The lack of platform-independent numerical toolsets presents a barrier to the development of distributed scientific and engineering applications. Unlike self-contained applications, which can utilize specialized interfaces to numerical algorithms, distributed applications require a computing environment with cohesive data structures and method interfaces. These features are essential in providing consistency between independently developed parts of distributed applications. We describe a Java-based framework that provides a set of consistent data structures and standard interfaces for numerical methods which operate on these data structures. The data structures we utilize are double precision real and complex matrices in Java. Our method interfaces are designed to model those of MATLAB. Since many engineering toolsets rely heavily on core numerical linear algebra algorithms, our current work is focused on implementing a computational foundation of fundamental numerical algorithms operating within our matrix framework. The matrix framework and numerical algorithm libraries are extremely useful for a wide range of applications and should prove to be easily extendable for developing various applications and toolsets beyond their current implementations.