US DLA Seeks Titanium, Magnesium, Samarium, Gadolinium for Defense Buffer Stocks

Published: Jul 20, 2026 10:27 (GMT+8)

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[SMM Rare Earth Flash] The US Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), under the Department of Defense, recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) under its “Warstopper” program for titanium, magnesium, samarium, gadolinium, and specialty steels. The RFI covers metal grades, technical specifications, product forms, delivery lead times, and expected demand over the next five years. Samarium and gadolinium are key materials for high-performance permanent magnets and defense electronic systems. Through this market survey, the DLA aims to establish buffer inventories of samarium and gadolinium to ensure the rapid supply of war reserve materials. This RFI is for information collection and planning purposes only and does not necessarily mean that a tender will be initiated. The response deadline is 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on August 31.

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