Introduction

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: 

  • Kinetic Capabilities
  • Energy Storage and Batteries
  • Castings and Forgings
  • Microelectronics
  • Workforce Development

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 Current RPP

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:

  • arsenic
  • bismuth
  • gadolinium
  • germanium
  • graphite
  • hafnium
  • nickel
  • samarium
  • tungsten
  • vanadium
  • ytterbium
  • yttrium
  • zirconium

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.

The RPP also includes an “Other Funding Opportunities” section that highlights DoW’s willingness to explore a wider range of investment mechanisms than traditional grants or contracts.  These may include:

  • direct equity investments
  • simple agreements for future equity
  • convertible notes
  • 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.

Takeaways

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.

Photo of Stephanie Barna Stephanie Barna

Stephanie Barna draws on over three decades of U.S. military and government service to provide advisory and advocacy support and counseling to clients facing policy and political challenges in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Prior to joining the firm, Stephanie was a senior…

Stephanie Barna draws on over three decades of U.S. military and government service to provide advisory and advocacy support and counseling to clients facing policy and political challenges in the aerospace and defense sectors.

Prior to joining the firm, Stephanie was a senior leader on Capitol Hill and in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Most recently, she was General Counsel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where she was responsible for the annual $740 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Additionally, she managed the Senate confirmation of three- and four-star military officers and civilians nominated by the President for appointment to senior political positions in DoD and the Department of Energy’s national security nuclear enterprise, and was the Committee’s lead for investigations.

Previously, as a senior executive in the Office of the Army General Counsel, Stephanie served as a legal advisor to three Army Secretaries. In 2014, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel appointed her to be the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. In that role, she was a principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on all matters relating to civilian and military personnel, reserve integration, military community and family policy, and Total Force manpower and resources. Stephanie was later appointed by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to perform the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, responsible for programs and funding of more than $35 billion.

Stephanie was also previously the Deputy General Counsel for Operations and Personnel in the Office of the Army General Counsel. She led a team of senior lawyers in resolving the full spectrum of issues arising from Army wartime operations and the life cycle of Army military and civilian personnel. Stephanie was also a personal advisor to the Army Secretary on his institutional reorganization and business transformation initiatives and acted for the Secretary in investigating irregularities in fielding of the Multiple Launch Rocket System and classified contracts. She also played a key role in a number of high-profile personnel investigations, including the WikiLeaks breach. Prior to her appointment as Deputy, she was Associate Deputy General Counsel (Operations and Personnel) and Acting Deputy General Counsel.

Stephanie is a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army and served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps as an Assistant to the General Counsel, Office of the Army General Counsel; Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne); Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs); and General Law Attorney, Administrative Law Division.

Stephanie was selected by the National Academy of Public Administration for inclusion in its 2022 Class of Academy Fellows, in recognition of her years of public administration service and expertise.

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Photo of Gabe Neville Gabe Neville

Gabe Neville, a non-lawyer, helps clients navigate the complexities of federal policymaking and proactively engage the legislative and executive branches of government. Using an intimate knowledge of the government gained over thirty years in politics, Gabe helps clients understand policymakers, conservative politics, and…

Gabe Neville, a non-lawyer, helps clients navigate the complexities of federal policymaking and proactively engage the legislative and executive branches of government. Using an intimate knowledge of the government gained over thirty years in politics, Gabe helps clients understand policymakers, conservative politics, and the legislative and regulatory tools available to advance their agendas. He also advises on responding to congressional inquiries and invitations to testify.

Gabe supports clients in sectors as varied as mining, franchising, technology, and life sciences and has substantial experience advising on appropriations, critical minerals, energy, food regulation, health, human rights, intellectual property, labor, social media content moderation, telecommunications, tax, and international trade.

He joined Covington after nearly two decades as a senior congressional staffer and chief of staff to a senior Republican member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee. He previously worked as a Pennsylvania state legislative staffer, Republican campaign professional, and journalist.

Gabe has deep relationships in Republican politics and the conservative movement. As a congressional staffer he frequently chaired meetings of the Values Action Team (VAT) and attended weekly meetings of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). Gabe continues to work with these and other center-right organizations that constitute the base of the Republican Party and frequently drive its priorities.

Gabe was chief of staff to the chairman of the Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee, which oversees a wide range of government health programs and issues, including public health; hospital construction; mental health and research; biomedical programs and health protection in general, including public and private health insurance; food and drugs; and drug abuse. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over federal agencies responsible for public health programs, regulation, and administration. They include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and others.

At Covington, Gabe has prepared dozens of corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, academics, and nominees for congressional committee hearings. These range from routine policy hearings to high-stakes, high-profile congressional investigations.

He is the author of The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution and many deeply researched articles on the Revolutionary War and the Founding Era.

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Photo of Eunsun Cho Eunsun Cho

Eunsun Cho is an associate in the Government Contracts Practice Group. She assists clients on a range of regulatory and compliance issues.

Eunsun also maintains an active pro bono practice.