DON26BZ05-NV072 TITLE: Digitally Enhanced Weapon System Technical Data
OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG)
COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Sustainment
PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.
OBJECTIVE: Design, develop, and demonstrate a solution capable of rapidly delivering digitally enhanced weapon system technical data within 24 hours.
DESCRIPTION: Current practices often take weeks or months to provide fleet operators and maintainers with clear and actionable sustainment instructions to address emergent critical fleet issues. The challenges of rapidly fielding solutions and responding to critical operator and maintainer shortfalls require immediate action. This necessitates "just in time" (JIT) knowledge capture and transfer methods, applied as soon as engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs) determine the optimal solution for performing specific tasks. Current technical data, typically captured as text and static images, fails to fully convey the complexity of the systems being maintained. Enhanced video and interactive animations embedded in technical data improve readiness by enhancing maintenance proficiency at the operational level and reducing reliance on Depot-level maintenance.
The objective is to design, develop, and demonstrate a solution capable of rapidly delivering digitally enhanced weapon system technical data within 24 hours. The solution should include visual and interactive animation applications that enable technicians and operators to quickly understand and accurately execute complex procedures, as well as implement technical solutions to address emergent critical discrepancies with optimal speed and reliability.
Visual and interactive animations are the most effective and practical means to ensure correct and consistent performance of complex tasks and procedures. However, time and cost constraints often delay or block their development. These critical issues may involve technical data in both unclassified and classified realms. Prototype visual enhancements to technical data will be demonstrated in the form of maintenance videos, interactive animations, and other formats capable of being captured, processed, and deployed within a 24-hour timeframe. Solutions will also include the ability to provide same-day updates for emergent configuration management issues.
Leveraging existing logistics infrastructure, the enhanced visual and interactive technical data will be stored and deployed using the All Weapon Information System (AWIS) Repository. Demonstrated output formats will be accessible on laptops and tablets used by operators and maintainers in operational environments.
Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
PHASE I: Phase I should produce a conceptual solution that includes the following:
1. Accurately capture and instantly communicate benchmarked best practices performed by SMEs through hardware-agnostic digital media applications, which will be embedded in current and future technical data within the AWIS Repository.
2. Ensure digital media applications include capabilities for both viewing actual visuals and interacting with animations, based on Program Office and user preferences.
3. Provide interactive animations with the ability to specifically identify and correctly order individual weapon system component parts.
4. Enable Program Office personnel and SMEs to virtually review, collaborate, and finalize individual digital media applications.
5. Include a Red Flag capability to complete and deliver individual digital media applications within 24 hours from the time of capture.
6. Ensure current Facility Clearance and personnel Security Clearances (including CACs) to work with classified technical data and equipment.
7. Demonstrate cybersecurity protocols and handling of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in SOP format, with capability for CMMC 2.0 Certification.
The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed and demonstrated under Phase II.
PHASE II: Demonstrate the capability to deliver a digitally enhanced weapon system technical data video solution within 24 hours for both classified and unclassified emergent critical discrepancies. The solution must include visual and interactive animation applications IAW MIL-STD-3001 PARTS 1-4
1. MIL-STD-3001-1 General Preparation of Digital Technical Information
Mandatory Baseline: Establishes the digital framework, XML/SGML schemas, and metadata standards. Your interactive animation interface, video metadata, and text descriptions must align with these general preparation rules.
2. MIL-STD-3001-2 Description, Principles of Operation, and Operation Data
Functional/Visual Concept: Governs how "Principles of Operation" are presented. Use this part to structure conceptual 3D animations explaining how the failed component/system operates and why the discrepancy occurred.
3. MIL-STD-3001-3 Testing and Troubleshooting Procedures
Diagnostic Video/Animations: Directs how step-by-step diagnostic procedures are structured. Your interactive troubleshooting animations or video guides showing technicians how to run built-in tests (BIT) or isolate the "emergent critical discrepancy" must align with this work package.
4. MIL-STD-3001-4 Maintenance Information with IPB
Corrective Action Video/Animations: Dictates how physical maintenance tasks (removal, installation, repair) are documented. Any rapid-response video or 3D interactive assembly/disassembly animation demonstrating how to physically fix the critical discrepancy must map to this part.
Work in Phase II may become classified. Please see note in Description paragraph.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Upon successful testing and demonstration, the capability will transition to operational programs and industry stakeholders to enable deployment across fleet platforms and enhance system readiness.
The digitally enhanced technical data solutions developed for naval weapon systems have the potential to deliver significant benefits to the private sector by advancing digital engineering, data interoperability, and lifecycle management practices. Technologies such as interactive technical manuals, model-based data environments, and automated diagnostics can be applied across commercial industries that maintain complex systems.
These capabilities can improve maintenance efficiency, reduce downtime, and support predictive maintenance through enhanced data accessibility and integration. Additionally, digital technical data platforms can enable improved training, remote support, and configuration management for large, distributed systems. Commercial sectors such as aviation maintenance, industrial equipment servicing, and logistics operations could leverage these tools to enhance operational reliability, workforce productivity, and lifecycle cost management.
As digital engineering adoption continues to grow across industries, innovations developed under this topic could transition into commercial digital asset management systems, smart maintenance solutions, and digital twin environments, creating broader economic value beyond their initial defense applications.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Digital Engineering; Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE); Interactive Electronic Technical Manuals (IETM); Digital Twin; Technical Data Management; Predictive Maintenance
TPOC 1 : Paul Nickel
(240) 526-1616
paul.p.nickel.civ@us.navy.milTPOC 2 : Armando Freire
(818) 294-5919
armando.a.freire2.civ@us.navy.mil
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