As a government contractor, achieving and maintaining compliance with the Department of Defense (DoD) standards is non-negotiable. Among the critical compliance measures required is submitting your Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) Score. This score directly reflects your adherence to the NIST SP 800-171 standards, which are designed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).
If you’re new to SPRS or looking for clarity on how to calculate and submit your score, this guide will walk you through the process. Plus, we’ll explain how Capital Cyber can help you achieve compliance and secure your business.
What is the SPRS Score and Why is It Important?
The SPRS score is a self-assessment score required by the DoD for contractors handling CUI. It evaluates your cybersecurity posture based on how closely you meet the 110 controls outlined in NIST SP 800-171.
Your score can range from -203 to 110, with 110 being the highest possible score, indicating full compliance. Without a valid SPRS score, your eligibility for current and future DoD contracts may be at risk.
What is a Good SPRS Score?
A good SPRS score is one that reflects strong adherence to the cybersecurity requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-171. While the maximum score of 110 indicates full compliance, a score closer to this number is generally considered good. Ideally, contractors should aim for a score of 90 or above to demonstrate a robust cybersecurity posture. However, the higher your score, the more confident the DoD will be in your ability to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and meet contractual requirements.
Maintaining a good SPRS score is not just about achieving compliance; it also ensures that your business is well-protected against cyber threats. Regularly reviewing and updating your cybersecurity measures can help improve your score and secure your position in competitive DoD contracts.
Step-by-Step Guide to Calculating Your SPRS Score
1. Review NIST SP 800-171
Start by familiarizing yourself with the 110 controls outlined in NIST SP 800-171. These controls cover areas such as access control, incident response, and data protection.
2. Assess Your Compliance
- For each control, evaluate whether it’s fully, partially, or not implemented.
- Deduct points for any non-implemented controls based on their weight (points range from 1 to 5). For example:
- Missing a control worth 5 points reduces your score by 5.
- Partially implemented controls are deducted proportionally.
3. Document Gaps and Create a Plan
- Identify gaps in compliance and create a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) to address these deficiencies.
- Your POAM should outline how and when you will achieve full compliance.
4. Calculate Your Final Score
- Begin with a base score of 110.
- Subtract the points for controls that are partially or not implemented.
- Example: If you have 10 controls not implemented with a total weight of 30 points, your SPRS score will be 110 – 30 = 80.
5. Prepare Your System Security Plan (SSP)
- The SSP is a detailed document explaining how your organization implements the NIST SP 800-171 controls.
- It’s required for the SPRS submission and serves as proof of your compliance efforts.
Submitting Your SPRS Score
1. Log Into the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS):
Access the SPRS portal using your credentials. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one via the DoD’s Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE).
2. Enter Your Assessment:
- Submit your calculated score.
- Include the date of your self-assessment.
- Provide details of your POAM and SSP.
3. Confirm Submission
Once submitted, your SPRS score is recorded and accessible by the DoD for contract evaluations.
How Capital Cyber Can Help
The process of calculating and submitting your SPRS score can be complex and time-consuming. That’s where Capital Cyber comes in. We specialize in helping government contractors like you navigate SPRS compliance with ease.
Here’s how we can assist:
- Gap Analysis: We review your current cybersecurity measures, identifying areas that need improvement.
- Control Mapping: Our experts map your existing policies and systems to the NIST SP 800-171 controls to calculate your accurate SPRS score.
- POAM and SSP Creation: We help you document your Plan of Action and Milestones and System Security Plan to meet compliance requirements.
- Submission Support: We guide you through the SPRS portal to ensure your score is submitted correctly and on time.
Our goal is to take the guesswork out of compliance, so you can focus on what you do best—serving your clients and growing your business.
Why SPRS Compliance is Essential
Failing to comply with SPRS requirements can result in:
- Loss of DoD contract eligibility.
- Financial penalties for non-compliance.
- Increased risk of cyber-attacks due to unaddressed vulnerabilities.
By achieving a compliant SPRS score, you not only protect your eligibility but also demonstrate your commitment to securing sensitive information.
Ready to Ensure Your Compliance?
Don’t risk losing valuable contracts due to an incomplete SPRS score. Schedule a free consultation with Capital Cyber today and let our team guide you through the process.
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