Specialty Steel RFI - Warstopper
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Warstopper Program is requesting information to support the potential expansion of its Specialty Steel buffer, specifically focusing on materials such as VIM/VAR triple melt grades used in the production of DPAS-rated orders. This Request for Information (RFI) is issued solely for planning purposes and does not obligate the government to contract or solicit proposals. The Warstopper Program aims to maintain industrial readiness by preserving manufacturing capabilities for mission-critical items with significant demand variability and long lead times, ensuring a viable industrial base during peacetime-to-wartime transitions. Respondents are asked to provide detailed information about the specialty steel specifications they use, annual demand, intermediary forms purchased, lead times, future demand projections, internal buffers, waste management, minimum buy quantities, and any products with surge requirements affected by lead times. Interested vendors must submit their responses and any questions by July 17, 2026, via email to the designated contract specialist. Proprietary information will be protected but must be clearly identified by the responder. This RFI serves as an initial step for the DLA Warstopper Program to gather data necessary for assessing the current and future needs of specialty steel within its industrial preparedness measures. No proposals or offers are being accepted at this time, and all interested parties are encouraged to monitor the SAM.gov website for any future solicitations related to this requirement.
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Full Description
Description
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Warstopper Program is seeking information on Specialty Steel usage to establish a more robust Specialty Steel buffer (ex. VIM/VAR)
THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes; it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This request for information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Further, DLA Warstopper is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals. Responders are advised that DLA Warstopper will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with response to this RFI will be the sole responsibility of the interested party. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, the contract opportunity will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. The potential offeror is responsible for monitoring this site for additional information pertaining to this requirement.
Background
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Warstopper Program is the Department of Defense’s primary industrial readiness program for consumable surge and sustainment requirements, established in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 1993. The program is specifically charged with ensuring that the transition from peacetime to wartime is supported by a viable industrial base for DLA-managed go-to-war items. As defined in DLA Instruction 1212, the program's scope is restricted to DLA-managed items that are mission-critical, characterized by a significant disparity between peacetime and wartime demand, and possess long production lead times or limited shelf lives. The Warstopper Program implements proactive industrial preparedness measures (IPMs) to preserve manufacturing capabilities for these specific DLA-managed commodities, thereby mitigating the risk of industrial base shortfalls during national emergencies or contingency operations.
Requested Information
DLA Warstopper Directorate is seeking information for a potential expansion of the Warstopper Specialty Steel Buffer.
Specialty Steel Information
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- Please provide all information on the Specialty Steel, including Triple Melt grades and specifications that are used by your company to produce DPAS-rated orders. Proprietary specification information submitted to the Government will be held as Business Confidential and not disclosed outside of DLA Warstopper or the chain of command responsible for the operation of the Warstopper program. The provider is responsible for identifying proprietary information. Specification information is important as it helps ensure that the materials potentially acquired for the Buffer fit what is needed by the OEMs
- What is your annual need for each of these specifications?
- Which intermediaries are commonly purchased for each specification? (eg. Bar, plate, rounds, sheet, etc.)
- What is the current lead time you expect on these items?
- What is your expected demand on these items over the next five years?
- Do you currently have your own internal buffer of intermediaries?
- What do you do with any waste produced by the manufacturing process?
- Do any of these specifications or forms have minimum buy quantities that affect your ability to produce your products in a timely manner?
- Do you have products with known surge requirements that could be affected by increased lead times?
- What products do you have that have these requirements?
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Interested vendors should submit their response as well as any questions through email to the contract specialist, Christy Boyer at Christine.boyer@dla.mil with “RFI – Specialty Steel” in the subject line. Responses must be received by 17JULY26 before 3pm EST. It is the vendor’s responsibility to ensure the email was received and is viewable. Verbal questions/responses will not be accepted
