Overview

The Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) Program Office integrates and scales public-private action across supply chain, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, shipbuilder infrastructure, and strategic outsourcing providers to strengthen submarine production and sustainment for the fleet. In support of this effort, NCMS is assisting the SIB in identifying companies with digital solutions that can automate and accelerate the production, assessment, revision, and modernization of technical data packages (TDP) as well as other manufacturing data. Doing so will enable a larger and faster response to U.S. Navy production and repair needs across the defense industrial base, thus accelerating new construction and maintenance activities.

Background

Technical Data Packages are the core document used in the procurement of materials. TDPs combine technical data with quality, sourcing, approval, testing, and other documentation required by the Navy to accept and use the material. TDPs are not routinely updated, which has led to many being out of date and unproducible.

Objectives
The SIB is seeking automated solutions to rapidly produce, evaluate, modernize, and update TDPs. The problem set to be solved in TDP modernization is varied, and so the SIB will be conducting a prize challenge across 4 different focus areas. Those focus areas are:

  • TDP Creation – The current TDP creation process is manual and permits duplicative or contradictory requirements to be included. Users select predetermined clauses from a dropdown menu or can add new text requirements when necessary.
    • A new digital TDP creation tool would streamline development, collect required reference documents, reduce redundant and conflicting requirements, and improve consistency across documents. For example, the tool could also use artificial intelligence to accelerate the identification and assembly of applicable requirements while providing a standardized workflow for creating, updating, approving, and maintaining TDPs.
  • 2D Drawings to 3D Models Conversion – The SIB is searching for a 2D data to 3D model conversion capability that can process both scans of legacy hand drawings and a variety of digital drawing formats. The solution should be able to handle drawing conversion at scale (thousands of drawings). 3D model outputs must be parametric models. Desired file formats include, but are not limited to, .STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product Data) or .STP files, and proprietary CAD files such as those created by Siemens NX, PTC Creo, and SolidWorks. Please include in the deliverables for this focus area an indication of the accuracy or precision that is available in the solution (ex. Units of measurement).
    • The SIB wants to provide a streamlined mechanism for transferring older design data into a modern format which can be easily ingested by various advanced manufacturing machines and software to enable rapid qualification and production.
  • TDP Assessments – The SIB is seeking solutions that can quantitatively and qualitatively assess the sufficiency of existing TDPs in large quantities or volumes. TDPs can contain qualified vendor lists, vendor certification requirements, part certification requirements, outdated specification references, and other references that become obsolete over time. TDPs also contain manufacturing requirements, drawings, specifications, material details, dimensions, and other data. In some cases—due to obsolescence of standards, outdated manufacturing practices or nomenclature, incomplete or illegible drawings, missing quality assurance and technical requirements, or other technical reasons—a part cannot be manufactured. Level 1 qualification is triggered by an expression of interest in producing a Level 1 part, this process will remain unchanged. The desired solution will deliver a qualitative risk assessment of each TDP uploaded, risk categorization (high, medium, or low based on numbers) of each TDP, a detailed explanation of any shortcomings identified in every TDP submitted, and a dashboard summary.
  • TDP Correction and Modernization – Once a TDP’s shortcomings have been identified and detailed, the SIB desires a solution that can recommend updates and provide missing information or data to resolve the gaps in said TDPs. The tool should create a corrected version of the TDP, which can then be reviewed and approved by a subject matter expert. The tool should provide a quantitative confidence level in its recommendations and be able to cite information on which it based its recommendations.

Submission Requirements

  • Must have a current DD2345, Militarily Critical Technical Data Agreement on file with NCMS. A detailed cost breakdown using the NCMS Cost Summary Form (CSF) will be required with this submission. An NDA will need to be executed prior to receiving the CSF from NCMS. Please email NavySubmissions@ncms.org to request an NCMS NDA. Current DD2345s may be sent to this email address, too.
  • The white paper response should comprise a PDF document using the format below. Each of the 4 focus areas will be provided example data packages during the next phase of the program. Interested parties should indicate which focus area in which they wish to participate. Participation in multiple focus areas is welcomed and encouraged but not required.
  1. Describe a general approach including phases to accomplish the objectives
  2. Describe assumptions
  3. Provide a detailed approach to the objective
    • List of tasks
    • List of deliverables
  4. Establish a high-level project schedule and estimated timing
  5. Summarize recent and relevant experience in accomplishing similar evaluations and using modeling and simulation tools and processes
  6. Provide URLs to incorporate presentations including engineering, modeling and simulation, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing capabilities.
  7. Explain what data, if any, is required from the Navy to support the development of a demonstration of capability.
  8. Describe the cybersecurity posture of the proposed solution, including, as applicable, any current Authorizations to Operate (ATOs), FedRAMP authorization status, assessed compliance with NIST SP 800-171 and/or NIST SP 800-172, CMMC certification status, ITAR compliance, and experience deploying or operating the solution in DoD Impact Level 4 (IL4) or higher environments.

