Executive Order 13556 created the government-wide Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program.
In plain terms. Executive Order 13556 created the government-wide Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program. It is the foundation for agency CUI policy, 32 C.F.R. Part 2002, and contract clauses that require contractors to protect CUI.
Who it applies to. It applies to federal agencies directly and contractors indirectly when contracts, grants, or agency instructions pass CUI handling requirements to nonfederal systems.
What it requires. In practice, contractors should standardize CUI categories, markings, safeguarding, dissemination controls, decontrol, and agency implementation under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Why it matters. For GovConCyber, the key is to translate the law into contract-performance terms without overstating the source. The page should tell readers whether the requirement affects eligibility, representations, contract performance, flowdowns, data handling, incident response, or enforcement exposure.
Citation. Exec. Order No. 13556, 75 Fed. Reg. 68675 (Nov. 9, 2010).