Bird-Johnson Propeller Company, LLC

Bird-Johnson Propeller Company, LLC, a Walpole, Massachusetts-based manufacturer of marine propulsion and propeller systems components, operates as a prime contractor (86% of recent awards) delivering original equipment manufacturer and OEM-authorized controllable pitch propeller systems, blade assemblies, hub assemblies, and associated hydraulic and mechanical propulsion equipment to the Department of the Navy and U.S. Coast Guard. The company is a subsidiary of Fairbanks Morse, LLC, a defense manufacturer, and competes on a full-and-open basis with no set-aside designations across its prime portfolio.

Bird-Johnson's customer concentration is heavily weighted toward the Navy. The top five funding agencies account for 95% of recent awards, anchored by Naval Sea Systems Command (25 awards, $582.1 million combined potential value), which dominates both volume and dollars by a significant margin. Military Sealift Command (8 awards, $68.7 million), the U.S. Coast Guard (6 awards, $27.9 million), the Naval Supply Systems Command (15 awards, $20.2 million), and the Secretary of the Navy Office of Naval Research (2 awards, $21.2 million) round out the active customer set. The potential-value concentration is even more pronounced than award-count concentration — Naval Sea Systems Command alone represents 81% of combined potential value across the portfolio, reflecting large-dollar IDVs and delivery orders for submarine and surface combatant propulsion components.

Bird-Johnson holds substantial positions on multiple Naval Sea Systems Command IDVs. A $40 million multiple-award IDIQ effective through March 2031 covers manufacturing of surface ship monobloc propellers and propeller caps for CVN-78, LHD-1, and LCC-19 ship classes. A single-award indefinite-delivery contract valued at $23.6 million through May 2030 supports engineering services for the Littoral Combat Ship Freedom Class Ships Control System. A single-award Basic Ordering Agreement with no ceiling runs through March 2030 for Virginia Class Propulsor Program inspection, repair, alteration, and replacement services, under which a $9.9 million delivery order for 20 1A stator blades (10 with impressed-current cathodic protection holes, 10 without) was issued in August 2025 to subcontractor Rolls-Royce Marine North America Inc. for manufacture in Pascagoula, Mississippi. A second BOA with Naval Supply Systems Command (ceiling $0.00, through June 2029) supports repair and spare items for naval propulsion systems; three delivery orders totaling approximately $3.81 million have been issued under this vehicle to date. A $49 million multiple-award IDIQ with Military Sealift Command effective through September 2031 procures propulsion systems parts and services including controllable pitch propeller components, blade assemblies, hub assemblies, hydraulic systems, waterjet components, propeller shaft sleeves, zinc anodes, tubes and fittings, and lubricating units.

Recent representative prime work includes a $36.5 million definitive contract awarded September 2021 by Naval Sea Systems Command for Virginia Class submarine rotor and scoop bar components (completion December 2031); a $26.4 million Coast Guard definitive contract awarded August 2021 for Rolls-Royce propulsion and bow thruster spare parts for the National Security Cutter and Maritime Security Cutter Large vessel classes (completion August 2026); a $17.7 million Military Sealift Command definitive contract awarded August 2025 for OEM T-AO 187 propeller and hub replacement parts supporting USNS Lenthall, USNS Kaiser, and USNS Grumman (completion December 2026); an $11.1 million Naval Sea Systems Command delivery order issued March 2026 for propeller systems and marine propulsion components under a Basic Ordering Agreement (completion January 2028); and a $10.6 million Naval Sea Systems Command delivery order issued August 2025 for propulsion system components under a BOA (completion March 2027). Smaller volume work includes a $5.2 million Naval Supply Systems Command purchase order for ship propellers and components (completion January 2028) and a $898.6 thousand Military Sealift Command order for port controllable reversible hub assembly overhaul (completion October 2026).

Activity has accelerated in recent years — four awards in 2022 to twenty-one in 2025 — with a pronounced spike in 2025 driven by large Naval Sea Systems Command IDIQ awards and delivery orders under those vehicles. The combined potential value across all awards stands at $720.4 million, with $182.4 million obligated (25% drawdown). Fourteen awards with combined potential value of $82.1 million face ultimate completion inside the next twenty-four months, creating recompete exposure across Naval Sea Systems Command propulsion system platforms, Virginia Class propulsor support, and Military Sealift Command vessel maintenance.

In its subcontractor role, Bird-Johnson supplies propeller components and blade assemblies to Vigor Marine LLC on USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and USS Kidd (DDG 100) depot modernization work, provides blade and bolt assemblies to Asrc Federal Facilities Logistics LLC, delivers advanced marine propulsion and energy components to GE Energy Power Conversion Naval Systems Inc. under the Advanced Marine Propulsion and Energy for Revolutionary Efficiency program, and supports Unmanned Underwater Vehicle maintenance services through HII Unmanned Systems Inc. Across sub work, Bird-Johnson's role centers on propulsion-component manufacturing and supply supporting prime contractors engaged in naval vessel maintenance and modernization.

Work is performed primarily at Bird-Johnson's Walpole, Massachusetts facility, with some manufacturing subcontracted to Rolls-Royce Marine North America (propulsor components in Pascagoula, Mississippi) and deliveries to naval logistics centers in Norfolk, San Diego, Jacksonville, and Baltimore. Top subcontractors supporting Bird-Johnson's prime awards include Rolls-Royce Marine North America, Federal Metal Co (metal ingot and conversion services), Global Supply LLC (mechanical fasteners and industrial supplies), American Tooling Center Inc. (machined parts and specialty tooling), and a multi-vendor supply team including Milwaukee Bearing and Machining, F.H. Peterson Machine Corporation, Metaltek International, Parker-Hannifin, Circor, and Advance Bronze. Bird-Johnson's award portfolio is concentrated across propeller and propulsion component manufacturing: Ship Building and Repairing dominates the NAICS profile (13 awards), with All Other Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (11 awards), Boat Building (7 awards), and Other Engine Equipment Manufacturing (6 awards) rounding out category concentration. The PSC profile is equally concentrated: Ship and Boat Propulsion Components account for 30 awards, with Support (Professional, Engineering/Technical) at 4 awards and smaller concentrations in powered valves and R&D defense programs.