# DLA Awards Texas Startup Scandium Contract

On September 30, 2026, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), part of the U.S. Department of Defense, awarded Texas-based Supra Elemental Recovery a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to assess whether its separation technology can recover high-purity scandium from mine tailings, industrial waste, and other relevant feedstocks. The award funds feasibility work—not production-scale processing—and its value and contract number were not disclosed. Results could inform future efforts to scale domestic scandium processing and diversify critical-mineral supply chains, but no follow-on award is identified.

- The Phase I study is an early-stage R&D opportunity; suppliers should not treat it as a production commitment or confirmed future procurement.
- Companies working in critical-mineral recovery can use the award as an indicator of DLA interest in domestic scandium processing and assess where their technologies or feedstock capabilities could support potential future scale-up.
- The award amount, solicitation number, and follow-on details are undisclosed, so the signals provide no specific bid deadline or current production opportunity.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Energy & Utilities, Environment
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 01, 2026

### Government Entities
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

### Vendors
- Supra Elemental Recovery (awardee)

### Key Quotes
> The U.S. has scandium resources onshore. Our technology is built to recover this scandium at high purity and at scale to meet domestic demand.
> — Katie Durham, CEO

### Sources
- [Supra Elemental Recovery DoD Scandium Contract Explained](https://rareearthexchanges.com/news/supra-elemental-recovery-dod-scandium) - Rare Earth Exchanges
- [Supra Elemental Recovery Awarded U.S. Department of Defense Contract to Advance High-Purity Scandium Recovery | News | voiceofalexandria.com](https://www.voiceofalexandria.com/news/national_business_news/supra-elemental-recovery-awarded-u-s-department-of-defense-contract-to-advance-high-purity-scandium/article_009b4243-1483-5ecc-acdb-a4a94ce16002.html) - Voice of Alexandria
- [Texas startup awarded DoD contract for scandium recovery  - MINING.COM](https://www.mining.com/texas-startup-awarded-dod-contract-for-scandium-recovery) - mining.com