Roberts Research Laboratory

Roberts Research Laboratory, a for-profit small disadvantaged business manufacturer based in Torrance, California, manufactures cartridge-actuated devices and explosive components for defense and aerospace applications as a prime contractor across 216 federal awards with no subcontract footprint. The vendor operates on a full-and-open basis with no set-aside designations across its federal prime portfolio.

Roberts Research Laboratory specializes in precision mechanical and explosive components for ejection seat systems, parachute deployment mechanisms, and aerospace safety devices. The portfolio centers on cartridge-actuated cutters (NSN 1377-01-332-2379), reefing line cutter assemblies, locking cord cutters, and cartridge-actuated pin pushers used across multiple Air Force platforms (A-10, B-1, B-2, F-15, F-16, F-22, F-117) and Navy target drone systems (BQM-74E). Representative work includes a $558,948 definitive contract awarded by Air Force Materiel Command on August 28, 2023, for delivery of cutter cartridges, initiator cartridges, and cartridge-actuated cutters over sixteen months; a $114,916 firm fixed-price purchase order from Naval Sea Systems Command on September 2, 2025, for 334 cartridge-actuated pin pushers (NSN 1377-01-135-6856, DODIC XW76) supporting BQM-74E target drones; and a $123,326 sole-source purchase order from NASA's Shared Services Center on April 4, 2024, for 200 reefing line cutter assemblies used in Orion spacecraft parachute deployment systems.

Customer concentration is tightly focused on defense prime customers. The Department of the Air Force accounts for 42 awards and the Department of the Navy for 34 awards, with these two agencies representing the dominant footprint. The top five customer entities by potential value — Air Force Materiel Command Ogden Air Logistics Complex ($2.4 million across 17 awards), Naval Sea Systems Command ($1.7 million across 28 awards), Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center Hill Air Force Base ($660 thousand across 18 awards), Naval Supply Systems Command ($310 thousand across 7 awards), and NASA Shared Services Center ($123 thousand across 1 award) — account for 95% of combined potential value.

The vendor's portfolio is concentrated under indefinite delivery contracts, with the largest vehicle being FA821316D0004 carrying five task orders and $93 thousand in combined potential value; other active IDCs include F4260081C5252, F4260084C0398, F4260088C0745, and F4260090C0557, each with two task orders. Work is performed exclusively at the Torrance, California facility. Award activity has been sparse in recent years (one award in 2021, three in 2023, two in 2024, one in 2025, and one in 2026), with only two awards ($145 thousand combined potential value) reaching completion inside the next twenty-four months. The vendor has held an active contracting relationship with Air Force and Navy logistics commands since 2001, with NAICS concentration in explosives manufacturing (91 awards) and other ordnance and accessories manufacturing (19 awards), and PSC concentration in cartridge and propellant actuated devices and components (176 awards).

REEFING LINE CUTTERS, EXPLOSIVE CABLE CUTTERS, EXPLOSIVE RELEASE DEVICES, SQUIBS, CARTRIDGE ACTUATED DEVICES, ELECTRIC INITIATORS, DROGUE GUNS, FUZES