diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/attributes_format.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/attributes_format.py
index 248979daa..7f2551ba1 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/attributes_format.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/checks/attributes_format.py
@@ -63,23 +63,22 @@ def check_id_length(app: Sphinx, need: NeedItem, log: CheckLogger):
     While the recommended limit is 30 characters, this check enforces a strict maximum
     of 45 characters.
     If the ID exceeds 45 characters, a warning is logged specifying the actual length.
-    Any examples that are required to have 3 parts (2x'__') have an exception,
-    and get 17 extra characters to compensate for the lenght of `_example_feature_`
-    that would be replaced by actually feature names.
     ---
     """
     max_length = 45
     parts = need["id"].split("__")
-    if parts[1] == "example_feature":
+
+    # Any examples that are required to have 3 parts (2x'__') have an exception,
+    # and get 17 extra characters to compensate for the length of `_example_feature_`
+    # that would be replaced by actual feature names.
+    if len(parts) >= 2 and parts[1] == "example_feature":
         max_length += 17  # _example_feature_
+
     if len(need["id"]) > max_length:
         length = len(need["id"])
-        if "example_feature" in need["id"]:
-            length -= 17
         msg = (
-            f"exceeds the maximum allowed length of 45 characters "
-            "(current length: "
-            f"{length})."
+            f"exceeds the maximum allowed length of {max_length} characters "
+            f"(current length: {length})."
         )
         log.warning_for_option(need, "id", msg)
 
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
index 44b7380ea..51f927a21 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_metamodel/external_needs.py
@@ -80,7 +80,11 @@ def parse_external_needs_sources_from_DATA(v: str) -> list[ExternalNeedsSource]:
 
     logger.debug(f"Parsing external needs sources: {v}")
 
-    data = json.loads(v)
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(v)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to parse external needs sources from DATA {v}: {e}")
+        raise SystemExit(1) from e
 
     res = [res for el in data if (res := _parse_bazel_external_need(el))]
     logger.debug(f"Parsed external needs sources: {res}")
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/BUILD b/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/BUILD
index 954c172e3..113803b97 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/BUILD
+++ b/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/BUILD
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ filegroup(
 py_library(
     name = "score_sphinx_bundle",
     srcs = [":all_sources"],
+    # Keep the shared Sphinx-Needs templates beside the extension in the
+    # Bazel runfiles tree. The Python extension discovers their directory from
+    # its own __file__ instead of receiving a path from docs.bzl.
+    data = ["@score_docs_as_code//src/needs_templates:files"],
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
     deps = all_requirements + [
         "@score_docs_as_code//src/extensions:score_plantuml",
diff --git a/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/__init__.py b/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/__init__.py
index 11adca09e..f3399e507 100644
--- a/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/__init__.py
+++ b/src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 # *******************************************************************************
+from pathlib import Path
+
 import matplotlib
 from sphinx.application import Sphinx
 
@@ -43,12 +45,38 @@
 ]
 
 
+def _needs_template_folder() -> Path:
+    """Return the shared Sphinx-Needs template directory.
+
+    The extension and the templates are both part of the main ``src`` tree.
+    Deriving the path from ``__file__`` works for the workspace, Bazel
+    runfiles, and the sandbox because the extension's data files preserve that
+    source-tree layout.
+    """
+    # Keep the runfiles/sandbox prefix intact; only walk from the extension's
+    # package directory to the sibling ``needs_templates`` directory.
+    # Basically: src/extensions/score_sphinx_bundle/../../needs_templates.
+    template_folder = Path(__file__).parents[2] / "needs_templates"
+    if not template_folder.is_dir():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(
+            f"Sphinx-Needs template folder does not exist: {template_folder}"
+        )
+    return template_folder
+
+
 def setup(app: Sphinx) -> dict[str, object]:
     matplotlib.rcParamsDefault["savefig.bbox"] = "tight"
 
     config_setdefault(app.config, "html_copy_source", False)
     config_setdefault(app.config, "html_show_sourcelink", False)
 
+    # The templates are a data dependency of this extension. Locate the
+    # shared directory from the extension itself instead of passing a Bazel
+    # label or a list of generated paths through every docs target.
+    config_setdefault(
+        app.config, "needs_template_folder", str(_needs_template_folder())
+    )
+
     # Global settings
     # Note: the "sub-extensions" also set their own config values
 
diff --git a/src/needs_templates/BUILD b/src/needs_templates/BUILD
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b6f8c2567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/needs_templates/BUILD
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+# *******************************************************************************
+# Copyright (c) 2026 Contributors to the Eclipse Foundation
+#
+# See the NOTICE file(s) distributed with this work for additional
+# information regarding copyright ownership.
+#
+# This program and the accompanying materials are made available under the
+# terms of the Apache License 2.0 which is available at
+# https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# *******************************************************************************
+
+# All Sphinx-Needs templates are deliberately kept flat in this package.
+# Consumers derive the common parent directory from the plural Bazel path
+# expansion, so do not add templates below subdirectories here.
+filegroup(
+    name = "files",
+    srcs = glob(["*.need"]),
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
diff --git a/src/needs_templates/example.need b/src/needs_templates/example.need
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad3b56ee9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/needs_templates/example.need
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This text comes from a template