diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yaml b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
index 945b8e4f72..fd6b8c1879 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yaml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
       branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
       date: ${{ inputs.date }}
       sha: ${{ inputs.sha }}
-  wheel-build-cuml:
+  wheel-build-libcuml:
     secrets: inherit
     uses: rapidsai/shared-workflows/.github/workflows/wheels-build.yaml@branch-25.02
     with:
@@ -74,13 +74,36 @@ jobs:
       branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
       sha: ${{ inputs.sha }}
       date: ${{ inputs.date }}
-      script: ci/build_wheel.sh
+      script: ci/build_wheel_libcuml.sh
       # Note that this approach to cloning repos obviates any modification to
       # the CMake variables in get_cumlprims_mg.cmake since CMake will just use
       # the clone as is.
       extra-repo: rapidsai/cumlprims_mg
       extra-repo-sha: branch-25.02
       extra-repo-deploy-key: CUMLPRIMS_SSH_PRIVATE_DEPLOY_KEY
+      # build for every combination of arch and CUDA version, but only for the latest Python
+      matrix_filter: group_by([.ARCH, (.CUDA_VER|split(".")|map(tonumber)|.[0])]) | map(max_by(.PY_VER|split(".")|map(tonumber)))
+  wheel-publish-libcuml:
+    needs: wheel-build-libcuml
+    secrets: inherit
+    uses: rapidsai/shared-workflows/.github/workflows/wheels-publish.yaml@branch-25.02
+    with:
+      build_type: ${{ inputs.build_type || 'branch' }}
+      branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
+      sha: ${{ inputs.sha }}
+      date: ${{ inputs.date }}
+      package-name: libcuml
+      package-type: cpp
+  wheel-build-cuml:
+    needs: wheel-build-libcuml
+    secrets: inherit
+    uses: rapidsai/shared-workflows/.github/workflows/wheels-build.yaml@branch-25.02
+    with:
+      build_type: ${{ inputs.build_type || 'branch' }}
+      branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
+      sha: ${{ inputs.sha }}
+      date: ${{ inputs.date }}
+      script: ci/build_wheel_cuml.sh
   wheel-publish-cuml:
     needs: wheel-build-cuml
     secrets: inherit
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yaml b/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
index 95d648f8e6..37b176d635 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yaml
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ jobs:
       - conda-notebook-tests
       - docs-build
       - telemetry-setup
+      - wheel-build-libcuml
       - wheel-build-cuml
       - wheel-tests-cuml
       - devcontainer
@@ -166,16 +167,28 @@ jobs:
       arch: "amd64"
       container_image: "rapidsai/ci-conda:latest"
       run_script: "ci/build_docs.sh"
-  wheel-build-cuml:
+  wheel-build-libcuml:
     needs: checks
     secrets: inherit
     uses: rapidsai/shared-workflows/.github/workflows/wheels-build.yaml@branch-25.02
     with:
       build_type: pull-request
-      script: ci/build_wheel.sh
+      branch: ${{ inputs.branch }}
+      sha: ${{ inputs.sha }}
+      date: ${{ inputs.date }}
+      script: ci/build_wheel_libcuml.sh
       extra-repo: rapidsai/cumlprims_mg
       extra-repo-sha: branch-25.02
       extra-repo-deploy-key: CUMLPRIMS_SSH_PRIVATE_DEPLOY_KEY
+      # build for every combination of arch and CUDA version, but only for the latest Python
+      matrix_filter: group_by([.ARCH, (.CUDA_VER|split(".")|map(tonumber)|.[0])]) | map(max_by(.PY_VER|split(".")|map(tonumber)))
+  wheel-build-cuml:
+    needs: [checks, wheel-build-libcuml]
+    secrets: inherit
+    uses: rapidsai/shared-workflows/.github/workflows/wheels-build.yaml@branch-25.02
+    with:
+      build_type: pull-request
+      script: ci/build_wheel_cuml.sh
   wheel-tests-cuml:
     needs: [wheel-build-cuml, changed-files]
     secrets: inherit
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 9eb36f103c..6f1b6b9f83 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-# Copyright (c) 2019-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2019-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 # cuml build script
 
@@ -288,11 +288,6 @@ if (! hasArg --configure-only) && (completeBuild || hasArg cuml || hasArg pydocs
     # Replace spaces with semicolons in SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS
     SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS=$(echo ${SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS} | sed 's/ /;/g')
 
-    # Append `-DFIND_CUML_CPP=ON` to CUML_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS unless a user specified the option.
-    if [[ "${SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS}" != *"DFIND_CUML_CPP"* ]]; then
-        SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS="${SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS};-DFIND_CUML_CPP=ON"
-    fi
-
     SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DCMAKE_MESSAGE_LOG_LEVEL=${CMAKE_LOG_LEVEL};${SKBUILD_EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS}" \
         python -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps --config-settings rapidsai.disable-cuda=true ${REPODIR}/python/cuml
 
diff --git a/ci/build_cpp.sh b/ci/build_cpp.sh
index fa066c03c6..7c35f35be5 100755
--- a/ci/build_cpp.sh
+++ b/ci/build_cpp.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ source rapids-configure-sccache
 
 source rapids-date-string
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 export CMAKE_GENERATOR=Ninja
 
 rapids-print-env
diff --git a/ci/build_docs.sh b/ci/build_docs.sh
index 05f1f24ee5..51d46ef738 100755
--- a/ci/build_docs.sh
+++ b/ci/build_docs.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2023-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 set -euo pipefail
 
 rapids-logger "Create test conda environment"
 . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 RAPIDS_VERSION="$(rapids-version)"
 export RAPIDS_VERSION_MAJOR_MINOR="$(rapids-version-major-minor)"
 
diff --git a/ci/build_python.sh b/ci/build_python.sh
index e8d2b3ed39..d0b5724f89 100755
--- a/ci/build_python.sh
+++ b/ci/build_python.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ source rapids-configure-sccache
 
 source rapids-date-string
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 export CMAKE_GENERATOR=Ninja
 
 rapids-print-env
diff --git a/ci/build_wheel.sh b/ci/build_wheel.sh
index 104895daf7..3c840d9849 100755
--- a/ci/build_wheel.sh
+++ b/ci/build_wheel.sh
@@ -1,55 +1,26 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2023-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-package_dir="python/cuml"
+package_name=$1
+package_dir=$2
 
 source rapids-configure-sccache
 source rapids-date-string
 
-RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
-
 rapids-generate-version > ./VERSION
 
