Fivenine Optics Inc.

Fivenine Optics Inc., based in Boulder, Colorado, manufactures precision optical components and coatings for federal research, defense, and scientific applications, operating primarily as a prime contractor (93% of recent awards) on small-dollar purchase orders and one strategic defense development agreement. The company is a for-profit Subchapter S corporation and small business that competes predominantly in full-and-open and small-business set-aside categories rather than restricted SBA programs.

Fivenine Optics specializes in high-reflectivity mirrors, cavity ring-down optical systems, ion-beam-sputtered mirror coatings, and dual-wavelength-coated ultra-high-reflectivity optics for laser and measurement applications. Representative recent work includes a $3.6 million Other Transaction Agreement awarded May 15, 2024 by the Army Research Development and Engineering Command for improvements to manufacturing laser weapons systems optical coating chamber (titled CORNERSTONE OTA), a $24.1 thousand purchase order from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for two sets of high-reflectivity mirrors supporting cavity ringdown spectroscopy in support of the Material Measurement Laboratory Chemical Sciences Division, and a $21.5 thousand firm fixed-price procurement from Naval Sea Systems Command for high-reflectivity mirror and low-reflectivity window coatings certified for power levels above 130 kilowatts under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) sole-source authority due to Fivenine Optics' unique NIST certification. The company holds a Blanket Purchase Agreement with NIST (3 task orders, $104 thousand combined potential value) that has generated multiple call orders for specialized coating services.

Customer concentration reflects Fivenine Optics' positioning as a research-optics supplier. The National Institute of Standards and Technology anchors the portfolio with 16 awards (87% of total award count) valued at $257 thousand combined potential value, followed at significant distance by the Naval Sea Systems Command (3 awards, $78 thousand), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (4 awards, $32 thousand), and the NASA Shared Services Center (2 awards, $48 thousand). The Army Materiel Command Research Development and Engineering Command, while representing only one award, carries the bulk of potential dollar value at $3.6 million from the CORNERSTONE OTA. The vendor serves nine distinct federal agencies in total. Top NAICS coding emphasizes optical instrument and lens manufacturing (20 awards), with secondary exposure in analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing and commercial machinery manufacturing.

Activity has remained flat to slight growth — two awards in 2022, three in 2023, two in 2024, three in 2025, and one through July 2026. Combined potential value across the thirty-award portfolio stands at $4.1 million, with $2.4 million obligated (58% utilization). In its limited subcontract role, Fivenine Optics supplies optical equipment and fabrication services to Valkyrie Enterprises LLC and HX5 LLC for MIT Lincoln Laboratory research and development work. The vendor's federal footprint reflects deep technical specialization in precision optical manufacturing and coatings rather than scale or vehicle breadth; opportunities flow through direct agency purchase orders and the NIST BPA rather than through government-wide acquisition contracts or large IDIQs.