Technology enhancement for surface ship maintenance

(a) In general The Secretary of the Navy shall investigate, and, as feasible, qualify, approve, integrate, and fully adopt into contract requirements advanced technologies and processes for Navy surface ship maintenance on an expedited timeline to enhance readiness, reduce costs, and address delays in maintenance and repair activities. (b) Specified advanced technologies and processes In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary of the Navy shall prioritize qualification of the following: (1) Automated weld inspection for robotic weld defect detection. (2) Real-time sustainment monitoring for sensor-based health tracking. (3) Advanced blast and painting for automated hull coating systems. (4) Press connect fittings for no-hot-work pipe repairs. (5) Robotic tank inspection for confined space condition assessments. (6) Additive manufacturing for on-demand 3D-printed parts. (7) Augmented reality support for augmented reality-guided repairs. (8) Cold spray repair for metal surface restoration. (9) Predictive maintenance algorithms for artificial intelligence-driven failure prediction. (10) Automated nondestructive testing for robotic material evaluation. (11) Autonomous underwater vehicles for hull inspection submersibles. (12) Digital twin technology for virtual ship modeling. (13) High-pressure waterjet cleaning for rust and paint removal. (14) Modular maintenance platforms for standardized repair setups. (15) Smart coatings for self-healing, anti-fouling surfaces. (16) Laser ablation for laser-based surface preparation. (17) Drone-based inspection for uncrewed structural surveys. (18) Electrochemical corrosion mitigation for corrosion prevention systems. (19) Smart pigging for internal pipe diagnostics. (20) Modular overhaul kits for pre-packaged repair solutions. (21) Plasma coating for durable surface protection. (22) High-velocity oxygen fuel coating for high-velocity wear protection. (23) Portable diagnostics for handheld troubleshooting tools. (c) Open qualification process (1) In general The Secretary of the Navy shall establish a process for private entities to submit proposals for advanced technologies or processes not specified in subsection (b). (2) Evaluation The Secretary of the Navy shall evaluate any proposal submitted pursuant to the process established under paragraph (1) not later than 90 days after the date of such submission. (3) Proposal requirements A proposal submitted pursuant to the process established under paragraph (1) shall demonstrate potential to improve maintenance efficiency, safety, or cost-effectiveness. (4) Qualification decision The Secretary of the Navy shall make a qualification decision with respect to a proposal submitted pursuant to the process established under paragraph (1) based on technical merit and the need of the Navy. (d) Third-party review (1) In general For any advanced technology or process included in a proposal submitted pursuant to the process established under subsection (c) and not selected for qualification or approval, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall enter into a contract with an independent third-party reviewer to assess the decision. (2) Report to Congress A contract entered into under paragraph (1) shall require the independent third-party reviewer to, not later than 90 days after the date of the decision concerned, submit to Congress an unaltered report that— (A) evaluates the rationale of the Secretary; (B) states agreement or disagreement with the decision and rationale; and (C) includes recommendations if applicable. (e) Priority The Secretary of the Navy may prioritize advanced technologies and processes under this section based on operational needs, budget constraints, and compatibility with existing systems, if the Secretary includes justifications for such prioritization in the report required by subsection (g). (f) Updates The Secretary of the Navy shall update policies, specifications, guidance, and contracts to integrate and fully adopt advanced technologies and processes as required by subsection (a). (g) Report required Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy shall submit to Congress a report detailing timelines to qualify and approve each advanced technology or process specified in subsection (b) and any additional advanced technologies or processes identified pursuant to the process established under subsection (c), including estimated implementation dates or justifications for non-pursuit.