Lister Chain & Forge Inc.

Lister Chain & Forge Inc., headquartered in Blaine, Washington, manufactures specialized marine chain, anchors, shackles, swivels, detachable links, stopper assemblies, and related maritime hardware as a prime contractor (92% of recent awards) to federal agencies with domestic defense and civilian maritime missions. The company is a small business operating as a for-profit manufacturer under primary NAICS codes 332510 (Hardware Manufacturing), 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing), and related fabricated metal categories; it competes predominantly in full-and-open procurements with no recurring set-aside designation, though it has received Total Small Business set-aside awards from the Coast Guard and Naval Sea Systems Command.

Customer concentration is acute and maritime-mission-focused. The top five funding agencies account for 91% of recent awards. The Department of Homeland Security U.S. Coast Guard leads by potential value at $97.9 million across 111 awards; the Department of the Navy Naval Facilities Engineering Command follows at $43 million across 17 awards; and the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation dominates by award count at 234 orders worth $18 million combined. The Naval Sea Systems Command and DLA Land and Maritime each contribute $5 million and $3.8 million respectively. The divergence between award count and dollar value reflects the company's role as a steady supplier of small components and consumables through routine purchase orders, offset by episodic large delivery orders for buoy chain, bridles, and mooring equipment from the Coast Guard and Navy.

Lister Chain & Forge holds three significant indefinite delivery contracts anchoring its federal footprint. A $13.97 million single-award IDC with the Coast Guard (ultimate completion May 8, 2026) covers manufacture of large open link welded steel buoy chain and bridles in sizes from 1.5 inch to 2.25 inch, 90-foot lengths. A $25 million single-award IDC with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (June 6, 2027) provides fleet mooring chain and accessories including kenter shackles and anchor joining links, with performance in Port Hueneme, California and Blaine, Washington. A $250,000 single-award IDC with DLA Aviation (July 2022 through July 2027) supplies detachable links. Representative recent prime awards include a $2.48 million Coast Guard delivery order (November 18, 2025) for 573 large buoy chains and bridles nationwide; a $533 million Coast Guard delivery order (April 3, 2025) for steel buoy chain; a $2.2 million Coast Guard delivery order (August 3, 2023) for buoy chain and bridles; and a $396 million Naval Information Warfare Systems Command definitive contract (September 26, 2024) for chain link replacements as sole-source spare parts.

Activity has contracted sharply year over year: 76 awards in 2024 declined to 52 in 2025 and 24 in 2026, with only 2 recorded as of March 2027. Recompete exposure in the next twenty-four months is minimal—14 awards with $2 million combined potential value face ultimate completion in that window. The company subcontracts to major shipbuilders on naval construction and alteration programs. Huntington Ingalls Inc. is the primary prime partner, with subcontract work spanning detailed design and construction for DDG 51 (Arleigh Burke-class destroyers), CVN 80 and CVN 81 (Gerald R. Ford-class carriers), and DDG 1000 (Zumwalt-class destroyers) covering stud link chain, anchors, detachable links, pelican hook stoppers, hawse pendants, dip rope, and outboard swivel assemblies. National Steel and Shipbuilding Company has engaged Lister Chain & Forge for restricted availability repairs and construction material on LSD 49 and T-AO 205 tanker projects. ASRC Federal Facilities Logistics has subcontracted bending shackles. These subcontract relationships position Lister Chain & Forge as an embedded supplier within the Navy's surface combatant and carrier construction ecosystem.

The company was founded in 1911 and is now a division of Washington Chain & Supply Inc., a self-certified small disadvantaged business. Its federal footprint is concentrated in maritime hardware procurement across Navy, Coast Guard, and DLA logistics; no federal civilian or intelligence agency work is evident in the award record. Product specialization—chain, anchors, and mooring hardware meeting strict naval specifications—creates both customer stickiness and narrow market differentiation.