modelsrc files: needed as Collada, but provided as 3DSMax?

When you try to compile a mod containing model files, Builder seems to expect .dae (Collada) files as input:

Building...
2> <...>\NS2\TestMod\output\models\alien\gorge\gorge_view.model
1> <...>\NS2\TestMod\output\models\alien\gorge\gorge.model
2> Automatically disabling animation compression for view model, <...>\NS2\TestMod\source\modelsrc\alien\gorge\gorge_view.model_compile
2> Error: Couldn't load geometry file '<...>/NS2/TestMod/source/modelsrc/alien/gorge/gorge_view.dae'
1> Error: Couldn't load geometry file '<...>/NS2/TestMod/source/modelsrc/alien/gorge/gorge.dae'

However, the assets/modelsrc.zip file only contains .max (3D Studio Max) files. As far as I know, these can only be converted to the .dae files using 3DSMax itself.

Would it be possible to provide the models as .dae files instead of (or in addition to) the .max files? That would allow them to be opened in programs like Blender right away.