Understanding Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Publicly Accessible Information
Federal Contract Information (FCI)isnon-public informationprovided by or generated for the U.S. governmentunder a contractthat isnot intended for public release.
Key Characteristics of FCI:
✔FCI includesdetails related togovernment contracts, project specifics, and performance data.
✔It must be protected under FAR 52.204-21, which requiresbasic safeguarding measuresto prevent unauthorized access.
✔Posting FCI on a public site is a security violationsince it ismeant to be restrictedfrom public disclosure.
Why is the Correct Answer "A. FCI (Federal Contract Information)"?
A. FCI → Correct
FCI must be protected from unauthorized access, and if it wasincorrectly published online, it should have been restricted.
B. Change of leadership in the organization → Incorrect
Leadership changes are typically public informationand do not require restriction unless they involve sensitive government-related security clearances.
C. Launching of their new business service line → Incorrect
Marketing and business announcementsare generallypublicly availableandnot restricted information.
D. Public releases identifying major deals signed with commercial entities → Incorrect
Commercial contracts and business deals are not considered FCIunless they involvegovernment contracts.
CMMC 2.0 References Supporting This Answer:
FAR 52.204-21 (Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems)
DefinesFCI as sensitive but unclassified informationthat must beprotected from public disclosure.
CMMC 2.0 Level 1 Requirements
Requires contractors toprotect FCI under basic cybersecurity standardsto prevent unauthorized exposure.
DoD Guidance on FCI Protection
States thatpublishing FCI on public websites violates federal cybersecurity requirements.
