DON26BZ01-NV019 TITLE: Improved Portable Underway Replenishment (UNREP) Tester/Trainer
OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance (Q-BID)
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: Develop a portable Underway Replenishment (UNREP) Tester/Trainer to be used pier side to replace legacy in-port Shipboard Qualifications Testing that requires a supply ship and pier space for the two ships.
DESCRIPTION: Underway Replenishment (UNREP) systems are used to transfer cargo and liquid (i.e., fuel, water) at sea between U.S. Navy ships. A tensioned line is rigged between the two ships, and the cargo/liquid is transferred along the highline between the ships. Delivery ships (i.e., T-AKE, T-AO, and T-AOE) have the equipment used to transfer the cargo and fuel, while the receiving ships (i.e., combatants, carriers, amphibious) have a simple connection point to connect the line from the delivery ship and then receive the cargo/liquids.
The Navy requires in-port testing to verify the installation and training of the fleet on how to operate the UNREP systems. Currently this testing requires the delivery ship to connect their cargo and fuel systems to the receiving ship in addition to the pier space for the receiving and delivery ships. Delays in testing often occur due to limited pier space and delivery ships not being readily available. This has increasingly become an issue as the fleet increases their size, placing a greater demand for pier space availability. There is currently no commercial technology that can meet this need.
The Navy seeks a portable UNREP Tester/Trainer System that will test the current design and use innovative power and controls to meet the Navy’s needs. The new trailer should be able to test the UNREP stations on a receiving ship and provide training opportunities for the fleet while in-port. The proposed solution can be self-propelled or towable to allow use in various locations. It must be self-powered for UNREP testing/training. The trainer/tester will need to be fixed to the pier to allow all required testing. The testing/training will be for both cargo and liquid systems. Currently, cargo transfer uses a trolley that is pulled back and forth on the tensioned highline, while the liquid transfer uses a hose hanging from the tensioned highline. No fuel would be transferred; all liquid training and testing will be dry. The tensioned highline testing will include pulling at different angles including above and below the horizon and fore and aft of the station. The Navy UNREP testing requirements are further defined in NWP 4-01.4 [Ref 1].
PHASE I: Develop a concept for an UNREP tester/trainer that meets the requirements outlined in the Description. Demonstrate the feasibility of the concept in meeting Navy requirements and establish that the concept can be developed into a useful product for the Navy. Feasibility will be established via computer modeling or other means deemed appropriate. The Phase I Option, if exercised, include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in a Phase II plan.
PHASE II: Develop and deliver a prototype for an UNREP tester/trainer system. The prototype will be evaluated and tested to determine capability in meeting the defined performance goals. Product performance will be demonstrated through prototype evaluation, modeling, and demonstration over the required range of parameters. An extended pier side test with an active/available ship will be used to refine the prototypes into a design that will meet Navy requirements. Prepare a Phase III manufacturing and development plan to transition the UNREP tester/trainer system to Navy use.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the portable UNREP tester/trainer to Navy use. Develop installation, maintenance, and operations manuals for the UNREP tester/trainer to support transition to the fleet.
Additionally, the finished product has applications for the Military Sealift Command Fleet in qualifying mariners to operate with Navy Ships at sea. There is potential use as a test fixture for commercial companies that are trying to get into the UNREP business and are building their own UNREP systems that will need to meet the same requirements as current Navy design.
REFERENCES:
KEYWORDS: Underway Replenishment (UNREP); Pier side Training; Pier side Testing; Maintenance; Ship-to-ship Cargo Transfer; Tensioned Highline
| 5/15/26 | Q. | Q1. Per S9086-TK-STM-010 Rev 5, what are the minimum and maximum highline tensions, ramp rates, and articulation angles above and below horizon and fore and aft that the tester must replicate?
