Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) Next Significant Variant (NSV) Sources Sought

The Department of the Navy and the NATO SEASPARROW Project Office have issued Sources Sought notice N00024-26-R-5445 to conduct market research for the development, production, and in-service support of the Evolved SEASPARROW Missile Next Significant Variant. The government is seeking industry capability statements for either a complete Guided Missile Assembly or specific subsystem solutions, including the airframe, propulsion, seeker, GNC, and software architecture. A critical technical constraint is a 10-inch diameter to ensure compatibility with Mk 41 VLS quad-packs. The project emphasizes a Modular Open Systems Approach, the use of model-based systems engineering, and the requirement that all hardware, technical data, and software be releasable to the 12 NATO consortium nations. This notice is for planning purposes and is not a formal request for proposal, with no funding currently associated with the announcement. Future acquisitions may be executed via FAR-based contracts or prototype Other Transaction agreements. Interested respondents must provide their business size, CAGE code, and UEI, along with self-evaluations of Technology Readiness Levels per ISO 16290 and Manufacturing Readiness Levels per DoDI 5000.02. To access detailed technical information, parties must submit a Non-Disclosure Agreement and Terms of Use Agreement. Responses are due by December 3, 2026, and must strictly adhere to proprietary and export control marking requirements, including compliance with ITAR, EAR, and the Buy American Act.