diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_test_java.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_test_java.yml
index dd807149f..91eb11700 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_test_java.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_test_java.yml
@@ -78,8 +78,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test ${{ matrix.library }}
         working-directory: ./${{ matrix.library }}
         run: |
-          # Clear MPL from cache
-          # We have to do this because MakeFile does not do this yet. The MakeFile automatically builds and deploys dependencies
-          # instead it should be picking it up from Maven.
-          rm -rf ~/.m2/repository/software/amazon/cryptography/aws-cryptographic-material-providers
           make test_java
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci_test_vector_java.yml b/.github/workflows/ci_test_vector_java.yml
index 7f26a5773..19917495e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci_test_vector_java.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci_test_vector_java.yml
@@ -60,8 +60,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Test TestVectors
         working-directory: ./TestVectors
         run: |
-          # Clear MPL from cache
-          # We have to do this because MakeFile does not do this yet. The MakeFile automatically builds and deploys dependencies
-          # instead it should be picking it up from Maven.
-          rm -rf ~/.m2/repository/software/amazon/cryptography/aws-cryptographic-material-providers
           make test_java
diff --git a/DynamoDbEncryption/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts b/DynamoDbEncryption/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
index bdc5b734e..acaf93455 100644
--- a/DynamoDbEncryption/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/DynamoDbEncryption/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import java.io.File
+import java.io.FileInputStream
+import java.util.Properties
 import java.net.URI
 import javax.annotation.Nullable
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat
@@ -11,10 +14,18 @@ plugins {
     id("io.github.gradle-nexus.publish-plugin") version "1.3.0"
 }
 
+var props = Properties().apply {
+    load(FileInputStream(File(rootProject.rootDir, "../../../project.properties")))
+}
+
 group = "software.amazon.cryptography"
-version = "3.1.0"
+version = props.getProperty("projectJavaVersion")
 description = "Aws Database Encryption Sdk for DynamoDb Java"
 
+var mplVersion = props.getProperty("mplDependencyJavaVersion")
+var dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion = props.getProperty("dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion")
+var smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion = props.getProperty("smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion")
+
 java {
     toolchain.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
     sourceSets["main"].java {
@@ -68,9 +79,9 @@ repositories {
 val dynamodb by configurations.creating
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("org.dafny:DafnyRuntime:4.1.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.smithy.dafny:conversion:0.1")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:1.0.0")
+    implementation("org.dafny:DafnyRuntime:${dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.smithy.dafny:conversion:${smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:${mplVersion}")
 
     implementation(platform("software.amazon.awssdk:bom:2.20.128"))
     implementation("software.amazon.awssdk:dynamodb")
diff --git a/Examples/runtimes/java/DynamoDbEncryption/build.gradle.kts b/Examples/runtimes/java/DynamoDbEncryption/build.gradle.kts
index 9d7e54e84..bcf62436d 100644
--- a/Examples/runtimes/java/DynamoDbEncryption/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/Examples/runtimes/java/DynamoDbEncryption/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import java.io.File
+import java.io.FileInputStream
+import java.util.Properties
 import java.net.URI
 import javax.annotation.Nullable
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat
@@ -9,10 +12,17 @@ plugins {
     id("io.freefair.lombok") version "8.1.0"
 }
 
+var props = Properties().apply {
+    load(FileInputStream(File(rootProject.rootDir, "../../../../project.properties")))
+}
+
 group = "software.amazon.cryptography"
 version = "1.0-SNAPSHOT"
 description = "DynamoDbEncryptionExamples"
 
+var mplVersion = props.getProperty("mplDependencyJavaVersion")
+var ddbecVersion = props.getProperty("projectJavaVersion")
+
 java {
     toolchain.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
     sourceSets["main"].java {
@@ -57,8 +67,8 @@ repositories {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:3.1.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:1.0.0")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:${ddbecVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:${mplVersion}")
 
     implementation(platform("software.amazon.awssdk:bom:2.19.1"))
     implementation("software.amazon.awssdk:arns")
diff --git a/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/DDBECToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts b/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/DDBECToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
index 2af95a34c..fa2bcc413 100644
--- a/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/DDBECToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/DDBECToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import java.io.File
+import java.io.FileInputStream
+import java.util.Properties
 import java.net.URI
 import javax.annotation.Nullable
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat
@@ -8,10 +11,17 @@ plugins {
     `java-library`
 }
 
+var props = Properties().apply {
+    load(FileInputStream(File(rootProject.rootDir, "../../../../../project.properties")))
+}
+
 group = "software.amazon.cryptography"
 version = "1.0-SNAPSHOT"
 description = "AWSDatabaseEncryptionSDKMigrationExamples"
 
+var mplVersion = props.getProperty("mplDependencyJavaVersion")
+var ddbecVersion = props.getProperty("projectJavaVersion")
+
 java {
     toolchain.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
     sourceSets["main"].java {
@@ -56,8 +66,8 @@ repositories {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:3.1.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:1.0.0")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:${ddbecVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:${mplVersion}")
 
     implementation(platform("software.amazon.awssdk:bom:2.19.1"))
     implementation("software.amazon.awssdk:dynamodb")
diff --git a/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/PlaintextToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts b/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/PlaintextToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
index a688e75d9..d548fe6f5 100644
--- a/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/PlaintextToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/Examples/runtimes/java/Migration/PlaintextToAWSDBE/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import java.io.File
+import java.io.FileInputStream
+import java.util.Properties
 import java.net.URI
 import javax.annotation.Nullable
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat
@@ -8,10 +11,17 @@ plugins {
     `java-library`
 }
 
