NextGen UBA

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides answers to vendor questions regarding the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) for the Next Generation Underwater Breathing Apparatus (Opening Number: N61331-25-S-NQ17).

• Phase 1 Pitch Requirements: The Phase 1 pitch does NOT require schedule, ROM Pricing, and data right assertions. However, companies must demonstrate the ability to fulfill these elements, but formal submission is not required during Phase 1.
• RFI Deadline Extension: The government does not currently plan to extend the RFI deadline. Vendors are advised to monitor announcements for any potential extensions.

This Q&A clarifies specific requirements for Phase 1 submissions and addresses the possibility of an RFI deadline extension, which may influence vendor preparation and submission timelines.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is issued by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) to rapidly select innovative commercial solutions for the Next Generation Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA). The objective is to procure a sustainable, long-term replacement for the legacy MK16 UBA, seeking mature, non-developmental, and commercially available (or readily adaptable) closed-circuit, back-mounted UBA systems. The goal is to enhance diver safety through integrated modern technology, ensure mission success with minimal acoustic and magnetic signatures, and guarantee long-term viability.

• A complete system solution that is currently in production and can be evaluated in the near term.

• The system must incorporate essential technology upgrades and modernized features focused on enhancing diver safety.

• Key capabilities and secondary/tertiary attributes will be provided in the Area of Interest (AOI) document.

• Products acquired will be treated as commercial products, awarded on a fixed-price basis.

• Awards will be fixed price.

• Multiple awards may be made to pursue similar or dissimilar solutions.

• The period of performance for any Solution Brief or proposal should generally be no greater than 24 months.

• Potential for follow-on production contracts or agreements.

• The process involves three phases: Solution Brief, Pitch, and Full Written Proposal.

• Solution Briefs are due first and will be evaluated based on criteria including innovation, relevance to AOI, technical merit, and feasibility of testing.

• Selected entities may be invited to a pitch session (Phase 2) and potentially a full proposal submission (Phase 3).

• The Government will not pay entities for costs associated with Solution Briefs or pitches.

• Proposals will be assessed by NSWC PCD Technical and Contracting subject matter experts.

• This CSO is a competitive selection process open to nontraditional defense contractors.

• Entities must have a Unique Entity ID and CAGE Code registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to receive an award.

• The AOI is written broadly to encourage creativity and participation.

• The Government may modify the AOI during the opening.

• All submissions shall be unclassified.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines an Area of Interest (AOI) for the procurement of a Next Generation Underwater Breathing Apparatus (UBA) to replace the current MK 16 system used by U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers. The MK 16 is an aging system facing logistical and sustainability challenges, and lacks modern safety features. The new system must be a sustainable, long-term, military or commercially available solution that integrates modern technology to enhance diver safety and operational effectiveness.

Primary Attributes:

• Closed-circuit, back-mounted, mixed-gas diving system.
• Capable of operating with N2O2 (air) and HeO2 (88/12) diluents from 0 to 328 feet (100m) fsw.
• Minimum 20 minutes bottom time at 328 Ft (100m).
• Specific Resistive Effort (WOB/L or KPa) limits and Residual Metabolic Volume (RMV) requirements.
• Capable of switching diluents at 32 FSW and 12 FSW on Ascent.
• Meets or capable of meeting STANAG 2897/Class A signature requirements.
• Compatible with a full-face mask (FFM) meeting specific magnetic signature requirements.
• Provides real-time dive profile guidance (bottom time, decompression) via a Head-Up Display (HUD).
• Capable of alerting the diver to emergency situations.
• Operational in extreme maritime environments (34°F+ water, high particulate, zero visibility, up to 1 knot current).
• Compliant with MIL-STD 810 for storage, transport, and operation.
• Components must not pose safety or health hazards.
• Gas flasks must maintain certifications and be protected from damage.

Secondary Attributes:

• Ability to record critical dive parameters for investigations.
• Minimum 300 minutes of onboard oxygen at 4,350 PSI.
• Interface capability with independent secondary dive computers.
• Compatible with specific buoyancy compensator (BC) designs or modular BCs.
• Not susceptible to or significantly impacted by radiated electric fields (30 MHz to 512 MHz).
• System weight in air not to exceed 85 lbs; neutral to 4 lbs negatively buoyant.
• Electrical/computer components must achieve authority to operate.

Tertiary Attributes:

• HUD available for future product improvements.

• Pre-Dive setup not to exceed 30 minutes.

• Compatibility with or plan for a safe diver egress system (Emergency Breathing System - EBS, or Emergency Gas System - EGS).

• This solicitation is awarded under the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process (Announcement N61331-26-S-NQ17).

• Potential for follow-on production FAR-based contract or Other Transaction (OT) without further competition.

• Pitch solutions require in-depth data including testing completed, technical data package, Bill of Materials, training/fielding/sustainment pathways, key personnel qualifications, and production tour/TRL assessment.

• Evaluation criteria include Relevance, Merit, Uniqueness, Viability, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM), Schedule, and Data Rights.

• To enter into a prototype OT agreement, at least one of the following must be satisfied:

  • At least one nontraditional defense contractor or nonprofit research institution participating significantly.
  • All significant participants are small businesses or nontraditional defense contractors.
  • At least one third of the total cost is paid from non-Federal Government sources.

• Vendors should not submit multiple solution briefs unless substantively unique.

• Teaming introductions may be facilitated by the government.

• A Phase II pitch deck will be requested for evaluation of jointly proposed solutions.