The purpose of this NASA standard is to establish the minimum tool suite for data interchange standards to support interoperability among the engineering design and manufacturing communities of NASA. This standard, called "Computer-Aided Engineering, Design and Manufacturing Data Interchange Standards", cites several application protocols (APs) within ISO 10303 as preferred standards. These standards include AP203, AP209, AP210, AP225, and AP227 for exchanging data among product data management systems, mechanical and electronic CAD/CAM systems, civil and facilities CAD systems, and computer-aided engineering/analysis systems.

NASA is a member of PDES, Inc., a joint industry/government consortium specifically formed to accelerate the development and implementation of STEP. PDES, Inc. consists of over 20 major industrial companies and government agencies that represent over $600 billion in annual revenue. A member of PDES, Inc. since 1997, NASA is a leader in many areas of STEP development, including domains such as engineering analysis, electronics design, and electromechanical subsystems integration.

Bob Kiggans, General Manager of PDES, Inc., said, "The release of this standard is a real milestone for the STEP community. It basically says that if you want to exchange data with NASA, ISO 10303 is the way to do it."

NASA, the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is dedicated to exploring space and committed to spreading the unique knowledge that flows from its aeronautics and space research. NASA's STEP expertise comes primarily from their Goddard Space Flight Center, which serves the scientific community, fosters education, and stimulates economic growth. They partner with others to achieve NASA's goals and create technologies that support and advance these goals to take full advantage of doing research in space.