Request for Proposal (RFP) Bismuth Metal

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is soliciting proposals for the procurement of up to 79,380 pounds of bismuth metal ingots or slabs with 99.99% (4N) purity for the National Defense Stockpile. The solicitation (SP8000-26-R-0009) is an unrestricted, firm-fixed-price procurement using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection methodology. Key contract requirements include third-party sampling and testing by independent subcontractors, electronic submission of comprehensive proposals with SAM certification, and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) with NAICS code 331410. Evaluation will be based on two non-price factors: Technical Approach (encompassing material description, certificate of analysis, packaging, labeling, sampling, and testing plans) and Past Performance. The amended proposal deadline is January 2, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST, with vendor questions having closed on December 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, and responses posted on December 19, 2025.

This procurement contains no set-aside designations and has not identified any incumbent contractors. The contract award value is not specified in the solicitation materials, though the government has indicated its intent to purchase approximately 35 metric tons of bismuth metal for 2026 with delivery potentially extending through 2028. The 24-month period of performance requires all ordered material to be delivered to Hawthorne, Nevada, with individual bismuth slabs or ingots not exceeding 7 inches in width, 16 inches in length, and 2 inches in thickness. Upon contract award, the contractor must submit a detailed delivery schedule within 30 business days specifying individual delivery dates and net weights for the total awarded quantity. Once material designated for the National Defense Stockpile arrives in the Continental United States, it must remain within CONUS and cannot be exported.