DLA begins fifth tungsten ore tender for 2018

The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) today initiated its fifth tungsten ore and concentrates tender in 2018.

The procurement arm of the defense department is accepting bids on 5 lots of tungsten ores and concentrates split between its Hammond Indiana and Scotia, New York, facilities. This is an increase from the four lots in its previous tender in mid-May.

The total bulk weight of the tungsten lots increased by 21pc to 423,011lbs from 349,467lbs from the previous offering. The aggregate offering contains 230,863lbs of tungsten by weight, up from 201,177lbs.

The solicitation was split among three lots of domestic origin scheelite and two lots of Spanish and unknown origin wolframite.

The DLA held 11 solicitations for tungsten ores and concentrates in 2017, selling 3.45mn lbs of tungsten ores by content. The agency sold 1.37mn lbs of tungsten ores during the first five months of 2018, which is down from the 1.83mn lbs over the same prior-year period.