How to bid on Silver Reutilization and Account Maintenance Service for DEPT of Defense

What the agency is buying

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport, plans to award a five-year Indefinite-Delivery Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract for silver reutilization and account maintenance services. This involves refining silver-bearing material from batteries to produce 99.9% pure silver for new battery manufacturing.

Annual quantities include 328,060 troy ounces of high-silver material, 582,421 troy ounces of low-silver material, 439,108 troy ounces of account maintenance, and nine transaction fees.

Key dates and deadlines

This is a presolicitation notice, not a request for offers. The actual Request for Quote (RFQ) is anticipated to be issued around October 1, 2026, under quote number N0025327Q0001. Responses to the RFQ will likely be due about 30 days after its issuance. The original notice was published on August 06, 2026.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for firms specializing in secondary smelting, refining, and alloying of nonferrous metals, specifically those with capabilities in silver refinement. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 331492, with a small business size standard of 850 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is P999 (Salvage – other).

The competition will be full and open, and the contract will be a Fixed-Price with Economic Price Adjustment-Cost Index type, using Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) source selection procedures.

How to respond

When the Request for Quote (RFQ) is issued, it will be made available through the Solicitation Module in the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment (PIEE). To submit an offer, interested vendors must establish a PIEE account and obtain "Proposal Manager" role activation through a PIEE Contractor Administrator.

Vendors will need a Digital PIN, One-time Password, and CAGE Code to successfully save and submit offers. Additionally, offerors must have current registration and completed representations and certifications in the System for Award Management (SAM).

Practical tips for preparing a competitive response

Since this is an LPTA (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable) solicitation, focus on meeting all technical requirements precisely while offering a competitive price. Review the draft Statement of Work and draft Economic Price Adjustment clause attached to the presolicitation notice to understand the scope and pricing structure.

Ensure your company is fully registered in SAM and has all representations and certifications completed. Familiarize yourself with the PIEE system and obtain the necessary account and roles well in advance of the anticipated RFQ release to avoid last-minute submission issues. Pay close attention to the purity requirement for refined silver (99.9%).