-cd ${package_dir}
-
-case "${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION}" in
-  12.*)
-    EXCLUDE_ARGS=(
-      --exclude "libcuvs.so"
-      --exclude "libcublas.so.12"
-      --exclude "libcublasLt.so.12"
-      --exclude "libcufft.so.11"
-      --exclude "libcurand.so.10"
-      --exclude "libcusolver.so.11"
-      --exclude "libcusparse.so.12"
-      --exclude "libnvJitLink.so.12"
-    )
-    EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS=";-DUSE_CUDA_MATH_WHEELS=ON"
-    ;;
-  11.*)
-    EXCLUDE_ARGS=(
-      --exclude "libcuvs.so"
-    )
-    EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS=";-DUSE_CUDA_MATH_WHEELS=OFF"
-    ;;
-esac
+cd "${package_dir}"
 
 sccache --zero-stats
 
-SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DDETECT_CONDA_ENV=OFF;-DDISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS=ON;-DCPM_cumlprims_mg_SOURCE=${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/cumlprims_mg/;-DUSE_CUVS_WHEEL=ON${EXTRA_CMAKE_ARGS}" \
-  python -m pip wheel . \
+rapids-logger "Building '${package_name}' wheel"
+python -m pip wheel \
     -w dist \
     -v \
     --no-deps \
-    --disable-pip-version-check
+    --disable-pip-version-check \
+    .
 
 sccache --show-adv-stats
-
-mkdir -p final_dist
-python -m auditwheel repair -w final_dist "${EXCLUDE_ARGS[@]}" dist/*
-
-../../ci/validate_wheel.sh final_dist
-
-RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="cuml_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-upload-wheels-to-s3 python final_dist
diff --git a/ci/build_wheel_cuml.sh b/ci/build_wheel_cuml.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..d35ea9893c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/build_wheel_cuml.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright (c) 2023-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+package_name="cuml"
+package_dir="python/cuml"
+
+RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
+
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ./ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh
+
+# Download the libcuml wheel built in the previous step and make it
+# available for pip to find.
+RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="libcuml_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-download-wheels-from-s3 cpp /tmp/libcuml_dist
+echo "libcuml-${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX} @ file://$(echo /tmp/libcuml_dist/libcuml_*.whl)" >> /tmp/constraints.txt
+export PIP_CONSTRAINT="/tmp/constraints.txt"
+
+EXCLUDE_ARGS=(
+  --exclude "libcuml++.so"
+  --exclude "libcumlprims_mg.so"
+  --exclude "libcuvs.so"
+  --exclude "libraft.so"
+  --exclude "libcublas.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcublasLt.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcufft.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcurand.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcusolver.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcusparse.so.*"
+  --exclude "libnvJitLink.so.*"
+)
+
+export SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DDISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS=ON;-DSINGLEGPU=OFF;-DUSE_LIBCUML_WHEEL=ON"
+./ci/build_wheel.sh "${package_name}" "${package_dir}"
+
+mkdir -p ${package_dir}/final_dist
+python -m auditwheel repair \
+    "${EXCLUDE_ARGS[@]}" \
+    -w ${package_dir}/final_dist \
+    ${package_dir}/dist/*
+
+./ci/validate_wheel.sh ${package_dir} final_dist
+
+RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="${package_name}_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-upload-wheels-to-s3 python "${package_dir}/final_dist"
diff --git a/ci/build_wheel_libcuml.sh b/ci/build_wheel_libcuml.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..be4c6365d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/build_wheel_libcuml.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+package_name="libcuml"
+package_dir="python/libcuml"
+
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ./ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh
+
+RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
+
+rapids-logger "Generating build requirements"
+
+rapids-dependency-file-generator \
+  --output requirements \
+  --file-key "py_build_${package_name}" \
+  --file-key "py_rapids_build_${package_name}" \
+  --matrix "cuda=${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION%.*};arch=$(arch);py=${RAPIDS_PY_VERSION};cuda_suffixed=true" \
+| tee /tmp/requirements-build.txt
+
+rapids-logger "Installing build requirements"
+python -m pip install \
+    -v \
+    --prefer-binary \
+    -r /tmp/requirements-build.txt
+
+# build with '--no-build-isolation', for better sccache hit rate
+# 0 really means "add --no-build-isolation" (ref: https://github.com/pypa/pip/issues/5735)
+export PIP_NO_BUILD_ISOLATION=0
+
+# NOTE: 'libcumlprims_mg.so' is marked as '--exclude' here because auditwheel doesn't detect it,
+#       but it really is intentionally included in 'libcuml' wheels
+EXCLUDE_ARGS=(
+  --exclude "libcumlprims_mg.so"
+  --exclude "libcuvs.so"
+  --exclude "libraft.so"
+  --exclude "libcublas.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcublasLt.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcufft.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcurand.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcusolver.so.*"
+  --exclude "libcusparse.so.*"
+  --exclude "libnvJitLink.so.*"
+)
+
+export SKBUILD_CMAKE_ARGS="-DDISABLE_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS=ON;-DCPM_cumlprims_mg_SOURCE=${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}/cumlprims_mg/"
+./ci/build_wheel.sh "${package_name}" "${package_dir}"
+
+mkdir -p ${package_dir}/final_dist
+python -m auditwheel repair \
+    "${EXCLUDE_ARGS[@]}" \
+    -w ${package_dir}/final_dist \
+    ${package_dir}/dist/*
+
+./ci/validate_wheel.sh ${package_dir} final_dist
+
+RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="${package_name}_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-upload-wheels-to-s3 cpp "${package_dir}/final_dist"
diff --git a/ci/test_cpp.sh b/ci/test_cpp.sh
index ea6d1cdc11..5fc351e15b 100755
--- a/ci/test_cpp.sh
+++ b/ci/test_cpp.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ cd "$(dirname "$(realpath "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")")"/../
 
 . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 rapids-logger "Downloading artifacts from previous jobs"
 CPP_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 cpp)
 
diff --git a/ci/test_notebooks.sh b/ci/test_notebooks.sh
index d76a754b8b..92c63860e2 100755
--- a/ci/test_notebooks.sh
+++ b/ci/test_notebooks.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2020-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2020-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 set -euo pipefail
 
 . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 rapids-logger "Downloading artifacts from previous jobs"
 CPP_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 cpp)
 PYTHON_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 python)
diff --git a/ci/test_python_common.sh b/ci/test_python_common.sh
index 5f1894356c..3a2c772c51 100644
--- a/ci/test_python_common.sh
+++ b/ci/test_python_common.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
 . /opt/conda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
+
 rapids-logger "Downloading artifacts from previous jobs"
 CPP_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 cpp)
 PYTHON_CHANNEL=$(rapids-download-conda-from-s3 python)
diff --git a/ci/test_wheel.sh b/ci/test_wheel.sh
index 76cfe9a86b..7fa04ef5d7 100755
--- a/ci/test_wheel.sh
+++ b/ci/test_wheel.sh
@@ -3,12 +3,17 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this when https://github.com/rapidsai/raft/pull/2531 is merged
+source ./ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh
+
 mkdir -p ./dist
 RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
 RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="cuml_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-download-wheels-from-s3 python ./dist
+RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="libcuml_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-download-wheels-from-s3 cpp ./dist
 
 # echo to expand wildcard before adding `[extra]` requires for pip
 python -m pip install \
+  ./dist/libcuml*.whl \
   "$(echo ./dist/cuml*.whl)[test]"
 
 RAPIDS_TESTS_DIR=${RAPIDS_TESTS_DIR:-"${PWD}/test-results"}
diff --git a/ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh b/ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..59b7eb3511
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/use_conda_packages_from_prs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this file when https://github.com/rapidsai/cuvs/pull/594 is merged
+
+CUVS_COMMIT="86405194a1768b72fe4f8fcd7e7894e2a0b135c7"
+
+CUVS_CPP_CHANNEL=$(rapids-get-pr-conda-artifact cuvs 594 cpp "${CUVS_COMMIT:0:7}")
+CUVS_PYTHON_CHANNEL=$(rapids-get-pr-conda-artifact cuvs 594 python "${CUVS_COMMIT:0:7}")
+
+conda config --system --add channels "${CUVS_CPP_CHANNEL}"
+conda config --system --add channels "${CUVS_PYTHON_CHANNEL}"
diff --git a/ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh b/ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec85b54d5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ci/use_wheels_from_prs.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# TODO(jameslamb): remove this file when https://github.com/rapidsai/cuvs/pull/594 is merged
+
+RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX="$(rapids-wheel-ctk-name-gen ${RAPIDS_CUDA_VERSION})"
+
+CUVS_COMMIT="86405194a1768b72fe4f8fcd7e7894e2a0b135c7"
+CUVS_CHANNEL=$(
+  RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="cuvs_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-get-pr-wheel-artifact cuvs 594 python "${CUVS_COMMIT:0:7}"
+)
+LIBCUVS_CHANNEL=$(
+  RAPIDS_PY_WHEEL_NAME="libcuvs_${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX}" rapids-get-pr-wheel-artifact cuvs 594 cpp "${CUVS_COMMIT:0:7}"
+)
+
+cat > /tmp/constraints.txt <<EOF
+cuvs-${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX} @ file://$(echo ${CUVS_CHANNEL}/cuvs_*.whl)
+libcuvs-${RAPIDS_PY_CUDA_SUFFIX} @ file://$(echo ${LIBCUVS_CHANNEL}/libcuvs_*.whl)
+EOF
+
+export PIP_CONSTRAINT=/tmp/constraints.txt
diff --git a/ci/validate_wheel.sh b/ci/validate_wheel.sh
index 60a80fce6b..c4bd01faab 100755
--- a/ci/validate_wheel.sh
+++ b/ci/validate_wheel.sh
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# Copyright (c) 2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2024-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-wheel_dir_relative_path=$1
+package_dir=$1
+wheel_dir_relative_path=$2
+
+cd "${package_dir}"
 
 rapids-logger "validate packages with 'pydistcheck'"
 
diff --git a/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
index b97b4f0ca6..8d3c668beb 100644
--- a/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/all_cuda-118_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ dependencies:
 - libcusparse-dev=11.7.5.86
 - libcusparse=11.7.5.86
 - libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
-- libraft-headers==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - nbsphinx
 - ninja
diff --git a/conda/environments/all_cuda-125_arch-x86_64.yaml b/conda/environments/all_cuda-125_arch-x86_64.yaml
index 5c8439cf50..f83a242a43 100644
--- a/conda/environments/all_cuda-125_arch-x86_64.yaml
+++ b/conda/environments/all_cuda-125_arch-x86_64.yaml
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ dependencies:
 - libcusolver-dev
 - libcusparse-dev
 - libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
-- libraft-headers==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+- libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
 - nbsphinx
 - ninja
diff --git a/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_cuvs.cmake b/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_cuvs.cmake
index a48b4c6b1e..7a2b5f3571 100644
--- a/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_cuvs.cmake
+++ b/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_cuvs.cmake
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ function(find_and_configure_cuvs)
         EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL       ${PKG_EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL}
         OPTIONS
           "BUILD_TESTS OFF"
-          "BUILD_BENCH OFF"
           "BUILD_CAGRA_HNSWLIB OFF"
+          "BUILD_CUVS_BENCH OFF"
           "BUILD_MG_ALGOS ${CUVS_BUILD_MG_ALGOS}"
 
