diff --git a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-ec-with-optional-fips.containerfile b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-ec-with-optional-fips.containerfile
index ca75d6ce19..d3b9f662b1 100644
--- a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-ec-with-optional-fips.containerfile
+++ b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-ec-with-optional-fips.containerfile
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ match-architectures = ["x86_64"]
 EOF
 
 # Enable the FIPS crypto policy
-RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts && \
+#
+# Note: CNI plugins are required for podman to operate normally on RHEL 9.x.
+# This package is no longer installed as cri-o dependency.
+RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts containernetworking-plugins && \
     update-crypto-policies --no-reload --set FIPS && \
     dnf clean all
 # {{- end -}}
diff --git a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-rc-with-optional-fips.containerfile b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-rc-with-optional-fips.containerfile
index f6e4f43e4d..36b341cf35 100644
--- a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-rc-with-optional-fips.containerfile
+++ b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-rc-with-optional-fips.containerfile
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ match-architectures = ["x86_64"]
 EOF
 
 # Enable the FIPS crypto policy
-RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts && \
+#
+# Note: CNI plugins are required for podman to operate normally on RHEL 9.x.
+# This package is no longer installed as cri-o dependency.
+RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts containernetworking-plugins && \
     update-crypto-policies --no-reload --set FIPS && \
     dnf clean all
 # {{- end -}}
diff --git a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-zstream-with-optional-fips.containerfile b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-zstream-with-optional-fips.containerfile
index 89607633a3..96dc287bcd 100644
--- a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-zstream-with-optional-fips.containerfile
+++ b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer1-base/group3/rhel96-bootc-brew-zstream-with-optional-fips.containerfile
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ match-architectures = ["x86_64"]
 EOF
 
 # Enable the FIPS crypto policy
-RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts && \
+#
+# Note: CNI plugins are required for podman to operate normally on RHEL 9.x.
+# This package is no longer installed as cri-o dependency.
+RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts containernetworking-plugins && \
     update-crypto-policies --no-reload --set FIPS && \
     dnf clean all
 # {{- end -}}
diff --git a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer2-presubmit/group2/rhel96-bootc-source-fips.containerfile b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer2-presubmit/group2/rhel96-bootc-source-fips.containerfile
index 2c2490bcf3..ff3ff731f6 100644
--- a/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer2-presubmit/group2/rhel96-bootc-source-fips.containerfile
+++ b/test/image-blueprints-bootc/layer2-presubmit/group2/rhel96-bootc-source-fips.containerfile
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ match-architectures = ["x86_64"]
 EOF
 
 # Enable the FIPS crypto policy
-RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts && \
+#
+# Note: CNI plugins are required for podman to operate normally on RHEL 9.x.
+# This package is no longer installed as cri-o dependency.
+RUN dnf install -y crypto-policies-scripts containernetworking-plugins && \
     update-crypto-policies --no-reload --set FIPS && \
     dnf clean all
diff --git a/test/image-blueprints/layer3-periodic/group1/rhel96-source-isolated.toml b/test/image-blueprints/layer3-periodic/group1/rhel96-source-isolated.toml
index b9b508b14e..863f2bfc54 100644
--- a/test/image-blueprints/layer3-periodic/group1/rhel96-source-isolated.toml
+++ b/test/image-blueprints/layer3-periodic/group1/rhel96-source-isolated.toml
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ version = "*"
 name = "podman"
 version = "*"
 
+# CNI plugins are required for podman to operate normally on RHEL 9.x.
+# This package is no longer installed as cri-o dependency.
+[[packages]]
+name = "containernetworking-plugins"
+version = "*"
+
 [[packages]]
 name = "skopeo"
 version = "*"
diff --git a/test/scenarios-bootc/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh.disabled b/test/scenarios-bootc/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from test/scenarios-bootc/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh.disabled
rename to test/scenarios-bootc/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh
diff --git a/test/scenarios-bootc/releases/el96-lrel@fips.sh.disabled b/test/scenarios-bootc/releases/el96-lrel@fips.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from test/scenarios-bootc/releases/el96-lrel@fips.sh.disabled
rename to test/scenarios-bootc/releases/el96-lrel@fips.sh
diff --git a/test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips-rpm.sh.disabled b/test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips-rpm.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips-rpm.sh.disabled
rename to test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips-rpm.sh
diff --git a/test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh.disabled b/test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh.disabled
rename to test/scenarios/periodics/el96-src@fips.sh