Technical Manual Deficiency Report (TMDER)
At a glance
- Operator
- Naval Systems Data Support Activity (NSDSA), Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division (NAVSEA)
- Access
- CAC required
- Last updated
“Last verified” means a LogTool editor checked this entry against its source; “Last updated” is the entry’s own date, carried over when this directory was migrated.
Contact
- Commercial
- (805) 228-0669
- DSN
- 296-0669
The Technical Manual Deficiency/Evaluation Report (TMDER) is the Navy's standard mechanism for reporting errors, omissions, discrepancies, or improvement suggestions in NAVSEA and NAVWAR technical manuals. Fleet sailors, maintainers, and other technical-manual users file a TMDER (NAVSEA/NAVWAR Form 4160/1) so the responsible activity can investigate and correct the manual. TMDERs are processed by the Naval Systems Data Support Activity (NSDSA), a Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division activity that manages NAVSEA's technical-manual program on NAVSEA's behalf.
What it is
TMDER is a standardized feedback form, not a standalone application — a paper or electronic report used to flag a problem in a specific technical manual: a missing step, an incorrect measurement or troubleshooting procedure, an omitted safety precaution, unclear instructions, or illegible text or illustrations. One copy of NAVSEA Form 4160/1 is printed at the back of each NAVSEA/NAVWAR technical manual. Submitting a TMDER for more than one publication requires a separate report per publication.
Who operates it
NSDSA, at Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division, processes TMDERs as NAVSEA's designated agent for technical-manual matters. All submitted deficiency comments are investigated, and originators are advised of the resulting action.
Access
Any technical-manual user can file a TMDER, but only the hardcopy route works without DoD network access. The TMDER foreword in current NAVSEA manuals (for example NAVSEA OP-3565 Vol 1 Rev 7, March 2022) names two electronic routes: the Technical Data Management Information System (TDMIS) at https://mercury.tdmis.navy.mil/ (DoD network only) and the NSDSA website at https://nsdsa.dc3n.navy.mil/ (DoD network only), where the TMDER form is under "Reference Docs/Forms". Neither answers from the public internet. Users without electronic access can still submit hardcopy via NAVSEA/SPAWAR Form 4160/1 mailed to: Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Naval Systems Data Support Activity, ATTN: Code 310 Bldg 1389 TMDERs, 4363 Missile Way, Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4307. The NSDSA Customer Service Help Desk ((805) 228-0669 / DSN 296-0669) assists with TDMIS/account questions and can also be reached by submitting a Customer Service Request via the NSDSA website.
How logisticians use it
Maintenance personnel, ship's force, training activities, supply points, depots, and shipyards use TMDER whenever they find a technical manual doesn't match reality — a wrong torque value, a missing warning, an outdated part number — so NSDSA and the responsible technical activity can correct the manual for every future user. This keeps the Navy's technical-manual corpus accurate for maintenance, safety, and training purposes.
Related systems
TMDER relates to NSDSA's broader technical-manual management mission, to TDMIS and the Model Based Product Support (MBPS) system that secondary sources report as its successor for digital technical-manual access (not confirmed from a primary source), and to materiel-level deficiency reporting programs such as PQDR (Product Quality Deficiency Report) and JDRS, which address hardware/materiel defects rather than documentation errors.