     )
diff --git a/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake b/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake
index a14bacb531..e197b76a11 100644
--- a/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake
+++ b/cpp/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #=============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2021-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ function(find_and_configure_treelite)
 
     rapids_cpm_find(Treelite ${PKG_VERSION}
         GLOBAL_TARGETS       ${TREELITE_LIBS}
+        BUILD_EXPORT_SET     cuml-exports
         INSTALL_EXPORT_SET   cuml-exports
         CPM_ARGS
             GIT_REPOSITORY   https://github.com/dmlc/treelite.git
diff --git a/dependencies.yaml b/dependencies.yaml
index 6761744857..48b8da69ad 100644
--- a/dependencies.yaml
+++ b/dependencies.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ files:
       - depends_on_dask_cudf
       - depends_on_libcumlprims
       - depends_on_libcuvs
-      - depends_on_libraft_headers
+      - depends_on_libraft
       - depends_on_librmm
       - depends_on_pylibraft
       - depends_on_raft_dask
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ files:
     includes:
       - common_build
       - depends_on_cuda_python
-      - depends_on_cuvs
+      - depends_on_libcuml
       - depends_on_libcumlprims
-      - depends_on_libraft_headers
+      - depends_on_libcuvs
+      - depends_on_libraft
+      - depends_on_librmm
       - depends_on_pylibraft
       - depends_on_rmm
       - py_build_cuml
@@ -128,6 +130,7 @@ files:
       - depends_on_cupy
       - depends_on_cuvs
       - depends_on_dask_cudf
+      - depends_on_libcuml
       - depends_on_pylibraft
       - depends_on_raft_dask
       - depends_on_rmm
@@ -140,6 +143,33 @@ files:
       key: test
     includes:
       - test_python
+  py_build_libcuml:
+    output: pyproject
+    pyproject_dir: python/libcuml
+    extras:
+      table: build-system
+    includes:
+      - rapids_build_backend
+  py_rapids_build_libcuml:
+    output: pyproject
+    pyproject_dir: python/libcuml
+    extras:
+      table: tool.rapids-build-backend
+      key: requires
+    includes:
+      - common_build
+      - depends_on_libcuvs
+      - depends_on_libraft
+      - depends_on_librmm
+  py_run_libcuml:
+    output: pyproject
+    pyproject_dir: python/libcuml
+    extras:
+      table: project
+    includes:
+      - cuda_wheels
+      - depends_on_libcuvs
+      - depends_on_libraft
 channels:
   - rapidsai
   - rapidsai-nightly
@@ -370,6 +400,11 @@ dependencies:
               cuda: "11.*"
               use_cuda_wheels: "true"
             packages:
+              - nvidia-cublas-cu11
+              - nvidia-cufft-cu11
+              - nvidia-curand-cu11
+              - nvidia-cusparse-cu11
+              - nvidia-cusolver-cu11
           # if use_cuda_wheels=false is provided, do not add dependencies on any CUDA wheels
           # (e.g. for DLFW and pip devcontainers)
           - matrix:
@@ -583,7 +618,26 @@ dependencies:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - libcuml==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - &libcuml_unsuffixed libcuml==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+      - output_types: requirements
+        packages:
+          # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.nvidia.com
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.anaconda.org/rapidsai-wheels-nightly/simple
+    specific:
+      - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
+        matrices:
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "12.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libcuml-cu12==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "11.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libcuml-cu11==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - {matrix: null, packages: [*libcuml_unsuffixed]}
   depends_on_libcumlprims:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
@@ -593,7 +647,50 @@ dependencies:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - &libcuvs_unsuffixed libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+      - output_types: requirements
+        packages:
+          # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.nvidia.com
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.anaconda.org/rapidsai-wheels-nightly/simple
+    specific:
+      - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
+        matrices:
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "12.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libcuvs-cu12==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "11.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libcuvs-cu11==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - {matrix: null, packages: [*libcuvs_unsuffixed]}
+  depends_on_libraft:
+    common:
+      - output_types: conda
+        packages:
+          - &libraft_unsuffixed libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+      - output_types: requirements
+        packages:
+          # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.nvidia.com
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.anaconda.org/rapidsai-wheels-nightly/simple
+    specific:
+      - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
+        matrices:
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "12.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libraft-cu12==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "11.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - libraft-cu11==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - {matrix: null, packages: [*libraft_unsuffixed]}
   depends_on_libraft_headers:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
@@ -603,7 +700,26 @@ dependencies:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
         packages:
-          - librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - &librmm_unsuffixed librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+      - output_types: requirements
+        packages:
+          # pip recognizes the index as a global option for the requirements.txt file
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.nvidia.com
+          - --extra-index-url=https://pypi.anaconda.org/rapidsai-wheels-nightly/simple
+    specific:
+      - output_types: [requirements, pyproject]
+        matrices:
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "12.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - librmm-cu12==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - matrix:
+              cuda: "11.*"
+              cuda_suffixed: "true"
+            packages:
+              - librmm-cu11==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0
+          - {matrix: null, packages: [*librmm_unsuffixed]}
   depends_on_pylibraft:
     common:
       - output_types: conda
diff --git a/python/cuml/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/CMakeLists.txt
index 7bda8d9a64..c491420d71 100644
--- a/python/cuml/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -36,17 +36,12 @@ project(
 ################################################################################
 # - User Options  --------------------------------------------------------------
 option(CUML_UNIVERSAL "Build all cuML Python components." ON)
-option(FIND_CUML_CPP "Search for existing CUML C++ installations before defaulting to local files" OFF)
 option(SINGLEGPU "Disable all mnmg components and comms libraries" OFF)
-option(USE_CUDA_MATH_WHEELS "Use the CUDA math wheels instead of the system libraries" OFF)
-option(USE_CUVS_WHEEL "Use the cuVS wheel" OFF)
-set(CUML_RAFT_CLONE_ON_PIN OFF)
-
+option(USE_LIBCUML_WHEEL "Use libcuml wheel to provide some dependencies" OFF)
 
