliance guide explains that contractors have limited time to achieve certification due to assessment capacity constraints with only 50-60 certified C3PAOs available. The phased approach means some contracts may include CMMC requirements immediately if program managers determine sensitivity levels warrant it. CMMC requirement date preparation changes eliminate indefinite POA&M extensions, requiring closure within six months. Defense contractors should review CMMC requirement date obligations immediately to avoid contract award delays or disqualification.