Q2. Will candidate piers provide hold-down anchor points compatible with the tester, or must the tester carry its own ballast and reaction structure? Q3. Will the Navy accept an AI-assisted closed-loop tension control architecture, and is a safety case or IV&V required as a Phase II deliverable? Q4. Must the trainer support full UNREP evolutions per NTTP 4-01.4, partial-task training, or both, and will trainer-captured performance data count toward crew qualification? |
| A. | 1. Section 5, Testing Requirements provides this information. The two tests to be simulated are the Static Test, see 571-5.2.3, Static Load Testing, and 571-5.2.5 Dynamic Overload Tests. Below are the specific requirements but the entire section should be reviewed.
For Static Testing: For alongside liquid transfer: 571-5.2.3.2.6 Permanently Mounted Sheaves, Padeyes, Cleats, Staples, Reversible Deck Sockets, Kingposts and Portable Cleats, Padeyes, and Long Links. 30 degrees downward and 45 degrees forward. Repeat for 30 degrees downward and 45 degrees For alongside solid cargo transfer: 571-5.2.3.6.11 Permanently Mounted Sheaves, Fairleads, Padeyes, Cleats, Staples, and Reversible Deck Sockets. For the highline rigging, reeve the test wire through the blocks and fairleads and transfer a load of 50,000 pounds to the test wire. The sliding block head shall be positioned to maximize the amount of wire rope contact around the first sheave block inboard of the sliding block. For inhaul and outhaul rigging, reeve the system and test in accordance with paragraph 571-5.2.3.6.3.d. For Dynamic testing: 571-5.2.5.5 Sliding Padeye. The dynamic overload test demonstrates the ability of the sliding padeye to hoist, lower, stop, and hold a 150 percent dynamic overload test load. There shall be no unusual noise, vibration, or overheating, and the brake shall stop and hold the load without slippage. For the sliding padeye, the following procedures shall be performed: a. With the kingpost erected in operating position, attach a test wire with the appropriate end fitting to the sliding padeye long link. b. Rig the test wire to a 37,500-pound test load with the padeye down. Induce a 30-degree upward angle with no off-station angle. Apply the test load to the test wire… induce a 15-degree upward angle with no off-station angle. Apply test load to the test wire. c. Cycle the sliding padeye five times 2. Assume that there will not be hold-down anchors and that you will need ballast and structure. 3. The Navy is not opposed to an AI system. 4. The trainer/tester should be able to handle test loads but only requires what a crane test would require, no shotline, no pulling the line across. For training, only the transfer of loads will need to be trained and the loads do not need to be full weight. The trainer will not need to simulate shotline operations but the line will need to be pulled over. |
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| 04/16/2026 | Q. | 1. The topic references replicating the delivery-side UNREP interface for Shipboard Qualifications Testing. Can you confirm which UNREP rig configuration(s) including STREAM, Close-In, Span Wire, or a subset the portable tester/trainer must support, and whether there is a published tension specification or SQT procedure document (e.g., a specific revision of NAVSEC S9086-TK-STM-010 or NWP 4-01.4) that defines the minimum fidelity thresholds the system must meet to constitute a valid qualification test?
2. The topic calls for a portable system that eliminates the need for a delivery ship and additional pier space. Can you clarify the intended deployment model? Specifically is the system expected to be stationed at one homeport or transportable bewteen homeports via standrad military or commercial truck/flatbed? Does it need to be expeditionary transportable to forward locations? 3. Is there a defined crew size or setup time requirement for the tester/trainer that the Navy considers accpetable? |
| A. | 1. The portable tester/trainer must support STREAM. Test requirements are provided in NAVAL SHIPS' TECHNICAL MANUAL CHAPTER 571 - UNDERWAY REPLENISHMENT (S9086-TK-STM-010, Rev 5). Training will be done utilizing the portable tester/trainer to simulate UNREP evolutions as detailed in NAVY TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES - UNDERWAY REPLENISHMENT (NTTP 4-01.4).
2. Portable tester/trainer should be moveable via land-based transportation methods. As the tester/trainer would be replacing the delivery ship in UNREP evolutions, it should be designed to be positioned pier side to the receiving ship. 3. For the purposes of this SBIR, a crew consisting of 6 members (or less) should be able to set up and prepare the rig for use in 8 hours or less. |
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