---
title: "Solving defense supply chain visibility through governed data sharing"
description: "The Department of War cannot obtain cost transparency across its supply chain of over 200,000 suppliers due to reliance on manual data calls and fragmented spreadsheets. The proposed solution is a federated data exchange where each contractor publishes validated cost and pricing evidence from existing records to named government recipients using open-source sharing protocols. Databricks provides the platform, enforcing governance, access controls, CUI markings, and audit lineage without storing raw records centrally or requiring contractors to adopt Databricks. Small and mid-tier suppliers submit through validated intake forms that produce the same governed data contracts as large primes, requiring no new accounting systems. The reporting obligation already exists through CSDR, FlexFile, and DD Form 1921, so a pilot exchange can launch in months by defining two data contracts on a single program."
---

# Solving defense supply chain visibility through governed data sharing

[Databricks](https://yomu.fyi/company/databricks) · Mike Daniels, Molly Just-Behr, Kacey Hertan · Oct 9, 2026

**Type:** Problem & solution

## Summary

The Department of War cannot obtain cost transparency across its supply chain of over 200,000 suppliers due to reliance on manual data calls and fragmented spreadsheets. The proposed solution is a federated data exchange where each contractor publishes validated cost and pricing evidence from existing records to named government recipients using open-source sharing protocols. Databricks provides the platform, enforcing governance, access controls, CUI markings, and audit lineage without storing raw records centrally or requiring contractors to adopt Databricks. Small and mid-tier suppliers submit through validated intake forms that produce the same governed data contracts as large primes, requiring no new accounting systems. The reporting obligation already exists through CSDR, FlexFile, and DD Form 1921, so a pilot exchange can launch in months by defining two data contracts on a single program.

## Context

The Department of War cannot obtain cost transparency across its supply chain of over 200,000 suppliers due to reliance on manual data calls and fragmented spreadsheets, despite executive orders mandating transparency.

## Approach / What changed

Federated data exchange where contractors publish validated cost and pricing evidence from existing books and records to named government recipients using open-source sharing protocols (Databricks OpenSharing). The platform enforces governance, access controls, CUI markings, and audit logging. Contractors keep source systems closed. Small suppliers use validated intake forms.

## Takeaways

- Manual data calls and fragmented spreadsheets are replaced by a federated exchange where contractors publish validated cost and pricing evidence from existing books and records to named government recipients.
- The exchange uses open-source protocols; recipients can consume data without adopting Databricks, preventing vendor lock-in and eliminating a central repository of raw records.
- Small and mid-tier suppliers participate through validated intake forms that produce the same governed data contracts as large primes, with contractual benefits flowing down through the supply chain.

## FAQ

### How can the DoW get cost transparency across 200,000+ defense suppliers?

A federated data exchange lets each contractor publish validated cost and pricing evidence from existing books and records to named government recipients through open-source sharing protocols. No central repository holds raw records, and no new accounting systems are required.

### Does this require contractors to adopt Databricks?

No. The underlying data formats and sharing protocols are fully open-source. Recipients consume published evidence using any compatible tool, eliminating vendor lock-in.

### How does this affect small and mid-tier suppliers?

Small and mid-tier suppliers submit via validated intake forms that produce the same governed data contracts as large primes. No complex platform deployment is required, and contractual benefits flow down through the supply chain.

**Tags:** [Databricks](https://yomu.fyi/topic/databricks), [Data Sharing](https://yomu.fyi/topic/data-sharing), [Defense](https://yomu.fyi/topic/defense), [Open Source](https://yomu.fyi/topic/open-source), [Supply Chain](https://yomu.fyi/topic/supply-chain)

- Source: [Databricks](https://www.databricks.com/blog/solving-defense-supply-chain-visibility-through-governed-data-sharing)
- Source URL: https://www.databricks.com/blog/solving-defense-supply-chain-visibility-through-governed-data-sharing
- Ingested by Yomu: 2026-10-09T15:00:12.169Z

[Read original post](https://www.databricks.com/blog/solving-defense-supply-chain-visibility-through-governed-data-sharing)