MARYLAND COMMERCE RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANT TO BUILD ON SUCCESSFUL CYBER SECURITY PARTNERSHIP
Maryland Defense Cybersecurity Assistance Program helps contractors comply with federal cybersecurity standards
Baltimore, MD (May 21, 2020) – The Maryland Department of Commerce, in coordination with the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP), has been awarded a second federal grant to support the Maryland Defense Cybersecurity Assistance Program (DCAP), which helps Maryland defense contractors comply with federal cybersecurity standards so they can provide services to the federal government. Noncompliance with federal cybersecurity regulations may mean a company risks termination of its DoD contract; the DCAP program is designed to minimize or eliminate that risk.
The $511,007 grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment earlier this year, and will fund the program through the end of January 2021.
The new funds will allow the MD MEP, which administers the program, to provide outreach to hundreds of Maryland companies about federal cybersecurity guidelines as well as to provide services including hosting educational workshops, providing assessments of companies’ compliance with these guidelines, and assisting companies with mitigating issues that are preventing companies from being in compliance.
“Compliance with federal security standards is essential for our defense contractors, who otherwise won’t be able to serve their clients,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Commerce is very pleased to be continuing the DCAP program to help keep our defense industry competitive and thriving.”
The first phase of federal funds from the Office of Economic Adjustment, awarded in September 2018, allowed DCAP to provide cybersecurity assessments to 46 businesses and mitigation assistance to 33 businesses. This resulted in $385 million in retained sales, $142 million in increased sales, 2,318 retained jobs and 101 new jobs. Overall, the program saw a return of $1,000 of economic activity for every dollar of federal funding it received from OEA in Phase 1.
“The Maryland DCAP program has been instrumental in helping Maryland’s DoD contractors and supply chain address the issue of cybersecurity,” said Michael Kelleher, Executive Director of the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership. “The program itself provided nearly 50 companies with resources in the form of both technical and financial assistance to greatly improve their cybersecurity posture and continue to provide valuable services and goods to the DoD. We look forward to continuing to grow and develop this program because we know that it is critical to the infrastructure and security of our supply chain.”
Transformational Security, LLC, a Columbia-based firm that develops and manufactures innovative radio frequency security and intelligence technologies, praised the DCAP program and credited it for the company’s ability to comply with the requirements of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). Compliance with DFARS allowed the company to continue providing its products and services to the defense industry.
About Maryland Commerce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.
About MD MEP
The Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP) is a Maryland independent non-profit funded by industry and the State of Maryland to grow and strengthen Maryland Manufacturing.
###
