The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) plans to reissue an updated tender for cobalt by the end of November and issue an award in early February, the agency told Argus on Tuesday.
The DLA issued its initial tender on 20 August, which sought offers to supply the agency with up to $500mn of cobalt cut cathode or rounds for rotating aerospace applications under a firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract.
The DLA cancelled the initial tender on 15 October after eight extensions of the offer period and ten amendments to address questions from potential offerors, citing the need to resolve "outstanding issues" with its statement of work.
While the initial tender was active, the DLA said it "became unclear" to the agency if there was another source that could fulfill the tender requirements aside from the additional three it initially identified. The agency also said that it needed to "verify qualified sources" and "develop a justification and approval for sourcing limitations" prior to reissuing the new tender.
