Previously, you upgraded facilities from Intro-Tech to Tech I by running the 'Design Theory: Tier I' research path for each individual facilitity. This seems kinda...stupid, if I can be honest. It makes no sense for a research facility to be expending its effort upgrading individual production lines.
Instead, researching Tier I allows you to retool your existing facilities to Tech I, aswell as makes any new construction Tech I capable.
To retool an existing facility: take the facility offline for 1 turn, and pay half it's construction cost.
ex: to upgrade a single MF on Skye, the LC would need to take the MF offline for 1 turn(cannot use it to produce FP, nor can you FP funnel from it), and pay 12 RP. In turn 2, it is ready to begin churning out Tech I designs(if the faction has any in it's Faction Armory).
Also, please note guys that YOU are responsible for keeping your Armories updated. I would like to see a new tab on people's sheets detailing what they do and do not have access to, but I will not require it at this time. When factions begin unlocking Tech I designs, it will become a requirement. It's upto you if you wish to start now or then.