TOPIC NUMBER:

DLA171-002

TOPIC TITLE:

Reverse Engineering 

Technical Data 

Packages for 

Development of 

Alternate Sources of 

Supply for DLA NSNs

CONTRACT 

NUMBER:

SP4701-18-P-0016

SBIP COMPANY 

NAME:

ORBIS

Charleston, SC

TECHNICAL 

PROJECT 

OFFICE:

DLA J68 SBIP

PUBLISHED:

2021

Defense Logistics Agency

The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Small Business Innovation Programs

Explored Innovations

Securing Resources for US Defense & Commercial Industries 

ORBIS was awarded a DLA Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 

award in November 2017 to demonstrate the feasibility of improving product 

availability and increasing competition to alleviate limited sources of supply for 

DoD systems and subsystems. During their period of performance, ORBIS 

completed the initial engineering, associated lifecycle logistics, and 

manufacturing to provide a complete solution to the customer. By building on 

technical synergies, focused processes, economies of scale and familiarity with

Image provided by ORBIS, 2021

Made in the USA

and market those NSNs for sale to DLA to improve availability, decrease cost, and 

broaden the industrial base for similar products.

ORBIS reverse engineered and developed a TDP for an emergency rescue bar for 

a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) and investigated the 

economic viability of doing the same for a disc brake caliper assembly for the 

same vehicle. In executing the work, ORBIS worked with potential manufacturers 

and resellers of HMMWV parts. DLA’s need for alternate sources and the strong 

aftermarket demand for these parts created an ideal market opportunity for 

ORBIS to further develop additional TDPs for other HMMWV parts. 

During the Phase I work, ORBIS worked with a local South Carolina company to 

identify other potential HMMWV reverse engineering candidates, including a 

body mount, NSN - 5340 -01-568-4874, with a strong market demand. ORBIS 

demonstrated in Phase I that its approach to reverse engineering related 

components using one company showed a 25% cost savings for the entire 

engineering, logistics, and manufacturing process for items as compared to

ORBIS USES DLA SBIR PROCESS TO SOLVE OBSOLESCENCE 

REQUIREMENTS FOR MILITARY SERVICES

NUCLEAR ENTERPRISE SUPPORT

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited

stakeholders, ORBIS 

reverse engineered the 

NSNs and developed 

Technical Data Packages 

(TDPs) to become a 

qualified source of 

supply. The Source 

Approval Request (SAR) 

process qualified ORBIS 

to manufacture
Defense Logistics Agency

The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Small Business Innovation Programs

Explored Innovations

Securing Resources for US Defense & Commercial Industries 

Made in the USA

individual companies that were completing the work. After demonstrating this 

successful method, ORBIS marketed their Reverse Engineering Obsolescence 

Management (REOM) Process to both DoD and commercial customers. 

REOM caught the attention of Navy organizations, the Army, and companies in the 

Light Rail industry for reverse engineering obsolete material. ORBIS was awarded a 

Phase III SBIR contract with Naval Sea Systems Command in September 2020. This 

SBIR Phase III contract, managed by General Services Administration (GSA), was 

derived from the DLA SBIR Phase I objectives to successfully improve availability, 

decrease cost, and broaden the industrial base for the intended products. This is 

an Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract, not to exceed $29.4M 

over a five-year ordering period. 

ORBIS is developing design modernizations with built-in features to rapidly 

implement follow-on technology and array upgrades. This effort will improve 

handling systems with frequent modular upgrades without expensive Original 

Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) support. This sophisticated approach is poised for 

rapid insertion into hydraulically controlled Towed Array Handling Systems, 

addressing obsolescence issues on critical Printed Wiring Boards and Assemblies 

(PWBs/PWAs) to provide significant reliability improvement benefits to the Navy 

fleet. 

For more information, please contact DLASBIR2@dla.mil

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited

TOPIC NUMBER:

DLA171-002

TOPIC TITLE:

Reverse Engineering 

Technical Data 

Packages for 

Development of 

Alternate Sources of 

Supply for DLA NSNs

CONTRACT 

NUMBER:

SP4701-18-P-0016

SBIP COMPANY 

NAME:

ORBIS

Charleston, SC

TECHNICAL 

PROJECT 

OFFICE:

DLA J68 SBIP

PUBLISHED:

2021