Deadline

Responses are due by 10/27/2026. All submissions should be in the form of a PDF file that is titled: SourcesSought.SIB.CompanyName (ex. SourcesSought.SIB.NCMS)

*** The intention of this Sources Sought is to identify parties who are well positioned to participate in a targeted prize challenge for each of the focus areas. Questions may be submitted to NavySubmissions@ncms.org until October 27, 2026 and will be posted on the NCMS website at NCMS.org/opportunities.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Technical Feasibility. How technically feasible is the proposed solution, given the present state of the technology? Solutions with a lower technological risk profile are favored.
  • Responsiveness. How responsive is the proposed solution? Solutions responsive to the problem identified, without creating new problems, are favored.
  • Viability. How viable is the proposed solution, given existing organizational and regulatory environments? Solutions compatible with existing NAVSUP, DLA, DoW, and federal policies, processes, and procedures are favored.
  • Desirability. How desirable is the proposed solution to the eventual end-user? Solutions easily adaptable, useful, and implementable are favored.
  • Schedule. How fast can a functional solution be created? Solutions available sooner will be favored.
  • Funding. In the event of solutions of similar capability and schedule, the lower price will be favored.

Disclaimer and Other Legal Information

NCMS encourages the participation of Nontraditional Defense Contractors and Small Businesses in accordance with 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
Responding to a Sources Sought, RFI, or Call for Solutions does not guarantee that an initiative will result. By submitting a response, you are agreeing to allow NCMS to share your information with the United States government. All submissions containing proprietary information shall be marked accordingly.

Any industry or academia participant awarded a contract by NCMS pursuant to a Sources Sought, RFI, or Call for Solutions will be compensated on a cost-reimbursable or firm fixed price basis. Each project participant will be expected to contribute 50% cost share in the total project cost by contributing cash or in-kind resources.

Under this initiative, the parties agree to comply with U.S. Export regulations including, but not limited to, the requirements of the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. § 2751-2794 (AECA), including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 C.F.R. § 120 et seq.; and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, 50 U.S.C. § 4801-4852, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774. Export control laws and regulations may apply to individual projects, depending on the nature of the project and/or research. The parties are responsible for obtaining from the Government export licenses or other authorizations/approvals, if required, for information or materials provided from one entity or person to another under this initiative. Accordingly, parties shall not export, directly, or indirectly, any products and/or technology, Protected Information, or Classified and Unclassified Technical Data in violation of any U.S. Export laws or regulations.

Under no circumstances may any foreign entity (i.e., organizations, companies, or person) receive access to export-controlled information unless proper export procedures have been satisfied. This initiative is restricted to wholly owned US companies and legal entities. The parties must be registered as a United States (US) organization and cannot be wholly owned subsidiaries of foreign companies or interests.

This initiative under 10 U.S.C. § 4021(i) provides that disclosure for certain types of information submitted in furtherance of an OTA may be exempt from disclosure requirements of 5 USC §552 the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for a period of five years from the date of receipt. Specifically, 10 U.S.C. § 4021 9 (i) provides that disclosure of this type of information is not required, and may not be compelled, under FOIA during that period if a party submits the information in a competitive or non-competitive process having the potential for an award of an OT. Such information includes the following:

  • Proposal, proposal abstract, and supporting documents.
  • Business plan submitted on a business proprietary basis.
  • Technical information submitted on a controlled basis as outlined in DoDI 5230.24, Distribution Statements on Technical Documents.

The types of information listed above may continue to be exempted, in whole or in part, from disclosure after the expiration of such exemption period if the information falls within an exemption of FOIA.

The Government requires a proposing awardee to provide all data and software generated or developed under the performance of this initiative with a Government Purpose Rights (GPR) license.