REQUEST FOR INFORMATION MINERAL PROCESSING LEASING OPPORTUNITIES

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has issued a Request for Information (RFI No. DAF-MINERALS-AFCEC-26-R-0011) to explore Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) opportunities for mineral processing on underutilized surface land at DAF installations. Aligning with federal directives to boost domestic mineral processing, including rare earth elements, this initiative strictly excludes subsurface mineral exploration or extraction. The DAF seeks industry feedback to shape a future Request for Lease Proposal (RFLP). Key areas of inquiry include development feasibility without DAF procurement or raw input guarantees, optimal lease structures, financing terms, and site selection requirements. The DAF has identified four potential candidate installations within the Continental United States, each presenting specific infrastructure and environmental constraints: * **Mountain Home AFB, Idaho:** Limited electrical capacity and water availability issues. * **Luke AFB, Arizona:** Critical habitat restrictions, restricted water access, and lack of infrastructure. * **Kirtland AFB, New Mexico:** Utility limitations and aging well infrastructure. * **Hill AFB, Utah:** Desert terrain requiring significant grid upgrades and coordination to prevent mission interference. Leasing actions will not be governed by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and developers must fund their own National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance. Responses must address developer experience, site-specific mitigation strategies, utility requirements, and security considerations. Questions are due by September 23, 2026, and final submissions must be emailed to the DAF point of contact, Jeff Blankenship, by October 9, 2026.