We called it. The Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) now-closed $250 million solicitation (SP8000-25-R-0020) for acid-grade fluorspar isn’t just another procurement—it’s a neon sign that the U.S. is finally waking up to its critical minerals problem.
Since its inception, Endeavour has been highlighting the risks of relying on foreign fluorspar, a linchpin for defense manufacturing from semiconductors to uranium refining and aerospace alloys.
With global supply chains (China) holding the reins, the Pentagon’s push to replenish the National Defense Stockpile was inevitable. And guess who’s stepping up? Domestic players like Ares Strategic Mining Inc., right on cue.
The contract, an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity deal spanning five years, demands firm-fixed-price shipments to Hawthorne Army Depot in Nevada, with orders fulfilled within 36 months. Proposals, due October 3, required technical plans, past performance, and pricing for material and third-party testing. Classified under NAICS 212390, it’s a commercial off-the-shelf buy under FAR Part 12, with a $2 million minimum to keep suppliers serious.
But here’s the kicker: only a select few (maybe only one) U.S. firms can play ball.
Decades of neglected domestic mining left a short bench, and companies like Ares, grinding it out in Utah’s fluorspar-rich regions, are the likely frontrunners we’ve long flagged as poised for this moment.
The industry’s been whispering about this for ages. Fluorspar’s not just another commodity—it’s a strategic choke point. With China’s grip on supply and prices swinging wildly, the DoD’s move screams urgency.
Ares and its peers, navigating regulatory thickets and hefty startup costs, see this as more than a contract; it’s a lifeline to scale operations and secure long-term relevance. We’ve said it before: the U.S. can’t keep outsourcing its defense supply chain. This solicitation, alongside policies like the Defense Production Act, proves the tide’s turning.
Pending awards will reveal the winners, but the bigger story is clear. Domestic suppliers, Ares included, are no longer just hopefuls—they’re critical to national security. As we’ve long predicted, the fluorspar race is on, and the U.S. is finally playing catch-up. Told you so.
Disclaimer: Wall Street Endeavor are proud to own shares in this featured company.
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