REQUEST FOR INFORMATION MINERAL PROCESSING LEASING OPPORTUNITIES

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is seeking industry input on leasing under‑utilized surface land at Air Force installations for mineral‑processing facilities (refining, smelting, etc.). This market‑research RFI aims to shape a future Request for Lease Proposal (RFLP) and gathers data on feasibility, site‑selection criteria, preferred lease structures, financing, environmental constraints, and community engagement. Respondents will identify candidate minerals, propose preferred sites (e.g., Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; Luke AFB, Arizona; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; Hill AFB, Utah), outline experience, and discuss technical and regulatory challenges. • Goal: inform DAF’s development of surface‑use lease agreements for mineral processing (including rare‑earth elements). • Scope: surface‑only activities – refining, smelting, milling, etc.; no subsurface extraction. • Sites: multiple DAF installations across the continental U.S.; each has unique constraints (power, water, environmental, cultural). • Required response content: mineral candidates, site preferences, developer experience, deal structures, financing, lease term expectations, risk mitigation, timelines, community outreach, environmental and security considerations. • Submission: email to Jeff Blankenship by 5 PM EST, 9 Oct 2026; questions due by 5 PM EST, 23 Sep 2026. • No commitment to award a lease; this is a pure information‑gathering effort.