Future Submarine Digital Backbone Industry Day

Industry Day:  Future Submarine Digital Backbone

Registration Required by October 16, 2026

Director, Submarine Programs (DSP) seeks industry input regarding the future submarine digital backbone. The Director, Design & Construction (D,D&C) within Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, Submarines (DRPM Subs) will host a one-day classified Industry Day on November 18, 2026 (9:00 AM EST) at Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), 2001 N Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311. This event will focus on using digital design in submarine acquisition. Industry input and engagement is needed to turn this plan into executable tasking. The meeting will be held at the SECRET level.

Future submarines need a digital backbone that enables maximum system interconnectivity, centralized data storage, and future extensibility. Sustainment, operations, logistics, and condition-based maintenance must be enabled by the Common Computing Environment (CCE). Future submarines require state-of-the-art Data Center technology in a submarine environment, accounting for space, weight, power, and cooling constraints as well as militarization of the technology.  This future state also includes connectivity of systems that have not previously been networked. DSP is seeking specific technical solutions and concepts from industry to support the following areas:

• Software Defined Architecture
• Common Computing Environment / Data Center Technology
• Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA)   
• Submarine Systems User Needs
• Hull, Mechanical, & Electrical (HM&E) Systems 

Agenda

• Morning Session: The first half of the day will consist of the Government briefing attendees on SSN(X) objectives, schedule, and requirements development, the drivers for a future submarine digital backbone, user needs, and the vision for a submarine platform-wide common computing environment.
• Afternoon Session: The second half of the day will consist of scheduled one-on-one sessions with the Government, shipbuilders, and UARCs present, allowing Industry to present technical solutions and ideas for the future submarine digital backbone.

Note: Do not submit generic capability statements. DSP is only seeking specific technical solutions and ideas for future submarine digital backbone solutions.

Attendance & Capacity Limits

Due to limited capacity, attendance is limited to two (2) individuals per company/organization to participate in-person for the event, with exceptions granted solely for designated presenters approved in advance by the PMS 351 Program Office. Foreign nationals are not allowed to attend. No virtual option is available for this event.

Clearance Verification:  All attendees must be U.S. citizens and possess a final, active U.S. SECRET (or higher) security clearance.  Interim clearances will not be accepted for facility access.

Contractual Disclaimer

This notice is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) and the Government is not requesting or accepting proposals currently. No awards will be made from this announcement. This announcement is not requesting any materials from interested parties. The Government will not reimburse for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement. The Government also will not reimburse any costs related to a party’s participation and attendance of the event.   

REGISTRATION PROCESS (TWO-STEP VERIFICATION)

To participate in this event, companies must complete both of the following steps by 16 October:

Step 1: Email Registration

Email the PMS 351 Industry Engagement Inbox at pms351industry@us.navy.mil with the subject line “DSP Digital Backbone Industry Day Registration – [Company Name]. In this email, please provide

1. Primary Point of Contact (Name, Title Email, Phone Number)
2. Company/Organization Name, CAGE Code, and Address
3. Names, titles, email addresses, and clearance status of the participating individuals (maximum of 2 per company)
4. Statement indicating whether a 1-on-1 session is requested

Step 2: DISS VAR Submission

A formal VAR must be submitted via the Defense Information System for Security (DISS).

• Host Facility: SPA 
• SPA SMO Code: 7L563
• Purpose of Visit: DRPM Subs / DSP Future Submarine Digital Backbone Industry Day
• Point of Contact: Mr. Joshua Engle (joshua.engle@spa.com or 571-771-0859)
• Date of Visit: November 18, 2026

Note: VARs must be received and verified in DISS no later than October 19, 2026. Attendees without an approved VAR in DISS will be denied entry to the SPA facility

FACILITY RULES & SECURITY PROTOCOLS

Identification: Each attendee must present a valid, unexpired U.S. government-issued photo ID (e.g., CAC, Military ID, or U.S. Passport) at the check-in desk.

Prohibited Devices: SPA is a classified facility. Absolutely no electronic devices, wearable technology, or recording-capable hardware will be permitted inside the briefing or breakout rooms. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Mobile phones and tablets
• Smartwatches and fitness trackers (e.g., Apple Watch, Fitbit)
• Laptops and electronic storage media (USBs, external hard drives)
• Cameras, voice recorders, and Bluetooth-enabled devices
• Smart Glasses

Storage: Limited secure storage lockboxes may be available at the facility entrance, but attendees are highly encouraged to leave prohibited electronic devices in their vehicles.

Note: Bluetooth enabled medical devices must be approved by SPA Security prior to arrival – please email device type & model number to Samuel.sangobowale@spa.com & mkinney@spa.com by November 6, 2026.