Request for Project Proposals (Critical Gaps in Domestic Production Capacity)

Request for Project Proposals (Critical Gaps in Domestic Production Capacity) is a solicitation from the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) that funds projects addressing supply chain vulnerabilities for defense-critical minerals used in aircraft, missiles, semiconductors, and other defense technologies.

Issued February 27, 2026 in response to Executive Order 14241 directing expansion of domestic mineral production, the program prioritizes processing, refining, recycling, and manufacturing capacity for strategic minerals currently dominated by Chinese supply chains. Companies new to Department of War contracting can use the DIBC framework as an accessible entry point.

Eligible applicants are organizations with technical capacity to address identified critical mineral supply chain gaps. Phase 1 submissions were due March 20, 2026; future phases may follow.

Defense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project Proposals | Inside Government Contracts On February 27, 2026, the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) issued a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on Strategic and Critical Materials. Phase 1 submissions are due March 20, 2026, at 5:00 p. m.

(Eastern). This solicitation represents the second DIBC RPP targeting critical minerals since the issuance of Executive Order (EO) 14241, “ Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production . ” The EO directed federal agencies to expand domestic access to critical minerals and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.

The Department of War (DoW) has prioritized identification of supply chain alternatives for defense-critical minerals used in the production of aircraft, missiles, semiconductors, and other defense technologies.

Although geological deposits of these minerals are dispersed among several regions of the world, China currently dominates the majority of the downstream processing and refining stages required to convert raw materials into defense-relevant inputs.

Recently, Beijing imposed export controls on several strategically important materials, further underscoring the vulnerability of existing supply chains and accelerating U.S. efforts to expand domestic and allies’ sources of supply.

For companies in the critical minerals space that have not traditionally worked with DoW, the DIBC framework provides a relatively flexible and accessible entry point for collaboration with the Department. The Defense Industrial Base Consortium DIBC operates as a consortium‑based contracting vehicle under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy.

This office manages key industrial base investment authorities, including programs funded under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) and the Defense Industrial Base Fund (IBF) under 10 U.S.C. § 4817 . These authorities enable DoW to make direct investments designed to expand and sustain domestic industrial capacity, particularly where supply chains are fragile or overly dependent on foreign sources.

Through DIBC, DoW issues members-only solicitations seeking prototype proposals from industry, including traditional and non-traditional defense contractors, academia, and non-profit organizations. This approach differs from traditional federal procurement in several important respects: The government often does not prescribe detailed technical requirements, instead seeking innovative solutions proposed by consortium members.

The government may negotiate with and select a proposed project solution for award to any, all, or none of the respondents. Submissions not immediately selected for funding may be placed in “the basket” for future consideration, allowing DoW and other federal agencies to revisit promising ideas for up to two years. The consortium structure facilitates teaming arrangements among participating organizations.

DIBC projects are generally executed using DoW’s Other Transaction Authority (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. § 4022 . OTAs allow the Department to structure agreements outside of the traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), enabling increased collaboration, faster awards, and more flexible partnership structures.

Importantly, successful prototype projects can transition to sole-source production contracts under follow-on authority provided in the statute. DIBC is free to join, with membership open to organizations based in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

A substantial majority of participating organizations are non‑traditional defense contractors, reflecting DoW’s effort to broaden participation in the defense industrial base. DIBC is administered by Advanced Technology International (ATI), a non‑profit public service organization focused on managing collaborative research and development initiatives for the federal government.

ATI manages more than 30 technology collaborations for DoW, HHS, DoE, and NSF, and performs key functions including solicitation management, proposal evaluation support, contracting administration, and coordination among consortium members and government sponsors.

DIBC’s Critical Minerals Investments Strategic and Critical Materials represents one of six major DIBC technology sectors, alongside the following: Energy Storage and Batteries DoW attention to these materials has intensified over the past several years as policymakers increasingly view critical mineral supply chains as a strategic national security issue.

In response, in 2025, DIBC issued an RPP focused on gallium processing and refining capabilities, and recent DPA investments have supported projects involving: germanium refining capacity materials used in optical applications, and antimony extraction and processing. The new RPP is significantly broader in scope than last year’s germanium-focused solicitation.

The new RPP seeks proposals that address at least one of the following thirteen defense-critical minerals: Proposals may focus on a range of technical areas across the supply chain, including: raw mineral sourcing and beneficiation (a term used in mining that refers to the set of processes that improve the value of an ore by removing impurities and concentrating the desired mineral) separation and processing technologies metal production, refining, and upscaling alloying and finishing processing recycling, recovery, and alternative sourcing; and other key inputs supporting the critical mineral supply chain ( e.g., tooling, production equipment, and other materials) Under this RPP, DoW anticipates executing project agreements with the consortium manager, which will then establish project sub‑agreements with selected consortium members.

direct equity investments simple agreements for future equity revenue-sharing arrangements offtake agreements at a guaranteed price point loans, loan guarantees, and purchase commitments This range of tools signals DoW willingness to employ flexible financing structures, including equity-like investments and long-term offtake arrangements, in order to catalyze domestic mineral production and processing.

In addition, the solicitation indicates that DoW may be prepared to support projects at substantial funding levels, potentially ranging from roughly $100 million to more than $500 million, depending on project scope and scale. For companies in the critical minerals sector—particularly those that do not view themselves as traditional defense contractors—the DIBC framework offers an accessible pathway to engage with DoW.

Companies with capabilities in mineral extraction, processing, advanced materials, recycling technologies, and related supply chain infrastructure should monitor DIBC solicitations closely, as future open announcements and targeted RPPs are likely to continue expanding opportunities in this area.