# U.S. Department of State Reveals Certification Breach

In 2018, a breach involving the U.S. Department of State contract 19AQMM18R0131 and the American National Accreditation Board (ANAB) has been identified as contaminating all certifications, audits, and recertifications performed under ANAB and its international equivalents since that time. This systemic failure undermines the validity of quality assurance processes across multiple industries worldwide, posing significant risks for suppliers, regulators, and contractors who rely on these certifications for compliance and contract eligibility.

- Procurement professionals should assess the impact of this breach on current and future contracts requiring ANAB or equivalent certifications, as these may now be considered invalid or compromised.
- Contractors and suppliers must review their certification status and audit histories to identify potential vulnerabilities or non-compliance risks stemming from this breach.
- Agencies and industry stakeholders may need to consider alternative accreditation bodies or enhanced verification processes to restore confidence in quality assurance and certification integrity.
- This development highlights the importance of rigorous oversight and validation of accreditation entities in government contracting to mitigate systemic risks affecting supply chains and contract performance.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Contracting Vehicles
**Published:** August 06, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of State (DOS)
- American National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

### Vendors
- Boeing (Prime contractor)

### Sources
- [The Global Collapse Of Certification: How A 2018 Federal Contract Breach Contaminated Every Industry And Invalidated All Audits & Certifications -- GUBERMAN-PMC,LLC | PRLog](https://www.prlog.org/13163133-the-global-collapse-of-certification-how-2018-federal-contract-breach-contaminated-every-industry-and-invalidated-all-audits-certifications.html) - PRLog