NextGen UBA

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses 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: 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 should monitor announcements for any potential extensions.
• Relationship Between Notices: Notice N61331-26-S-NQ17 is a separate requirement from N61331-25-SN-Q09 and N61331-25-SN-Q44. N61331-26-S-NQ17 is associated with the NextGen CSO and represents the next phase in the procurement process. Phase I brief is a required submission for the CSO process, which may lead to the procurement of a new EOD UBA system.

This Q&A clarifies specific requirements for Phase 1 and the relationship between different procurement notices. It confirms that Phase 1 does not require formal submission of schedule, ROM pricing, or data rights, but does require demonstration of capability. It also clarifies that the RFI deadline is not currently planned for extension.

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 existing MK 16 system, introduced in the 1980s, lacks modern safety features and faces logistical and sustainability challenges. 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, meeting evolving mission demands and current Navy Dive Tables.

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).
• Minimum 20 minutes bottom time at 328 feet.
• Specific Resistive Effort (WOB/L or KPa) and Respiratory Minute Volume (RMV) limits detailed for various depths and diluents.
• Switchover at 32 FSW and 12 FSW on Ascent.
• Meets or capable of meeting STANAG 2897/Class A for signature certification (magnetic).
• Compatible with a full-face mask (FFM) meeting STANAG 2897/Class A magnetic signature requirements.
• Provides real-time dive profile guidance (bottom time, decompression) via a head-up display (HUD).
• Capable of alerting divers 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 meet certification for storage and transportation and be protected from damage.

Secondary Attributes:

• Ability to record critical dive parameters for investigations.
• Minimum 300 minutes of onboard oxygen from gas flasks (4,350 PSI).
• Interface capability with an independent secondary dive computer.
• Buoyancy Compensator (BC) requirements (if provided) or compatibility with existing BC designs.
• Resistance to radiated electric fields (up to 20 V/m from 30 MHz to 512 MHz).
• System weight in air not to exceed 85 lbs; neutral to 4 lbs negatively buoyant.
• Ability to achieve authority to operate for electrical/computer components.

Tertiary Attributes:

• HUD availability for future product improvements.

• Pre-dive setup time not to exceed 30 minutes.

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

• Awarded under Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process N61331-26-S-NQ17.

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

• Pitch solutions require detailed data including testing, technical data package, Bill of Materials, training/fielding/sustainment pathways, key personnel qualifications, and production readiness assessment.

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

• To enter 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 submit only one solution brief unless substantively unique.

• Teaming introductions may be facilitated by the government.

• The government reserves the right to facilitate introductions of vendors with complementary capabilities.