Sheltered Wings, Inc.

Sheltered Wings, Inc. Vortex Optics Division, doing business as Vortex Optics, manufactures advanced optical equipment and fire control systems for the Department of Defense as a prime contractor on full-and-open Other Transaction Agreements, with ancillary work in small-quantity optical equipment purchases across law-enforcement and civilian agencies. The company is a veteran-owned, family-owned small business operating as a Subchapter S corporation headquartered in Barneveld, Wisconsin, competing predominantly without set-aside designation on its primary Army business and under Total Small Business set-asides on its secondary federal work.

Vortex Optics' federal footprint is sharply concentrated on PEO Soldier's Next Generation Squad Weapon-Fire Control program. PEO Soldier accounts for 8 awards carrying $126.7 million in combined potential value — approximately 100 percent of the company's material federal revenue pipeline. The company holds a position on PEO Soldier's Other Transaction IDV (W15QKN229P001), awarded December 30, 2021, with no specified ceiling and 45 task orders generating $798.2 million in combined potential value across all holders. Vortex Optics' individual ordering under the IDV has reached $117.9 million across 5 task orders. Representative prime work includes a $19.6 million May 2026 delivery order for M157 fire control units with completion by February 29, 2028, performed in Barneveld, Wisconsin; a $98.1 million March 2023 fire control units order completing August 31, 2026; and a $216.8 million June 2026 Other Transaction order for M157 production systems for foreign military sales to Australia, also performed in Barneveld. Supporting work includes field service representative tasks — a $31.4 thousand May 2026 order for new equipment training support to the 2-101st Airborne at Watertown, New York, and a $10.7 thousand May 2026 order for M157 training with the 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Secondary customers are distributed across law enforcement and civilian agencies but represent negligible dollar share. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Justice Bureau of Prisons Management Specialty Training Center Aurora, and the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support each placed small orders; a $1.8 thousand September 2026 laser rangefinder purchase order from DEA and a $14.4 thousand September 2026 optics parts order from Management Specialty Training Center Aurora are representative. Vortex Optics also holds a position on the Federal Supply Schedule (GS07F0129W) with 7 task orders carrying $72 thousand in combined potential value and sits on the Special Operations Equipment tailored logistics vehicle with 5 task orders.

In its subcontractor role, Vortex Optics supplies optical components to Atlantic Diving Supply across five awards placed between February and October 2024, including day optics with MRAD reticles and turrets and Razor binocular components. Recent award velocity reflects accelerating Army investment in NGSW-FC production — 16 awards placed in 2025 alone — though only two awards complete within the next twenty-four months with $19.6 million in combined potential value exposed to recompete. The company's NAICS footprint centers on Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing (31 awards) and Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (9 awards), with PSC coding dominated by Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components and Accessories (16 awards) and Optical Sighting and Ranging Equipment (8 awards).

Binoculars.binocular.Spotting Scopes.spotting scope.Riflescopes.Rangefinders.Tripods.Monoculars.