If you are a defense contractor preparing for CMMC Level 2 certification, you need a Plan of Action and Milestones. There is no official DoD-mandated POA&M template for CMMC, unlike FedRAMP, which publishes its own required template through the FedRAMP PMO. That gap leaves many DIB contractors building POA&Ms from scratch in flat spreadsheets with no automation, no scoring, and little visibility into remediation progress.
We built a free, automated CMMC POA&M template with live SPRS score calculation, auto-generated dashboard charts, color-coded risk and status tracking, overdue date alerts, dropdown validation, and a NIST 800-171 control family reference, all in a single Excel file. No macros. No paid add-ons.
Download the Free Automated CMMC POA&M Template (Excel)
New to POA&Ms? Start with the definition guide: What Is a POA&M?
Most free POA&M spreadsheets are static. This template calculates SPRS score as you work, charts status and risk, flags overdue items, and enforces dropdown validation so multi-person entry stays consistent.
Your SPRS score starts at 110 and drops as unmet controls accumulate. Change a finding's status to Verified Closed and the score updates.
Status pie chart and risk rating bar chart update as you edit findings.
Dashboard counts findings past planned completion that are still Open or In Progress; overdue dates highlight on the tracker.
Risk and status columns use conditional formatting for at-a-glance posture.
Validated dropdowns and auto-filters keep data clean for C3PAO review.
A Plan of Action and Milestones identifies known security weaknesses and the plan to fix them. For a full definition, examples, and FedRAMP vs CMMC rules, read What Is a POA&M? The Complete Guide.
For CMMC Level 2, your POA&M maps to NIST SP 800-171 requirements. The SSP describes how you implement controls; the POA&M tracks what is not yet fully implemented.
SPRS score impact, C3PAO readiness, and conditional certification windows all depend on a living POA&M with realistic dates and evidence.
Download the Free Automated CMMC POA&M Template (Excel)
Important: This template is for CMMC / NIST 800-171 only. FedRAMP CSPs must use the official FedRAMP POA&M template at fedramp.gov.
When spreadsheets are no longer enough, NISTcompliance.ai automates POA&M lifecycle work with AI-assisted gap analysis, milestone tracking, and evidence organization. Quzara provides CMMC advisory and related services.
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