Optx Imaging Systems LLC

Optx Imaging Systems LLC, a small business manufacturer and developer of electro-optical and infrared imaging systems, operates as a prime contractor (61% of recent awards) and as a subcontractor to large defense primes, competing predominantly under small-business set-asides. The company is a for-profit limited liability company based in Lorton, Virginia, structured as a partnership or LLC, and specializes in optics, camera solutions, infrared sensors, infrared coatings, and detector technologies for defense research and development. Work is performed at the Lorton headquarters with delivery extending to classified defense environments where required.

Optx's customer concentration is heavily weighted to defense research and development agencies. The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Research Laboratory (AFRL) dominates both award count (9 awards, $4.4 million combined potential value) and activity, followed by the Department of the Army (5 awards, $250 thousand), the Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Aeronautical Systems Center (4 awards), and the Department of the Army Materiel Command Research Development and Engineering Center (3 awards, $2.4 million). The top five customers account for 74% of awards by count and 93% of potential value. The Office of the Secretary of Defense anchors the highest single-customer dollar value at $4.8 million across two awards, though AFRL's higher award count reflects Optx's sustained position as a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) performer across Phase I and Phase II efforts.

Representative prime work includes a $1.25 million SBIR Phase II contract with AFRL (awarded February 2023, completing April 2025) for infrared coating process improvements for detectors; a $441,802 definitive contract with AFRL (awarded April 2026) for low-cost infrared search and track, completing July 2027; and a $249,997 SBIR Phase I contract with the Department of the Army (awarded October 2024) under Topic A244-024 for innovative optics and imaging solutions. Optx also holds a $747,176 Other Transaction IDIQ from the United States Marine Corps for research, development, and prototyping efforts. On parent vehicles, Optx places work under Army Indefinite Delivery Contract W91CRB18D0021 and Air Force Indefinite Delivery Contract FA869021D1009, with limited task-order activity on each.

Activity grew from one award in 2022 to eight in 2024, slowing to three in 2025 and one in 2026 as of May. Only one award (combined potential value $442 thousand) reaches ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, creating a low recompete cliff but potentially flagging a pipeline trough. In its subcontractor role, Optx delivers infrared and imaging subsystems to General Dynamics Land Systems (three awards in 2024–2025 for Phase 3 and 4 development and prototype deliverables of the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle), Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (four awards in 2023–2024 for advanced staring infrared search and track technologies, Global Hawk maintenance laptops, and International Global Hawk logistics support), and DRS Network & Imaging Systems (one 2024 award for LLDR 3 systems production support). AFRL awards dominate Optx's prime footprint; subcontractor work reflects teaming with major defense platforms (Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle, RQ-4B Global Hawk) where Optx supplies sensor and optics subsystems. Service Contract Inventory captures minimal activity — 0.2 FTEs in FY2022 — reflecting that Optx's federal work is predominantly goods manufacturing, R&D, and classified product development rather than labor-hour service contracts above the $150,000 reporting threshold.