Universal Automated Control Assessment, Validation & Risk Correlation Platform for Hybrid DoW Environments - SBIR Topic MDA26BZ04-NV007
Funding Amount:
Phase I - $314,000
Deadline to Apply:
August 19th, 2026
Objective:
Develop a universal assessment framework capable of automating Control Validation Tests (CVT) across diverse operating environments (Cloud, On-Premise, and Air-Gapped/Tactical). The solution must ingest data from existing vulnerability scanners and automatically correlate technical findings to NIST SP 800-53 controls, reducing manual administrative overhead and allowing assessment teams to focus on mission-critical risk analysis.
Description:
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires a standardized, environment-agnostic capability to validate cybersecurity controls across its complex architecture.
Current assessment methodologies rely heavily on manual data correlation—assessors spend valuable time mapping vulnerability scan results (CVEs) and STIG checklists to RMF controls (NIST 800-53). This manual process is slow, prone to inconsistency, and diverts high-value human capital from analyzing actual mission risk.
The Agency seeks an "Assessment Orchestration" solution that can:
Operate Anywhere: Function identically in cloud-native, enterprise on-premise, and disconnected/austere environments, providing a unified data structure regardless of the target's location.
Automate the "Grind": Ingest raw outputs from standard tools (e.g., Nessus/ACAS, SCAP) and automatically map findings to the relevant security controls (NIST 800-53, with extensibility for NIST 800-171/CMMC).
DCO Alignment: Bridge the gap between Assessment (SCA) and Operations (DCO) by validating the implementation status of directed actions (e.g., Cyber Tasking Orders) on the target system.
Data Portability: Ensure assessment data can be securely synchronized from tactical edge environments to strategic governance hubs for aggregation and trend analysis.
PHASE I:
Universal Data Ingestion: Demonstrate the feasibility of parsing and normalizing outputs from standard DoD tools (ACAS, SCAP) into a unified assessment database.
Automated Control Mapping: Develop algorithms to correlate technical vulnerabilities (CVEs) and configuration settings (STIGs) to specific NIST SP 800-53 controls with high accuracy.
Hybrid Architecture Design: Define a modular architecture that allows the core assessment engine to run effectively on a cloud instance, a local server, or a standalone laptop without code refactoring.
Assessor Workflow Optimization: Research and design a user experience (UX) that integrates the automated assessment results into a streamlined workflow for human validation and risk adjudication.
PHASE II:
Develop, demonstrate, and pilot a functional "Assessment Orchestration" prototype based on the architecture defined in Phase I.
The Phase II effort shall result in a deployable Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that demonstrates:
End-to-End Assessment Workflow: Demonstrate a complete, automated cyber assessment lifecycle, from initial data ingestion and automated control mapping to the final generation of valid compliance artifacts (e.g., POA&M, Security Assessment Report).
Longitudinal Trend Analysis: Demonstrate a centralized capability to aggregate assessment data over time, visualizing risk trends, maturity improvements, and configuration drift between assessment periods.
Operational Alignment: A demonstrated interface or methodology for validating that specific Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) mandates (e.g., CTOs, IAVMs) have been successfully applied to the target environment.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS:
Scale the verified prototype into a mature, enterprise-ready capability for broad deployment across the MDA Enterprise and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).
DoD Transition: Integration into the standard Cyber Vulnerability Team (CVT) workflow to support Continuous ATO (cATO). The solution should enable an "assess once, report many" capability, feeding valid data to enterprise GRC and DCO stakeholders.
Commercial / DIB Transition (CMMC): Adaptation of the platform to support Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance for the Defense Industrial Base assessments.
Critical Infrastructure & Private Sector: Commercialization for highly regulated private sectors (Finance, Healthcare, Energy/OT) that require rigorous compliance validation (e.g., HIPAA, ARC-AMPE) in distributed or segmented network environments.
Who will win?
If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any company that meets the following criteria:
For-profit company
U.S.-owned and controlled.
500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)
How Can BW&CO Help?
1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.
2) Proposal strategy and review.
3) Administrative & compliance support.
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