Request For Proposal (RFP) Bismuth Metal

The Department of Defense (DoD) intends to procure 5,167,272 pounds of commercial-grade bismuth metal (99.99% purity) over a five-year period for the National Defense Stockpile. This procurement aims to reduce supply chain risk for DoD applications, particularly in metallurgy and ammunition. The material must be in slab or ingot form, weigh 32-40 lbs per slab, and be non-radioactive. The contractor must ensure all sampling, testing, and production facilities are within the Continental United States (CONUS). An independent, ISO 17025-certified third-party laboratory located in CONUS must perform all chemical analysis, with results provided in a Certificate of Analysis (COA) for each lot. Packaging requires new wooden crates with plastic liners, containing approximately 1,000 kg per lot, placed on new, high-density hardwood pallets meeting specific design and construction standards. All containers and pallets must be new. Comprehensive labeling with specific information is required for each container. The contractor is responsible for transportation to the Government Storage Depot in Hawthorne, NV. Deliveries require advance scheduling and adherence to specific receiving procedures. This purchase is exempt from tariffs under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock Piling Act.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Strategic Materials seeks to procure 5,167,272 pounds of commercial-grade Bismuth Metal over five years for the National Defense Stockpile, via an Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract. The contract includes two Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs): CLIN 0001 for Bismuth Metal supply, packaging, and delivery to Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada, with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) or Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustments (EPA) pricing, and CLIN 0002 for Third-Party Testing of the Bismuth Metal, with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) pricing. Deliveries for CLIN 0001 are required within 24 months of order issuance, and the period of performance for CLIN 0002 is also 24 months after delivery order issuance. Both CLINs have quantity range-based pricing structures for each contract year. The quantities provided are estimates, and the government will issue firm-fixed-price delivery orders based on the proposed unit prices. The contract also incorporates various FAR and DFARS clauses, including those related to payment, disputes, termination, and prohibitions on certain telecommunications equipment and services, particularly from Chinese and Russian entities.

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Contracting Services Office – Columbus Division 3 (DCSO-C3) has issued a combined synopsis/solicitation (SP8000-25-R-0017) for a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to procure commercial grade Bismuth Metal. The contract has a minimum value of $3,000,000 and a maximum of $65,000,000. Award will be based on the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures, evaluating technical approach (material description, COA, packaging, labeling, sampling, testing) and past performance. Proposals are due by August 26, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EST, and must be submitted electronically to Victoria McPherson and Michelle Harrison. Offerors must be registered and maintain an active status in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov). The NAICS code is 331410 (Nonferrous Metal Smelting and Refining). Delivery orders will be issued as fixed-price with a 24-month delivery period to Hawthorne, Nevada.

Amendment 0001 to Solicitation SP8000-25-R-0017, issued on August 21, 2025, updates the Statement of Work (SOW) for the Bismuth Metal requirement. This amendment, identified as SP8000-25-R-0017-0001, explicitly modifies the SOW, while all other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged. The document includes administrative details such as the issue date, solicitation number, and a digital signature from Michelle M. Harrison, validating the amendment.

Amendment 0002 to Solicitation SP8000-25-R-0017 extends the solicitation period. Offers must acknowledge this amendment by completing items 8 and 15 and returning copies, acknowledging on each offer copy, or sending a separate letter/electronic communication referencing the solicitation and amendment numbers. Failure to acknowledge receipt by the specified deadline may lead to rejection of the offer. Changes to previously submitted offers must also reference the solicitation and amendment and be received before the opening hour. The new closing date for the solicitation period is September 9th, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST. All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged. The contractor is not required to sign and return copies of this document to the issuing office.

The Department of Defense (DoD) intends to procure 5,167,272 lbs of commercial-grade bismuth metal (99.99% purity) over a five-year period for the National Defense Stockpile, aiming to mitigate supply chain risks. The material must be in slab or ingot form, weighing 32-40 lbs per slab, with specific dimensions. Each lot will be approximately 1,000 kg, contained in new wooden crates. The contractor must ensure the material is non-radioactive and that no government material leaves CONUS. Rigorous sampling and testing, witnessed by the Government and conducted by an ISO 17025-certified CONUS-based third-party laboratory, are required. Certificates of Analysis (COAs) must accompany each lot. All packaging, labeling, transportation, and delivery must adhere to strict federal, state, and local environmental, safety, and occupational health regulations. Deliveries will be to the Government Storage Depot in Hawthorne, NV, with specific scheduling and entry procedures. Bismuth metal purchases are exempt from tariffs under specific U.S.C. provisions, requiring the contractor to file exemption forms.

Amendment 0003 for solicitation SP8000-25-R-0017 extends the offer receipt deadline to September 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST. This document, a Standard Form 30, outlines the procedures for acknowledging amendments, including completing specific items, noting receipt on offer copies, or sending a separate communication. It emphasizes that failure to acknowledge receipt by the specified date may lead to the rejection of an offer. The amendment also details instructions for modifying contracts or orders, including the effective date criteria for various changes. All other terms and conditions of the original solicitation remain unchanged. Contractors are generally not required to sign this specific amendment, though the form includes fields for signatures from both the contractor/offeror and the contracting officer for other types of modifications.