 # todo: use CMAKE_MESSAGE_CONTEXT for prefix for logging.
 # https://github.com/rapidsai/cuml/issues/4843
 message(VERBOSE "CUML_PY: Build only cuML CPU Python components.: ${CUML_CPU}")
-message(VERBOSE "CUML_PY: Searching for existing CUML C++ installations before defaulting to local files: ${FIND_CUML_CPP}")
 message(VERBOSE "CUML_PY: Disabling all mnmg components and comms libraries: ${SINGLEGPU}")
 
 set(CUML_ALGORITHMS "ALL" CACHE STRING "Choose which algorithms are built cuML. Can specify individual algorithms or groups in a semicolon-separated list.")
@@ -57,83 +52,11 @@ set(CUML_CPP_SRC "../../cpp")
 ################################################################################
 # - Process User Options  ------------------------------------------------------
 
-# If the user requested it, we attempt to find cuml.
-if(FIND_CUML_CPP)
-  # We need to call get_treelite explicitly because we need the correct
-  # ${TREELITE_LIBS} definition for RF
-  include(rapids-cpm)
-  include(rapids-export)
-  rapids_cpm_init()
-  find_package(cuml ${CUML_VERSION} REQUIRED)
-  include(${CUML_CPP_SRC}/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake)
-else()
-  set(cuml_FOUND OFF)
-endif()
-
-include(rapids-cython-core)
-
-set(CUML_PYTHON_TREELITE_TARGET treelite::treelite)
-
-if(NOT CUML_CPU)
-  if(NOT cuml_FOUND)
-    find_package(CUDAToolkit REQUIRED)
-
-    set(BUILD_CUML_TESTS OFF)
-    set(BUILD_PRIMS_TESTS OFF)
-    set(BUILD_CUML_C_LIBRARY OFF)
-    set(BUILD_CUML_EXAMPLES OFF)
-    set(BUILD_CUML_BENCH OFF)
-    set(CUML_EXPORT_TREELITE_LINKAGE ON)
-    set(CUML_PYTHON_TREELITE_TARGET treelite::treelite_static)
-
-    # Statically link dependencies if building wheels
-    set(CUDA_STATIC_RUNTIME ON)
-    set(CUML_USE_CUVS_STATIC ON)
-    set(CUML_USE_TREELITE_STATIC ON)
-    set(CUML_USE_CUMLPRIMS_MG_STATIC ON)
-    # Link to the CUDA wheels with shared libraries for CUDA 12+
-    if(CUDAToolkit_VERSION VERSION_GREATER_EQUAL 12.0)
-      set(CUDA_STATIC_MATH_LIBRARIES OFF)
-    else()
-      if(USE_CUDA_MATH_WHEELS)
-        message(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot use CUDA math wheels with CUDA < 12.0")
-      endif()
-      set(CUDA_STATIC_MATH_LIBRARIES ON)
-    endif()
-    # Don't install the static libs into wheels
-    set(CUML_EXCLUDE_RAFT_FROM_ALL ON)
-    set(RAFT_EXCLUDE_FAISS_FROM_ALL ON)
-    set(CUML_EXCLUDE_TREELITE_FROM_ALL ON)
-    set(CUML_EXCLUDE_CUMLPRIMS_MG_FROM_ALL ON)
-
-    add_subdirectory(${CUML_CPP_SRC} cuml-cpp EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL)
-
-    if(NOT CUDA_STATIC_MATH_LIBRARIES AND USE_CUDA_MATH_WHEELS)
-      set(rpaths
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/cublas/lib"
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/cufft/lib"
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/curand/lib"
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/cusolver/lib"
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/cusparse/lib"
-        "$ORIGIN/../nvidia/nvjitlink/lib"
-      )
-      set_property(TARGET ${CUML_CPP_TARGET} PROPERTY INSTALL_RPATH ${rpaths} APPEND)
-    endif()
-
-    if(USE_CUVS_WHEEL)
-      set(rpaths "$ORIGIN/../cuvs")
-      set_property(TARGET ${CUML_CPP_TARGET} PROPERTY INSTALL_RPATH ${rpaths} APPEND)
-    endif()
-
-    set(cython_lib_dir cuml)
-    install(TARGETS ${CUML_CPP_TARGET} DESTINATION ${cython_lib_dir})
-  endif()
-endif()
-
 if(CUML_CPU)
   set(CUML_UNIVERSAL OFF)
   set(SINGLEGPU ON)
 
+  # only a subset of algorithms are supported in CPU-only cuML
   set(CUML_ALGORITHMS "linearregression")
   list(APPEND CUML_ALGORITHMS "pca")
   list(APPEND CUML_ALGORITHMS "tsvd")
@@ -152,22 +75,49 @@ if(CUML_CPU)
 
   list(APPEND CYTHON_FLAGS
   "--compile-time-env GPUBUILD=0")
+
+# cuml-cpu does not need libcuml++.so
 else()
+
+  include(rapids-cpm)
+  include(rapids-export)
+  rapids_cpm_init()
+
+  # --- treelite --- #
+  # Need to call get_treelite explicitly because we need the correct
+  # ${TREELITE_LIBS} definition for RF.
+  #
+  # And because cuml Cython code needs the headers to satisfy calls like
+  # 'cdef extern from "treelite/c_api.h"'
+
+  # wheel builds use a static treelite, because the 'libtreelite.so' in 'treelite' wheels
+  # isn't intended for dynamic linking by third-party projects (e.g. hides its symbols)
+  if(USE_LIBCUML_WHEEL)
+    set(CUML_PYTHON_TREELITE_TARGET treelite::treelite_static)
+    set(CUML_USE_TREELITE_STATIC ON)
+  else()
+    set(CUML_PYTHON_TREELITE_TARGET treelite::treelite)
+    set(CUML_USE_TREELITE_STATIC OFF)
+  endif()
+
+  set(CUML_EXCLUDE_TREELITE_FROM_ALL ON)
+
+  include(${CUML_CPP_SRC}/cmake/thirdparty/get_treelite.cmake)
+
+  # --- libcuml --- #
+  find_package(cuml "${RAPIDS_VERSION}" REQUIRED)
+
   set(cuml_sg_libraries cuml::${CUML_CPP_TARGET})
   set(cuml_mg_libraries cuml::${CUML_CPP_TARGET})
 
+  if(NOT SINGLEGPU)
+    list(APPEND cuml_mg_libraries cumlprims_mg::cumlprims_mg)
+  endif()
+
   list(APPEND CYTHON_FLAGS
   "--compile-time-env GPUBUILD=1")
 endif()
 
-if(NOT SINGLEGPU)
-  include("${CUML_CPP_SRC}/cmake/thirdparty/get_cumlprims_mg.cmake")
-  set(cuml_mg_libraries
-    cuml::${CUML_CPP_TARGET}
-    cumlprims_mg::cumlprims_mg
-  )
-endif()
-
  ################################################################################
  # - Build Cython artifacts -----------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -182,6 +132,7 @@ endif()
 
 message(VERBOSE "CUML_PY: Building cuML with algorithms: '${CUML_ALGORITHMS}'.")
 
