The Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), has a BAA for the Strategic Materials Research & Development (R&D) Program.

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The purpose of this BAA stems from emerging and rapidly expanding requirements to restore and stabilize strategic and critical materials supply chains that have been compromised by decreased or abandoned domestic mining and refining activities or lack of domestic manufacturing. The research could include material and production process substitutes or dropin replacements to relieve (1) a single point of failure in a supply chain, (2) dependence upon unreliable foreign sources of supply, or (3) replacement of a legacy or obsolete material. These requirements can address virtually any critical or strategic materials, but DLA is primarily interested in:

• Energetic Materials – Materials and production processes that increase the range, lethality, or safety of propellants, pyrotechnics, explosives, and initiating compositions used in ammunition.
• Energy and Power Materials – Materials that increase the energy density or safety of batteries in nuclear weapon systems, national security space systems, or commercial items incorporated into components utilized by a DoD nuclear or space program of record.
• Aeronautical and Astronautical Materials – Metals, alloys, fibers, composites, or processes (e.g., hear treat) for such materials that would allow for new material systems to be used in existing aerospace applications. Materials and production processes that achieve current design requirements with a reduction in productions steps or lead time.
• Armor Materials – Materials, including textiles, that decrease the weight of armor systems with like or improved ballistic performance, as well as combine ballistic protection with other forms of defense (e.g., chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear).
• Stable Isotopes – Materials and production processes that increase the safety or efficiency of nuclear reactor coolant and waste storage systems.
• Paints, Coating and Surface Treatments – Materials that improve corrosion resistance or provide like corrosion resistance with a decrease in weight, coating thickness, surface treatments, or use of hazardous materials. Materials with combined protection capabilities (e.g., ultra-violet, chemical, electro-magnetic) to reduce the weight or thickness of coatings or reduce the number of required coatings.
• Mining – Analysis of the origin of materials tapped and untapped with respect to geographic proximity, proximity to refiners or processors and geopolitical control in the source regions. Surveys and assessments of the character and condition of existing mines, including level of sophistication, age, efficiency, output, and ownership/controls. Analyses of the quantities of materials remaining to be recovered from active mines. Assessments of regions that have known deposits where new mining operations could be established; include consideration of economic and geopolitical conditions.
• Refining and Processing – Surveys and assessments of international and domestic refining and processing facilities; including plant locations, size, normal and maximum production capacity, proximity to mines, storage capabilities, access to transportation hubs, and types of transportation. Research, assess and evaluate emerging processes to enhance the quality of materials, improve efficiency of production processes, or mitigate recurring problems.
• Recycling, Conservation and Substitution Options – Identify, evaluate and qualify material substitutes in active use by domestic and international processors and manufacturers; include limitations and common issues associated with use of the substitute material. Identify and evaluate active and potential recycling opportunities, including industrial infrastructure and logistical perceived limitations.
• Permanent Magnet Recycling – Research on recycling methods for neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnets or recovery of rare earths or their alloys. Efforts should include identifying the energy magnetic density of the recycled magnets and their defense or essential civilian application areas.
• Permanent Magnet Manufacturing – Research on novel manufacturing methods for iron nitride (FeN) magnets to improve efficiency of production processes or mitigate recurring processing problems. Efforts should include identifying the energy magnetic density of the FeN magnets and their application areas for defense or essential civilian.
• Feasibility Studies – This includes comprehensive technical and economic study of a selected technological development option for a strategic and critical material project and includes detailed assessments of processing, extraction, economic, operations and alternate materials qualification within domestic defense industrial base. The proposed study should serve as the basis for a final decision of additional funding/support/acquisition from DoD and domestic industrial base for further development of the project.