Tekla Research

What Tekla Research does

Tekla Research, Inc. is a privately held Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded in 1995 and headquartered in Lexington Park, Maryland. The firm provides professional services to federal defense and homeland security agencies, with a workforce that has grown from two founders to over 250 employees. Its core service offerings span program management, test and evaluation (developmental, integrated, capabilities-based, and operational), logistics, systems and specialty engineering, information systems and networks, cybersecurity/warfare, acquisition oversight, and international program support (including Foreign Military Sales). The company sells exclusively to the U.S. government — primarily the Department of Defense (NAVAIR program offices, COMOPTEVFOR, Naval Research Laboratory, OUSD R&E) and the Department of Homeland Security (Customs and Border Protection) — and is a prime contractor on multiple-award IDIQ vehicles.

Tekla's technical approach is grounded in domain-specific defense engineering and program management methodologies rather than proprietary software products. Notable service capabilities include a Performance-Based Quality Assurance Metrics system for task order performance management, end-to-end test and evaluation support from planning through post-test analysis, and full-lifecycle Foreign Military Sales case support. As a professional services firm, its "technology" consists of cleared personnel, process frameworks, and quality management systems rather than packaged IP or platforms.

The company's business model is federal government contracting on a professional services basis. Revenue is generated through prime contractor positions on contract vehicles including Seaport NxG, OASIS+ Multi-Agency Contract, OASIS SB, GSA Multiple Award Schedule (GS10F073AA), NAVAIR IDIQ MACs, and COMOPTEVFOR IDIQs. Contracts range from Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) efforts to complex programs exceeding $100 million, with the firm managing more than 35 subcontractors spanning multi-billion-dollar primes to small businesses. Pricing is negotiated through federal procurement processes rather than publicly disclosed, and the go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales targeting federal contracting officers across 11 geographic locations concentrated in major U.S. defense hubs.

Name

Tekla Research

Legal name

Tekla Research, Inc.

Website

https://teklaresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tekla Research is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) defense contractor providing program management, test and evaluation, logistics, systems engineering, and cybersecurity professional services to DoD, DHS, and other federal agencies through prime contractor positions on multiple IDIQ vehicles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Contracting Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Defense R&D, Test, Evaluation & Innovation (BPAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Defense program management
• Test and evaluation services
• Systems engineering support
• Federal government contracting
• Military logistics services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericksburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Defense Contracts: Revenue generated from prime contractor positions on DoD and federal agency contracts. Contracts range from SBIR efforts to large complex contracts exceeding $100M. Services include program management, test & evaluation, logistics, systems engineering, cybersecurity, and acquisition support for defense weapons systems and aviation programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Tekla Research is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) defense contractor that delivers professional services to U.S. federal agencies, primarily the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Its offerings span program management, test and evaluation, logistics, systems and specialty engineering, cybersecurity, acquisition oversight, and international/foreign military sales support, delivered as a prime contractor on multiple IDIQ and GSA contract vehicles.

Product overview

Tekla Research is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) defense contractor providing professional services rather than a software product platform. The company offers a portfolio of interconnected core service capabilities including Program Management, Test & Evaluation, Logistics, Systems and Specialty Engineering, Information Systems and Networks, Cyber Security/Warfare, Acquisition Oversight, and International Program Support. These services are delivered primarily to the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and other Federal Agencies through various contract vehicles including Seaport NxG, NAVAIR IDIQ contracts, OASIS+, GSA schedules, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Program Management Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 consecutive years on Inc. 5000 fastest growing companies list
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SANS Institute Employer Partner Network (EPN)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Tekla Research is an employer partner of the SANS Institute Employer Partner Network. This partnership includes SANS CyberTalent Immersion Academies: VetSuccess Academy, Women's Immersion Academy, Virginia Cyber Skills Accelerator, Cyber Workforce Academy—Maryland, and Diversity Cyber Academy. The SANS Academies provide program-specific intensive training and certification programs with the goal of developing real-world knowledge and hands-on cybersecurity skills.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CALIBRE Systems: Virginia-headquartered SDVOSB management and professional services firm supporting DoD, DHS, and federal civilian agencies — directly comparable in set-aside status, federal services focus, and customer set to Tekla Research.
• Axiom Resource Management: Virginia-based small business providing defense and federal professional services in program management, engineering, and T&E — same SDVOSB/small-business positioning, similar federal customer focus, and overlapping capability portfolio.
• COLSA Corporation: Huntsville, AL-based mid-size defense contractor providing systems engineering, T&E, and program management support to DoD — closely comparable operating model and capability mix, though larger and more diversified by customer.
• Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA): Defense professional services firm providing systems analysis, T&E, and operational support across Navy, Air Force, and joint programs — a comparable mid-size T&E and systems engineering services peer.
• Triton Federal Solutions: Small business defense contractor providing program management, logistics, and engineering services to DoD — small-business competitor in the same federal services space.
• Zel Technologies: Virginia-based small business providing engineering, technical, and program management services to DoD, with NAVAIR-adjacent work — closely comparable scale, geography, and customer focus.
• nou Systems: Huntsville-based small business specializing in systems engineering, T&E, and modeling & simulation for DoD missile and aviation programs — directly overlapping capability set on similar weapon-system customers.

Broad incumbents

• Amentum: Large, publicly traded defense and federal services prime with deep NAVAIR and T&E presence (formerly Jacobs Critical Mission Solutions + ManTech) — directly adjacent capability set at much larger scale, representing both a competitor and a potential acquirer.
• SAIC: Large public defense and federal services prime providing systems engineering, T&E, and logistics to NAVAIR and other DoD agencies — overlapping capability set and customer base at significantly larger scale and scope.
• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large public consulting and engineering prime providing federal defense and civilian services including program management, systems engineering, and T&E — operates in the same federal services market segment at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tekla Research