+include(rapids-cython-core)
 rapids_cython_init()
 
 add_subdirectory(cuml/common)
@@ -206,11 +157,3 @@ add_subdirectory(cuml/svm)
 add_subdirectory(cuml/tsa)
 
 add_subdirectory(cuml/experimental/linear_model)
-
-if(DEFINED cython_lib_dir)
-  rapids_cython_add_rpath_entries(TARGET cuml PATHS "${cython_lib_dir}")
-endif()
-
-if(USE_CUVS_WHEEL)
-  rapids_cython_add_rpath_entries(TARGET cuml PATHS cuvs)
-endif()
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/__init__.py b/python/cuml/cuml/__init__.py
index 62ab93c1b4..a8557c84fc 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/__init__.py
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
 # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 #
 
+# If libcuml was installed as a wheel, we must request it to load the library symbols.
+# Otherwise, we assume that the library was installed in a system path that ld can find.
+try:
+    import libcuml
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    pass
+else:
+    libcuml.load_library()
+    del libcuml
+
 from cuml.internals.base import Base, UniversalBase
 from cuml.internals.available_devices import is_cuda_available
 
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
index 43d15ae6fa..ac012ff510 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -31,5 +31,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX cluster_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/hdbscan/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/hdbscan/CMakeLists.txt
index 2c4b41909d..5a85a97b2d 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/hdbscan/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/cluster/hdbscan/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -21,5 +21,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
         SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
         LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
         MODULE_PREFIX cluster_hdbscan_
-        ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/common/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 1492dcd46a..df6cee81cb 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX common_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
 
 if(${CUML_UNIVERSAL})
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/datasets/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/datasets/CMakeLists.txt
index 51d6614600..64c2b483f6 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/datasets/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/datasets/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -21,5 +21,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX datasets_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/decomposition/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/decomposition/CMakeLists.txt
index 2552c80d74..71f36d57af 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/decomposition/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/decomposition/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -30,5 +30,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX decomposition_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/ensemble/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/ensemble/CMakeLists.txt
index e3732c1577..38999083e6 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/ensemble/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/ensemble/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -27,5 +27,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${linked_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX ensemble_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/fil/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/fil/CMakeLists.txt
index f558a47620..d2baab6642 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/fil/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/fil/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -26,5 +26,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${linked_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX experimental_fil_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
index 6c52c3cd16..eb367d9a56 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/experimental/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -22,5 +22,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX experimental_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/explainer/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/explainer/CMakeLists.txt
index e982fb1264..213bb74a78 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/explainer/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/explainer/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -28,5 +28,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${linked_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX explainer_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/fil/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/fil/CMakeLists.txt
index 54e2df2cd4..816e8aa7c8 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/fil/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/fil/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -27,5 +27,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${linked_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX fil_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/internals/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/internals/CMakeLists.txt
index d4ebfdd01d..a363fb7323 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/internals/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/internals/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX internals_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
 
 # We need to include for callbacks_implements.h in the internals folder
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/kernel_ridge/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/kernel_ridge/CMakeLists.txt
index 75421a1752..1bf0d0a1e0 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/kernel_ridge/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/kernel_ridge/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -22,5 +22,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX kernel_ridge_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
index aa72642453..cfa0c3ab05 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/linear_model/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -37,5 +37,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX linear_model_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/manifold/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/manifold/CMakeLists.txt
index 115705d9af..0ca860afe7 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/manifold/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/manifold/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -25,5 +25,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX manifold_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
index 0a6e789c13..a56575ccb8 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -27,5 +27,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX metrics_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/cluster/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
index a81708674c..fbbde707f4 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/metrics/cluster/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -28,5 +28,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   CXX
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/neighbors/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/neighbors/CMakeLists.txt
index dbb23550aa..6658ddc5f2 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/neighbors/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/neighbors/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2024, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -32,5 +32,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX neighbors_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/random_projection/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/random_projection/CMakeLists.txt
index f4e54397ac..012382a1bb 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/random_projection/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/random_projection/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -22,5 +22,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX random_projection_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/solvers/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/solvers/CMakeLists.txt
index a6eada58a9..ad83508254 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/solvers/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/solvers/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -31,5 +31,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_mg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX solvers_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/svm/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/svm/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b9ab0e199..5d19df1a4a 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/svm/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/svm/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -25,5 +25,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX svm_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/cuml/tsa/CMakeLists.txt b/python/cuml/cuml/tsa/CMakeLists.txt
index 3cbe54bded..92552e9ff4 100644
--- a/python/cuml/cuml/tsa/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/python/cuml/cuml/tsa/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # =============================================================================
-# Copyright (c) 2022-2023, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+# Copyright (c) 2022-2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
 #
 # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
 # in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
@@ -27,5 +27,4 @@ rapids_cython_create_modules(
   SOURCE_FILES "${cython_sources}"
   LINKED_LIBRARIES "${cuml_sg_libraries}"
   MODULE_PREFIX tsa_
-  ASSOCIATED_TARGETS cuml
 )
diff --git a/python/cuml/pyproject.toml b/python/cuml/pyproject.toml
index 820a690d3c..73191ae31f 100644
--- a/python/cuml/pyproject.toml
+++ b/python/cuml/pyproject.toml
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ select = [
     "distro-too-large-compressed",
 ]
 
