What Happens If POA&M Items Are Not Met After Closeout Assessment?

Failed POA&M Closeout = Loss of CMMC Status

The consequences of failing to close your POA&M items are significant. If your closeout assessment reveals unmet requirements, you lose your conditional CMMC status and must start the assessment process over.

The 180-Day Clock

From the date of your initial assessment, you have exactly 180 days to remediate all POA&M items. The closeout assessment must be completed within this window.

What Happens After Failure

• Your conditional CMMC status is revoked
• You must remediate the deficiencies completely
• A new full assessment is required (not just a re-check)
• This means additional cost, time, and potential contract impacts

How to Avoid This

The best strategy is to minimize POA&M reliance. If you must use POA&Ms:

• Have a concrete remediation plan before the assessment
• Budget for the technology and resources needed
• Track progress weekly, not monthly
• Schedule your closeout assessment well before the 180-day deadline