Federal Services
Federal Software Development
Cleared software development for DoD, DHS, VA, IRS, and the Intelligence Community. ATO/FedRAMP-ready. Section 508 accessible. Based in South Carolina — 30–40% lower overhead than Beltway firms.
What is federal software development?
Federal software development is the design, construction, and maintenance of software systems for U.S. government agencies under FAR/DFARS-compliant contracts. Code and Trust delivers federal software to DoD, DHS, VA, IRS, and IC programs — cleared developers up to TS/SCI, ATO-compliant architectures, FedRAMP-ready cloud systems, and Section 508-accessible interfaces from South Carolina.
Federal software differs from commercial development in five concrete dimensions: contracting vehicles (IDIQ, BPA, OTA, FFP), personnel clearance requirements, compliance frameworks (NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, CMMC, Section 508), documentation standards (SSP, SRTM, VPAT), and procurement timelines that can extend pre-award by months. Code and Trust operates across all five without treating them as blockers.
Federal agencies we serve
Code and Trust serves five federal agency clusters: Department of Defense (DoD) components including Army, Navy, SOCOM, and DIA; Department of Homeland Security (DHS) including CISA and CBP; the Department of Veterans Affairs; the Internal Revenue Service; and Intelligence Community programs requiring TS/SCI-cleared development teams.
Department of Defense →
Army, Navy, Air Force, SOCOM, DIA, and defense-adjacent programs. Secret-cleared engineers, NIST 800-171/CMMC compliance, and eMASS ATO documentation for classified and unclassified DoD systems.
DHSDepartment of Homeland Security →
CISA, CBP, ICE, TSA, FEMA, and USCIS programs. Secure web applications, mission-critical data platforms, and modernization of legacy DHS systems under HSAR-compliant contracts.
VADepartment of Veterans Affairs →
VHA, VBA, and NCA digital modernization. EHRM adjacency, Section 508-compliant veteran-facing interfaces, and FISMA-compliant data systems under VA acquisition vehicles.
IRSInternal Revenue Service →
IRS IT Modernization adjacent work — Java, .NET, and cloud-native systems serving IRS tax administration infrastructure. FedRAMP-ready data architectures and FISMA High control implementations.
ICIntelligence Community →
TS/SCI-cleared software development for compartmented programs. Cleared engineer staffing, polygraph-ready personnel for select agencies, and classified system development under IC acquisition vehicles.
Federal compliance capabilities
Code and Trust federal compliance capabilities span the full GovCon stack: NIST 800-53 control implementation for ATO, FedRAMP Moderate and High cloud architecture, CMMC Level 2 and 3 practices for DoD work, Section 508 Refresh (WCAG 2.1 AA) accessibility with VPAT generation, and CUI handling under NIST 800-171 for controlled unclassified information environments.
ATO-Compliant Development →
Authorization to Operate from architecture phase. NIST 800-53 control mapping, SSP documentation, eMASS support, ST&E phase coordination.
FedRAMP Architecture →
FedRAMP Moderate and High baselines. JAB authorization path, continuous monitoring, control family implementation documentation.
Section 508 Accessible Software →
WCAG 2.1 AA implementation mapped to 508 Refresh. Automated axe-core testing, manual screen-reader validation, VPAT at delivery.
Cleared Developer Staffing →
Secret-cleared engineers for classified programs. Clearance transfer in 2–6 weeks. New initiations for TS/SCI on multi-year contracts.
Why South Carolina for federal software?
South Carolina federal software contractors offer 30–40% lower overhead than Northern Virginia or Maryland firms at equivalent engineer quality — a direct cost advantage verifiable under FAR Part 31 cost principles. Code and Trust is headquartered in Mt Pleasant, SC, 12 miles from NIWC Atlantic, enabling on-site program office visits without the travel overhead of Beltway competitors.
The SC federal contractor market is anchored by NIWC Atlantic (4,000+ government and contractor employees), Joint Base Charleston (437th Airlift Wing and multiple tenant organizations), Shaw Air Force Base (9th Air Force headquarters), and Fort Jackson. The Charleston metro area has one of the highest federal contractor densities on the East Coast outside the National Capital Region.
Beyond cost, SC offers practical proximity. Program offices at NIWC Atlantic, JB Charleston, and Shaw AFB are reachable same-day from Mt Pleasant — no flights, no per diem, no added travel overhead on task orders. For programs that require on-site presence for classified work or sprint ceremonies, local presence is a material differentiator against remote Beltway firms.
→South Carolina Federal Software Contractor — full coverage pageFederal software development — common questions
Federal software development questions from program managers and contracting officers most often cover agency coverage, clearance availability, GSA Schedule status, ATO and FedRAMP experience, contract vehicle options, and the South Carolina overhead advantage. Code and Trust supports all these dimensions on active federal engagements.
What federal agencies does Code and Trust serve?
Code and Trust serves DoD components (Army, Navy, Air Force, SOCOM), DHS components (CISA, CBP, ICE), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, and Intelligence Community programs. We work as a prime contractor on smaller engagements and as a subcontractor under established IDIQs for larger programs.
Does Code and Trust have cleared developers on staff?
Yes. Code and Trust staffs Secret-cleared software engineers for classified federal programs. For TS/SCI requirements, we maintain a cleared engineer network and can initiate clearance processing for long-term engagements. Public Trust suitability for civilian agency work typically completes in 30–90 days.
Is Code and Trust on a GSA Schedule?
Code and Trust is pursuing GSA Schedule IT 70 registration (projected Q4 2026). Current federal work flows through prime contractor subcontracts, OTAs, and direct agency agreements under simplified acquisition procedures for requirements under $250K.
How does Code and Trust handle ATO and FedRAMP compliance?
We build NIST 800-53 control families into the system architecture from day one — not as a post-delivery audit. We produce SSP documentation, support eMASS entry, and plan continuous monitoring from the start. For cloud systems, we architect to FedRAMP Moderate or High baselines as required.
What is the advantage of a South Carolina-based federal software firm?
SC-based federal contractors offer 30–40% lower overhead rates than Northern Virginia or Maryland firms at equivalent engineer quality. Code and Trust is headquartered in Mt Pleasant, SC — 12 miles from NIWC Atlantic — enabling on-site program office visits without the travel overhead of Beltway competitors.
What contract vehicles can Code and Trust work through?
Code and Trust supports firm-fixed-price (FFP), time-and-materials (T&M), labor hour (LH), and Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) contracts. We can flow through prime contractor IDIQs including SEWP V, CIO-SP3, and OASIS, and support direct agency simplified acquisition purchases.
Federal service specializations
Code and Trust federal work spans six specializations: federal software development (this page), ATO-compliant system design, FedRAMP cloud architecture, Section 508 accessible software, cleared developer staffing, and agency-specific work for DoD and DHS programs — all linked below for program managers who need a specific capability.
Ready to discuss a federal engagement?
Federal engagements start with a 30-minute discovery call covering agency, contract vehicle, clearance requirements, compliance frameworks, and timeline. Code and Trust returns a written capability statement and past performance summary within 48 hours. Based in South Carolina with 30–40% lower overhead than equivalent Northern Virginia contractors.
Whether you need cleared developers, an ATO-compliant system, or a complete federal software program — contact us to discuss contract vehicle, timeline, and capability fit.