+var props = Properties().apply {
+    load(FileInputStream(File(rootProject.rootDir, "../../../../../project.properties")))
+}
+
 group = "software.amazon.cryptography"
 version = "1.0-SNAPSHOT"
 description = "AWSDatabaseEncryptionSDKMigrationExamples"
 
+var mplVersion = props.getProperty("mplDependencyJavaVersion")
+var ddbecVersion = props.getProperty("projectJavaVersion")
+
 java {
     toolchain.languageVersion.set(JavaLanguageVersion.of(8))
     sourceSets["main"].java {
@@ -56,8 +66,8 @@ repositories {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:3.1.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:1.0.0")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:${ddbecVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:${mplVersion}")
 
     implementation(platform("software.amazon.awssdk:bom:2.19.1"))
     implementation("software.amazon.awssdk:dynamodb")
diff --git a/TestVectors/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts b/TestVectors/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
index 4778aa0f6..e26dfab41 100644
--- a/TestVectors/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/TestVectors/runtimes/java/build.gradle.kts
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import java.io.File
+import java.io.FileInputStream
+import java.util.Properties
 import java.net.URI
 import javax.annotation.Nullable
 import org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat
@@ -12,6 +15,15 @@ plugins {
     `maven-publish`
 }
 
+var props = Properties().apply {
+    load(FileInputStream(File(rootProject.rootDir, "../../../project.properties")))
+}
+
+var mplVersion = props.getProperty("mplDependencyJavaVersion")
+var ddbecVersion = props.getProperty("projectJavaVersion")
+var dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion = props.getProperty("dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion")
+var smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion = props.getProperty("smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion")
+
 group = "software.amazon.cryptography"
 version = "1.0-SNAPSHOT"
 description = "TestVectorsDynamoDbEncryption"
@@ -70,10 +82,10 @@ repositories {
 val dynamodb by configurations.creating
 
 dependencies {
-    implementation("org.dafny:DafnyRuntime:4.1.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.smithy.dafny:conversion:0.1")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:1.0.0")
-    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:3.1.0")
+    implementation("org.dafny:DafnyRuntime:${dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.smithy.dafny:conversion:${smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-cryptographic-material-providers:${mplVersion}")
+    implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:aws-database-encryption-sdk-dynamodb:${ddbecVersion}")
     implementation("software.amazon.cryptography:TestAwsCryptographicMaterialProviders:1.0-SNAPSHOT")
 
     implementation(platform("software.amazon.awssdk:bom:2.20.138"))
diff --git a/codebuild/staging/release-staging.yml b/codebuild/staging/release-staging.yml
index 539dac9f0..818ccc5d4 100644
--- a/codebuild/staging/release-staging.yml
+++ b/codebuild/staging/release-staging.yml
@@ -47,8 +47,10 @@ phases:
       - aws sts get-caller-identity
   build:
     commands:
-      - cd DynamoDbEncryption/
+      # Validate the MPL submodule points to the correct release
+      - scripts/validate-mpl-submodule.sh
       # Build and deploy to maven local
+      - cd DynamoDbEncryption/
       - make transpile_implementation_java
       - make transpile_test_java
       - make mvn_local_deploy
diff --git a/project.properties b/project.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2cacfbd4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project.properties
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+projectJavaVersion=3.1.0
+mplDependencyJavaVersion=1.0.0
+dafnyRuntimeJavaVersion=4.1.0
+smithyDafnyJavaConversionVersion=0.1
diff --git a/scripts/validate-mpl-submodule.sh b/scripts/validate-mpl-submodule.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..38050fcca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/validate-mpl-submodule.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# A tiny script to verify that the MPL submodule points to a valid release,
+# and that this release matches the MPL dependency defined in this repo's gradle projects.
+# Run this script from the root of the repo.
+
+# Get the MPL version used in DB-ESDK's build.gradle
+DBESDK_MPL_VERSION=$(cat project.properties | grep "mplDependencyJavaVersion" | sed 's/^.*=//')
+
+# Get version from tag of HEAD in MaterialProviders submodule
+cd submodules/MaterialProviders
+MPL_SUBMODULE_VERSION=$(git tag --points-at HEAD | sed 's/v//');
+if [ "$MPL_SUBMODULE_VERSION" == "" ]; then
+  echo "Invalid MaterialProviders submodule. The submodule must be set to a commit that is tagged as a release.";
+  exit 1;
+fi
+
+# Validate this version matches the version used in the DB-ESDK's build.gradle
+if [ "$DBESDK_MPL_VERSION" != "$MPL_SUBMODULE_VERSION" ]; then
+  echo "Invalid MaterialProviders submodule. Mismatch between the submodule version ("$MPL_SUBMODULE_VERSION") and the version of the configured dependency in project.properties ("$DBESDK_MPL_VERSION").";
+  exit 1;
+fi