Inside the Marine Corps’ $17M Sole-Source Contract—and What Small Businesses Should Learn from It

On July 14, 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps handed out a $17 million sole-source contract to Ternion Corporation—and small businesses in the federal contracting space should pay attention. This contract isn’t just another high-value DoD deal—it’s a crystal-clear example of how sole-source awards operate, why certain vendors win them, and how small businesses can position themselves to benefit despite the odds.