Eliminating the Middleman
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), through SBIR grant 25-FH1, is offering up to $1.7 million to a U.S.-based company to develop a 3D model viewer for IFC files, enabling field engineers to access digital design data on Windows, iOS and Android devices. It’s a well-intentioned investment in digital delivery—but one that risks being spent inefficiently if the right partners are not involved.
The Complexity of Modern CAD Application Development
The technical reality is this: no company can build a modern IFC viewer from scratch within the constraints of the SBIR budget and timeline—certainly not without relying on existing third-party technologies. At a minimum, grant recipients will need to license an IFC software development kit (SDK) and a 3D graphics engine, both of which represent decades of specialized development.
At Open Design Alliance (ODA), we’ve already done the heavy lifting. Our IFC SDK includes more than 50 person-years of engineering investment. Our Visualize SDK matches that, enabling performant, cross-platform 3D visualization. We’ve built the Open IFC Viewer (openifcviewer.com)—a fully functional, production-ready 3D IFC model viewer—using these mature underlying technologies. Open IFC Viewer is available for free to the industry and can be rebranded and redistributed by ODA members for a nominal fee of $4,500 per year.
Here’s the irony: a clever U.S. company could apply for the 25-FH1 grant, license ODA’s viewer, spend an estimated $200,000 to port it to iOS and Android, and walk away with a healthy profit. AND, after this initial development, this lightly modified version of our free viewer could be sold back to the U.S. DOT, generating years of additional profits. In other words, the grant could end up funding a middleman, without contributing any meaningful new technology or long-term value to the public.
ODA – US DOT Direct Partnership Benefits All
There’s a better way. ODA is ready to work directly with the U.S. DOT to deliver the exact functionality requested in the SBIR solicitation, at cost—with full transparency, no markup, and no gatekeeping. As a member-supported industry alliance, our goal is not profit, but long-term stewardship of open, accessible interoperability and infrastructure tools.
By working directly with ODA, the U.S. DOT can eliminate the middleman, ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently, and deliver free, reliable IFC viewing tools to every contractor, inspector, and engineer in the transportation ecosystem, as well as to academia and other interested parties.
ODA Not Eligible for SBIR Grants
In an ideal world, ODA would submit a proposal for the 25-FH1 grant, and pursue funding through normal channels. Unfortunately, as a non-profit industry alliance, ODA is not eligible for this particular grant (which is targeted for small, for-profit businesses). And since two different government agencies are involved, DOT and SBIR, the best path to achieving a direct DOT partnership is not clear.
Raising Awareness and Inspiring Action
I’m not sharing this message publicly to point any fingers. Indeed, I've traveled enough to be deeply appreciative of the work done by the US DOT. But in our complex world, civil engineering experts are unlikely to also be software engineering experts (and vice versa). I'm sharing this message to bridge the gap between disciplines and to make the situation clear to all.
We’re currently in discussions with the DOT, and I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to navigate the intricacies of this situation and achieve a good outcome. But I would warmly welcome any additional support or assistance from from other agencies, stakeholders, or infrastructure advocates.
Let’s do the right thing—openly, efficiently, and for the benefit of everyone who builds and maintains our nation’s infrastructure.