DLA-SM Broad Agency Announcement

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Strategic Materials issued Broad Agency Announcement SP8000-26-B-BAA0 to solicit research and development efforts focused on stabilizing and restoring domestic supply chains for strategic and critical materials, specifically addressing the National Defense Stockpile (NDS). The BAA is open from January 30, 2026, through January 30, 2029, with white papers accepted until May 1, 2028. Following white paper reviews, selected offerors may be invited to submit full proposals, with all evaluation activities concluding by August 1, 2028. Proposals accepted but not awarded by September 15, 2028, must be resubmitted under a future BAA for consideration. This initiative emphasizes qualifying and developing domestic sources to reduce reliance on foreign materials and supports several technical areas including refining, processing, and beneficiation. The anticipated awards under this BAA can reach up to $10 million per project, with a maximum performance period of three years divided between Phase I (up to 12 months) and Phase II (up to 24 months) efforts. The evaluation framework prioritizes technical acceptability, focusing on scientific and technical merit, relevance, innovation, and proposer qualifications, all of which must be rated acceptable to be considered for award. Past performance is also considered, with acceptable or unknown past performance ratings required, and price is the least significant factor but still evaluated for reasonableness and cost realism. The award process follows a trade-off approach rather than Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA), valuing high-quality technical proposals and proven performance. Submissions require a two-volume proposal structure: a technical volume limited to 20 single-sided pages excluding resumes of key personnel, and a price volume with no page limit. Proposals must conform to formatting standards and be submitted as a single PDF via email. Key personnel resumes and, if applicable, subcontracting plans must be included but are excluded from the technical page count. Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and provide a CAGE code, with applicable representations and certifications completed. The place of performance is Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where much of the work will be conducted under either fixed-price, cost-reimbursement, or hybrid contract types determined post-evaluation. No specific packaging, marking, invoicing, or inspection locations are stipulated in the announcement. Evaluations will be based primarily on proposal content and demonstrated technical feasibility, with acceptance determined administratively. The BAA encourages innovative approaches to creating integrated