-# detect when package size grows significantly
-max_allowed_size_compressed = '1.5G'
+# PyPI limit is 100 MiB, fail CI before we get too close to that
+max_allowed_size_compressed = '75M'
 
 [tool.pytest.ini_options]
 addopts = "--tb=native"
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "dask-cuda==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "dask-cudf==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "joblib>=0.11",
+    "libcuml==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "numba>=0.57",
     "numpy>=1.23,<3.0a0",
     "nvidia-cublas",
@@ -179,8 +180,11 @@ matrix-entry = "cuda_suffixed=true;use_cuda_wheels=true"
 requires = [
     "cmake>=3.26.4,!=3.30.0",
     "cuda-python",
-    "cuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "cython>=3.0.0",
+    "libcuml==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "ninja",
     "pylibraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
     "rmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
diff --git a/python/libcuml/CMakeLists.txt b/python/libcuml/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..62bc665e4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+# =============================================================================
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except
+# in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+# http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License
+# is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express
+# or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under
+# the License.
+# =============================================================================
+
+cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.26.4 FATAL_ERROR)
+
+include(../../rapids_config.cmake)
+
+include(rapids-cuda)
+rapids_cuda_init_architectures(libcuml-python)
+
+project(
+  libcuml-python
+  VERSION "${RAPIDS_VERSION}"
+  LANGUAGES CXX CUDA
+)
+
+# Check if cuml is already available. If so, it is the user's responsibility to ensure that the
+# CMake package is also available at build time of the Python cuml package.
+find_package(cuml "${RAPIDS_VERSION}")
+
+if(cuml_FOUND)
+  return()
+endif()
+
+unset(cuml_FOUND)
+
+# --- cuML --- #
+set(BUILD_CUML_TESTS OFF)
+set(BUILD_PRIMS_TESTS OFF)
+set(BUILD_CUML_C_LIBRARY OFF)
+set(BUILD_CUML_EXAMPLES OFF)
+set(BUILD_CUML_BENCH OFF)
+
+# In libcuml wheels, we always want to build in all cuML algorithms.
+# This is the default in cpp/CMakeLists.txt, but just making that choice for wheels explicit here.
+set(CUML_ALGORITHMS "ALL" CACHE STRING "Choose which algorithms are built cuML. Can specify individual algorithms or groups in a semicolon-separated list.")
+
+# for libcuml wheels, always compile in the multi-node, multi-GPU stuff from cumlprims_mg
+set(SINGLEGPU OFF)
+
+set(CUML_CPP_TARGET "cuml++")
+set(CUML_CPP_SRC "../../cpp")
+
+# --- cumlprims_mg --- #
+# ship cumlprims_mg in the 'libcuml' wheel (for re-use by 'cuml' wheels)
+set(CUML_USE_CUMLPRIMS_MG_STATIC OFF)
+set(CUML_EXCLUDE_CUMLPRIMS_MG_FROM_ALL OFF)
+
+# --- cuVS --- #
+set(CUML_USE_CUVS_STATIC OFF)
+set(CUML_EXCLUDE_CUVS_FROM_ALL ON)
+
+# --- raft --- #
+set(CUML_RAFT_CLONE_ON_PIN OFF)
+set(CUML_EXCLUDE_RAFT_FROM_ALL ON)
+
+# --- treelite --- #
+set(CUML_EXPORT_TREELITE_LINKAGE ON)
+set(CUML_PYTHON_TREELITE_TARGET treelite::treelite_static)
+set(CUML_USE_TREELITE_STATIC ON)
+set(CUML_EXCLUDE_TREELITE_FROM_ALL ON)
+
+# --- CUDA --- #
+set(CUDA_STATIC_RUNTIME ON)
+set(CUDA_STATIC_MATH_LIBRARIES OFF)
+
+add_subdirectory(../../cpp cuml-cpp)
+
+# assumes libcuml++ is installed 2 levels deep, e.g. site-packages/cuml/lib64/libcuml++.so
+set(rpaths
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/cublas/lib"
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/cufft/lib"
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/curand/lib"
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/cusolver/lib"
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/cusparse/lib"
+  "$ORIGIN/../../nvidia/nvjitlink/lib"
+)
+set_property(TARGET ${CUML_CPP_TARGET} PROPERTY INSTALL_RPATH ${rpaths} APPEND)
diff --git a/python/libcuml/LICENSE b/python/libcuml/LICENSE
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..30cff7403d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../LICENSE
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python/libcuml/README.md b/python/libcuml/README.md
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..fe84005413
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../README.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python/libcuml/libcuml/VERSION b/python/libcuml/libcuml/VERSION
new file mode 120000
index 0000000000..d62dc733ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/libcuml/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+../../../VERSION
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/python/libcuml/libcuml/__init__.py b/python/libcuml/libcuml/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..69d95c8423
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/libcuml/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from libcuml._version import __git_commit__, __version__
+from libcuml.load import load_library
diff --git a/python/libcuml/libcuml/_version.py b/python/libcuml/libcuml/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..da66c0d576
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/libcuml/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import importlib.resources
+
+__version__ = (
+    importlib.resources.files(__package__).joinpath("VERSION").read_text().strip()
+)
+try:
+    __git_commit__ = (
+        importlib.resources.files(__package__)
+        .joinpath("GIT_COMMIT")
+        .read_text()
+        .strip()
+    )
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    __git_commit__ = ""
+
+__all__ = ["__git_commit__", "__version__"]
diff --git a/python/libcuml/libcuml/load.py b/python/libcuml/libcuml/load.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a3c9d28f4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/libcuml/load.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+#
+
+import ctypes
+import os
+
+# Loading with RTLD_LOCAL adds the library itself to the loader's
+# loaded library cache without loading any symbols into the global
+# namespace. This allows libraries that express a dependency on
+# this library to be loaded later and successfully satisfy this dependency
+# without polluting the global symbol table with symbols from
