Federal Services
Federal Software Development
Software for public-sector programs, as a subcontractor or through RFPs. ATO and FedRAMP requirements scoped in design. Section 508 accessible. Based in Mt Pleasant, SC.
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. At Code and Trust, ATO and FedRAMP requirements are scoped in design. We have come into public-sector work as a subcontractor through a prime contractor and by responding to RFPs.
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.
Agency-specific requirements
Agency-specific requirements sit on top of the NIST 800-53 baseline every federal system shares. The Department of Defense adds NIST 800-171 and CMMC for controlled unclassified information; the Department of Homeland Security adds its 4300A security policy. The guides below cover each.
Federal compliance capabilities
Federal compliance capabilities at Code and Trust start in the design phase. When an engagement calls for it, we scope NIST 800-53 controls for an ATO, the FedRAMP baseline for a cloud system, NIST SP 800-171 requirements for controlled unclassified information, and Revised Section 508 Standards (WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA) accessibility.
ATO-Compliant Development
Authorization to Operate requirements scoped in design: NIST 800-53 control mapping, so the SSP documents the system that was built.
FedRAMP Architecture
The FedRAMP baseline a cloud system must meet, Moderate or High, scoped in the design phase rather than retrofitted at assessment.
Section 508 Accessible Software
Revised Section 508 Standards (WCAG 2.0 Level A and AA), with WCAG 2.1 AA implementation where scoped. Automated axe-core testing and manual screen-reader validation.
Cleared Developer Staffing →
Clearance requirements confirmed per program, in writing, before any proposal.
Why South Carolina for federal software?
South Carolina is one of the densest federal contractor markets on the East Coast outside the National Capital Region. Code and Trust is based in Mt Pleasant, SC, near NIWC Atlantic.
The SC federal contractor market is anchored by NIWC Atlantic (4,000+ government and contractor employees), Joint Base Lindsey Graham (formerly Joint Base Charleston, home to the 437th Airlift Wing and multiple tenant organizations), Shaw Air Force Base (20th Fighter Wing and Ninth 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.
Program offices at NIWC Atlantic, Joint Base Lindsey Graham, and Shaw AFB are reachable same-day from Mt Pleasant, without flights.
→Mt Pleasant, SC: full coverage pageFederal software development: common questions
Federal software development questions from program managers and contracting officers most often cover contract vehicles, cleared staffing, ATO and FedRAMP compliance, and where the team is based.
What contract vehicles can Code and Trust work through?
We have come into public-sector work as a subcontractor through a prime contractor and by responding to RFPs.
Can Code and Trust staff cleared developers?
Tell us the clearance level your program requires and we will tell you, in writing and before any proposal, whether we can staff it. Public Trust suitability determinations vary by agency and risk level, from a few weeks to several months.
How does Code and Trust handle ATO and FedRAMP compliance?
We scope ATO and FedRAMP requirements in the design phase, not as a post-delivery audit. When a cloud system has to meet a FedRAMP baseline, we scope the NIST 800-53 controls up front, so the documentation describes the system that was built.
Where is Code and Trust based?
Code and Trust is based in Mt Pleasant, SC, near NIWC Atlantic. Program offices at NIWC Atlantic and Joint Base Lindsey Graham (formerly Joint Base Charleston) are reachable same-day, without flights.
Related federal pages
Related federal pages cover cleared developer staffing, DoD and DHS requirements, and the Mt Pleasant, SC office, linked below for program managers who need a specific topic.
Government software development contractor
Code and Trust takes on government software development from Mt Pleasant, SC. We have come into public-sector work as a subcontractor through a prime contractor and by responding to RFPs.
Code and Trust scopes NIST 800-53 controls, SSP documentation and Section 508 accessibility in the design phase.
FedRAMP compliant development
FedRAMP compliant development builds cloud systems with NIST 800-53 controls integrated from the architecture phase, not retrofitted during assessment. When a cloud system has to meet a FedRAMP baseline, we scope the NIST 800-53 controls in the design phase, so the documentation describes the system that was built. See our FedRAMP guide for baseline details.
FedRAMP compliant development requires that security controls are first-class architecture requirements, not post-delivery documentation exercises.
For a detailed explanation of FedRAMP Moderate vs High control baselines and certification paths, see the FedRAMP Moderate vs High guide.
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. Tell us the program, and we will reply in writing with whether and how we can support it.
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.