diff --git a/.github/workflows/user_project_ci.yml b/.github/workflows/user_project_ci.yml
index e8d31a7..cefe273 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/user_project_ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/user_project_ci.yml
@@ -136,8 +136,6 @@ jobs:
     needs: [download_deps]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          submodules: true
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v1
@@ -156,6 +154,12 @@ jobs:
           #echo "PRECHECK_ROOT=$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/mpw_precheck" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           echo "MPW_TAG=main" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
+      - name: Install IPM dependencies
+        run: |
+          python3 -m pip install --upgrade --no-cache-dir cf-ipm
+          curl -fsSL -o /tmp/verified_IPs.json https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chipfoundry/ipm/main/verified_IPs.json
+          ipm install-dep --ip-root $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/ip --local-file /tmp/verified_IPs.json
+
       - name: Download PDK Tarball
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -326,8 +330,6 @@ jobs:
     needs: [hardening]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          submodules: true
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
         uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v1
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index be5c585..7437e28 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -15,3 +15,7 @@ runs/
 /logs
 lvs_results/
 __pycache__/
+# IPM installs IPs under ip/; keep dependencies.json tracked
+/ip/*
+!/ip/dependencies.json
+!/ip/.gitignore
diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
deleted file mode 100644
index b4093dd..0000000
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-[submodule "CF_gpio_config"]
-	path = CF_gpio_config
-	url = https://github.com/chipfoundry/CF_gpio_config
diff --git a/CF_gpio_config b/CF_gpio_config
deleted file mode 160000
index a8a2252..0000000
--- a/CF_gpio_config
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Subproject commit a8a225255573c0c20dd782916001a0d1b5759b61
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3d51420..9de112c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ A successful OpenFrame project requires a specific directory layout for the auto
 | `verilog/rtl/` | Source Verilog code for the project. |
 | `verilog/gl/` | Gate-level netlists (generated after hardening). |
 | `verilog/dv/` | Design Verification (cocotb and Verilog testbenches). |
+| `ip/` | IPM-installed IPs (for example `CF_gpio_config`). Track `ip/dependencies.json` only. |
 | `gds/` | Final GDSII binary files for fabrication. |
 | `lef/` | Library Exchange Format files for the macros. |
 
@@ -89,6 +90,17 @@ The `cf setup` command installs:
 - OpenLane: The RTL-to-GDS hardening flow.
 - PDK: Skywater 130nm process design kit.
 - Timing Scripts: For Static Timing Analysis (STA).
+- IPM: The ChipFoundry IP Manager (`cf-ipm`) used to install listed IPs.
+
+### 4. Install IPM dependencies
+
+IPs listed in `ip/dependencies.json` (for example `CF_gpio_config`) are not stored in git. After cloning, install them with:
+
+```bash
+ipm install-dep --ip-root ip
+```
+
+This is required for GPIO pad configuration and any other IPM-managed blocks in `ip/`.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/ip/.gitignore b/ip/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83fe78c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ip/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*
+!dependencies.json
+!.gitignore
diff --git a/ip/dependencies.json b/ip/dependencies.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..831b646
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ip/dependencies.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+    "IP": [
+        {
+            "CF_gpio_config": "v1.1.4"
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/openlane/openframe_project_wrapper/config.json b/openlane/openframe_project_wrapper/config.json
index 8389d7f..b75d267 100644
--- a/openlane/openframe_project_wrapper/config.json
+++ b/openlane/openframe_project_wrapper/config.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     "VERILOG_FILES": [
         "dir::/../../verilog/rtl/openframe_project_netlists.v",
         "dir::/../../verilog/rtl/openframe_project_wrapper.v",
-        "dir::/../../CF_gpio_config/rtl/CF_gpio_config.v"
+        "dir::../../ip/CF_gpio_config/rtl/CF_gpio_config.v"
     ],
     "VERILOG_FILES_BLACKBOX": [
         "dir::../../verilog/gl/user_proj_timer.v",
diff --git a/verilog/includes/includes.rtl.caravel_user_project b/verilog/includes/includes.rtl.caravel_user_project
index 5a076c4..656289d 100644
--- a/verilog/includes/includes.rtl.caravel_user_project
+++ b/verilog/includes/includes.rtl.caravel_user_project
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # Caravel user project includes
 -v $(USER_PROJECT_VERILOG)/dv/firmware/spiflash.v
+-v $(USER_PROJECT_VERILOG)/../ip/CF_gpio_config/rtl/CF_gpio_config.v
 -v $(USER_PROJECT_VERILOG)/rtl/openframe_project_wrapper.v	     
 -v $(USER_PROJECT_VERILOG)/rtl/picosoc.v
 -v $(USER_PROJECT_VERILOG)/rtl/picorv32.v