Budget separately for annual software, professional preparation support, technical remediation, and internal responsibilities. The $399 and $3,000 prices cover different offers.
What do $399/year and $3,000 each cover?
The two prices pay for different kinds of support. CMMC Pulsar’s $399/year Level 1 annual plan provides a software workspace. Federal Bid Partners’ $3,000 fixed professional fee covers a defined Level 1 readiness engagement with a Registered Practitioner-led team. The software subscription is separate from that service fee.
| Option | Published price | What you are planning for |
|---|---|---|
| CMMC Pulsar Level 1 software | $399/year | A workspace your team runs for scope, controls, policies, evidence, AI-assisted diagrams, and documentation workflows. Confirm current features and purchase terms. |
| FBP Level 1 professional support | $3,000 fixed fee | FCI scoping, readiness gap review, policy drafting, evidence organization, self-assessment preparation, and affirmation guidance within the agreed scope. |
| Technical remediation and other needs | Environment-dependent | Implementation labor, equipment, subscriptions, outside providers, and ongoing IT or security work that your environment needs. |
Build an illustrative planning total
Use the calculator to separate annual software from a one-time professional-service fee and your own allowance for other work. It uses the published prices above as of October 22, 2026. It is a planning example, not a quote or an assumption that the service fits your environment.
Illustrative total
1 year of software: $399. Professional service: $0. Other allowance: $0.
This calculator runs in your browser and does not submit your entries. It excludes taxes, future price changes, and any costs beyond the allowance you enter.
For a simple example, two years of software at today’s annual price total $798. One year of software plus the professional service totals $3,399 before other costs. These are arithmetic examples using separate offers, not a bundled offer or a complete compliance budget.
Account for the work around the engagement
Ask your technical owner which gaps require configuration changes, equipment, additional security services, or implementation labor. Then ask the proposed service provider which party performs each task. An organized gap review can identify work without including the labor to complete it.
Include internal time as a planning category even when you do not assign it a dollar value. Someone must provide accurate information, review policy drafts, validate evidence, coordinate technical changes, and maintain the process after the engagement. A low external fee does not remove those company responsibilities.
Choose support around your team’s capacity
A team that already understands its scope and has an accountable technical owner may prefer to organize work in CMMC Pulsar. A team that needs help structuring Level 1 preparation can discuss the professional engagement with FBP. During that conversation, identify the deliverables, exclusions, client responsibilities, and review checkpoints in writing.
Level 2 or NIST work requires a separate scope and quote. If CUI may be involved, raise that question before assuming that a Level 1 software plan or service is the appropriate path. Your contract and information determine the applicable requirements.
Bring five questions to the scope conversation
- What environment and information does the proposed scope cover?
- Which deliverables are included in the professional fee?
- Who performs and verifies technical remediation?
- Which software, provider, and ongoing costs remain separate?
- Who handles the company’s assessment, affirmation, and continuing responsibilities?
Keep the answers with your planning records. A shared account of scope and responsibility is more useful than comparing the two headline prices in isolation.
Sources and product information
- CMMC Pulsar Level 1 annual software plan
- FBP professional-service fee, inclusions and exclusions
- Official Level 1 self-assessment and affirmation requirements
Product prices and descriptions were checked against the public pages on October 22, 2026. Suggested review steps and budget examples are illustrative working methods. Confirm current purchase terms and the proposed service scope.