# ISOO Directs Agencies to Enhance CUI Guidance

The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) issued Notices 2026-07 and 2026-08 mandating federal agencies to provide more detailed and standardized guidance to contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in federal contracts. This directive requires agencies to clarify identification, safeguarding, marking, reporting, training, and penalty procedures related to CUI to improve contractor compliance and reduce ambiguity in contract execution.

- Agencies must ensure prime contractors receive comprehensive instructions covering government-furnished and contractor-developed CUI, challenge processes, access and marking requirements, safeguarding, decontrol, reporting, self-inspection, misuse reporting, and penalties.
- Procurement professionals should update contract language and oversight mechanisms to align with ISOO's enhanced guidance requirements.
- Contractors handling CUI need to review and potentially revise their compliance programs and training to meet the clarified federal expectations.
- This initiative signals increased federal emphasis on consistent CUI management, impacting contract performance risk and compliance monitoring across government acquisitions.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** September 17, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
- Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)
- Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council (FAR Council)

### Key Quotes
> [f]or all contracts requiring access to CUI, to provide, at a minimum, the following guidance to prime contractors: Identification of Specific Government-Furnished Information Designated as CUI; Process for identification of Contractor Developed Information as CUI; Process for CUI challenges; Training requirements and resources; Access requirements; Marking requirements; Safeguarding requirements; Decontrol and disposition requirements; Reporting requirements; Self-Inspection requirements; Process for reporting misuse of CUI; and Penalties for misuse of CUI.
> — ISOO Notice 2026-07

### Sources
- [New ISOO Guidance Directs Federal Agencies to Provide More CUI Guidance to Contractors | Government Contracts Legal Forum](https://www.governmentcontractslegalforum.com/2026/09/articles/government-contracts/new-isoo-guidance-directs-federal-agencies-to-provide-more-cui-guidance-to-contractors) - Government Contracts Legal Forum