Nobles Worldwide, Inc.

Nobles Worldwide, Inc., a for-profit manufacturer headquartered in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, is a prime contractor to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) supplying ammunition chutes, ejection chutes, end assemblies, center sections, and related ordnance handling components through full and open competition with no set-aside designation. The company is a subsidiary of Ducommun Labarge Technologies, Inc., a larger aerospace and defense components manufacturer. Nobles brings over 60 years of defense industry experience and competes on capability and price rather than small business preferences across its federal portfolio.

Nobles' capability portfolio centers entirely on specialized ammunition handling systems and aircraft ordnance components. Representative work includes a $622 million definitive contract from DLA Land and Maritime (October 2025) for ammunition chutes under NSN 1005-012575386, a $365.9 million naval aircraft feed chute award from Naval Supply Systems Command (April 2025), and a $346 million test set for pylon ejection systems delivery order from DLA Aviation (July 2025). The company manufactures to source-controlled drawing specifications and military standards and holds multiple single-award indefinite delivery contracts (IDCs) with DLA Land and Maritime, each valued at $250,000 to $350,000, enabling firm fixed-price delivery orders ranging historically from $7,000 to $92,881. Across the 3,271 awards in the source footprint, combined potential value stands at $152.5 million with $164.2 million obligated.

Customer concentration is extreme and anchored to a single buyer. DLA Land and Maritime accounts for 2,242 awards (68% of total) valued at $107 million (70% of combined potential value), making the vendor heavily dependent on this customer and vulnerable to procurement shifts within DLA's ammunition logistics operations. The next four customers—Naval Sea Systems Command, Army Contracting Command Detroit Arsenal, DLA Troop Support Construction and Equipment, and Naval Air Systems Command—together represent only $29.1 million in potential value. This concentration within DLA Land and Maritime creates substantial business risk despite the vendor's established position.

Nobles operates across multiple DLA Land and Maritime single-award IDC vehicles. As of the source date, the vendor holds at least seventeen active IDCs with DLA Land and Maritime, each with ceilings between $250,000 and $350,000 and one-year terms. Recent awards include IDCs for ammunition chutes (NSN 1005013221230, 1005013221227), end assemblies, ejection chutes, and support chutes. The vendor also holds positions on Basic Ordering Agreements with the Department of the Air Force (F0960381G1530 with 21 task orders, F0960388G0019 with 16 task orders) and an Indefinite Delivery Contract with unknown agency (SPE7LX18D0008 with 25 task orders, $748 thousand combined potential value).

Activity has contracted materially over the past five years. Award volume peaked at 138 in 2022, declining to 102 in 2025 and 22 in 2026 (year-to-date through April). This downward trajectory reflects either reduced DLA procurement demand for ammunition handling components or potential loss of market share to competitors. The recompete cliff is minimal: only three awards (combined potential value $608 thousand) complete within the next twenty-four months, suggesting most of Nobles' active IDC work and existing delivery orders extend beyond the measurement window or have already been obligated.

In its subcontractor role, Nobles supplies fabricated components and structural assemblies to major defense primes. Named subcontract work includes fabricated components to Raytheon on Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) production (September 2025), components to Boeing on Apache AH-64E new build for foreign military sale (November 2025 and March 2026), and fabricated components to Oshkosh Defense on Stryker 30MM Enhanced Combat Platform medium caliber weapon system upgrades (November 2025). General Dynamics Land Systems is a fourth named prime on phase 3 and 4 optionally manned fighting vehicle prototypes (November 2025). These subcontract arrangements appear secondary to Nobles' prime footprint—subcontracts represent only 1% of total awards—and suggest the company serves as a specialized ordnance component fabricator within broader weapons platform programs rather than a primary systems integrator.

Nobles' award distribution by NAICS and PSC reflects its narrow, specialized mission. Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (NAICS 332994) accounts for 2,100 of 3,271 awards (64%). The top Product Service Code is Guns, Through 30MM (2,581 awards), followed by Aircraft Ground Servicing Equipment and Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Shop Specialized Equipment. This heavy concentration within weapons and ordnance categories, with no diversification into logistics management, IT, or professional services, leaves the vendor vulnerable to shifts in Defense Department ammunition procurement or DLA organizational priorities. The vendor's business model rests on sustained demand for physical ammunition handling components across military branches, a category where procurement can contract sharply during drawdowns or if DLA consolidates suppliers.