+# libcuml that could conflict with symbols from other DSOs.
+PREFERRED_LOAD_FLAG = ctypes.RTLD_LOCAL
+
+
+def _load_system_installation(soname: str):
+    """Try to dlopen() the library indicated by ``soname``
+    Raises ``OSError`` if library cannot be loaded.
+    """
+    return ctypes.CDLL(soname, PREFERRED_LOAD_FLAG)
+
+
+def _load_wheel_installation(soname: str):
+    """Try to dlopen() the library indicated by ``soname``
+
+    Returns ``None`` if the library cannot be loaded.
+    """
+    # cumlprims_mg installs to lib/
+    if soname.startswith("libcumlprims_mg"):
+        relative_libdir = "lib"
+    else:
+        relative_libdir = "lib64"
+    if os.path.isfile(
+        lib := os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), relative_libdir, soname)
+    ):
+        return ctypes.CDLL(lib, PREFERRED_LOAD_FLAG)
+    return None
+
+
+def load_library():
+    """Dynamically load libcuml++.so and its dependencies"""
+    try:
+        # libraft must be loaded before libcuml++ because libcuml++
+        # references its symbols
+        import libraft
+
+        libraft.load_library()
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        # 'libcuml++' has a runtime dependency on 'libraft'. However,
+        # that dependency might be satisfied by the 'libraft' conda package
+        # (which does not have any Python modules), instead of the
+        # 'libraft' wheel.
+        #
+        # In that situation, assume that 'libraft.so' is in a place where
+        # the loader can find it.
+        pass
+
+    try:
+        # libcuvs must be loaded before libcuml++ because libcuml++
+        # references its symbols
+        import libcuvs
+
+        libcuvs.load_library()
+    except ModuleNotFoundError:
+        # 'libcuml++' has a runtime dependency on 'libcuvs'. However,
+        # that dependency might be satisfied by the 'libcuvs' conda package
+        # (which does not have any Python modules), instead of the
+        # 'libcuvs' wheel.
+        #
+        # In that situation, assume that 'libcuvs.so' is in a place where
+        # the loader can find it.
+        pass
+
+    prefer_system_installation = (
+        os.getenv("RAPIDS_LIBCUML_PREFER_SYSTEM_LIBRARY", "false").lower()
+        != "false"
+    )
+
+    libs_to_return = []
+    for soname in ["libcumlprims_mg.so", "libcuml++.so"]:
+        libcuml_lib = None
+        if prefer_system_installation:
+            # Prefer a system library if one is present to
+            # avoid clobbering symbols that other packages might expect, but if no
+            # other library is present use the one in the wheel.
+            try:
+                libcuml_lib = _load_system_installation(soname)
+            except OSError:
+                libcuml_lib = _load_wheel_installation(soname)
+        else:
+            # Prefer the libraries bundled in this package. If they aren't found
+            # (which might be the case in builds where the library was prebuilt before
+            # packaging the wheel), look for a system installation.
+            try:
+                libcuml_lib = _load_wheel_installation(soname)
+                if libcuml_lib is None:
+                    libcuml_lib = _load_system_installation(soname)
+            except OSError:
+                # If none of the searches above succeed, just silently return None
+                # and rely on other mechanisms (like RPATHs on other DSOs) to
+                # help the loader find the library.
+                pass
+        if libcuml_lib:
+            libs_to_return.append(libcuml_lib)
+
+    # The caller almost never needs to do anything with these libraries, but no
+    # harm in offering the option since these objects at least provide handles
+    # to inspect where libcuml was loaded from.
+
+    return libs_to_return
diff --git a/python/libcuml/pyproject.toml b/python/libcuml/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9d1530c1ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/libcuml/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2025, NVIDIA CORPORATION.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+[build-system]
+build-backend = "rapids_build_backend.build"
+requires = [
+    "rapids-build-backend>=0.3.0,<0.4.0.dev0",
+    "scikit-build-core[pyproject]>=0.10.0",
+] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.
+
+[project]
+name = "libcuml"
+dynamic = ["version"]
+description = "cuML - RAPIDS ML Algorithms (C++)"
+readme = { file = "README.md", content-type = "text/markdown" }
+authors = [
+    { name = "NVIDIA Corporation" },
+]
+license = { text = "Apache 2.0" }
+requires-python = ">=3.10"
+classifiers = [
+    "Intended Audience :: Developers",
+    "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering",
+    "License :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software License",
+    "Programming Language :: C++",
+    "Environment :: GPU :: NVIDIA CUDA",
+]
+dependencies = [
+    "libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "nvidia-cublas",
+    "nvidia-cufft",
+    "nvidia-curand",
+    "nvidia-cusolver",
+    "nvidia-cusparse",
+] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.
+
+[project.urls]
+Homepage = "https://github.com/rapidsai/cuml"
+
+[project.entry-points."cmake.prefix"]
+libcuml= "libcuml"
+
+[tool.pydistcheck]
+select = [
+    "distro-too-large-compressed",
+]
+
+# detect when package size grows significantly
+max_allowed_size_compressed = '500M'
+
+[tool.scikit-build]
+build-dir = "build/{wheel_tag}"
+cmake.build-type = "Release"
+cmake.version = "CMakeLists.txt"
+minimum-version = "build-system.requires"
+ninja.make-fallback = true
+sdist.reproducible = true
+wheel.packages = ["libcuml"]
+wheel.install-dir = "libcuml"
+wheel.py-api = "py3"
+
+[tool.scikit-build.metadata.version]
+provider = "scikit_build_core.metadata.regex"
+input = "libcuml/VERSION"
+regex = "(?P<value>.*)"
+
+[tool.rapids-build-backend]
+build-backend = "scikit_build_core.build"
+dependencies-file = "../../dependencies.yaml"
+matrix-entry = "cuda_suffixed=true;use_cuda_wheels=true"
+requires = [
+    "cmake>=3.26.4,!=3.30.0",
+    "libcuvs==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "libraft==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "librmm==25.2.*,>=0.0.0a0",
+    "ninja",
+] # This list was generated by `rapids-dependency-file-generator`. To make changes, edit ../../dependencies.yaml and run `rapids-dependency-file-generator`.