76--CRU Group Subscription
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Minerals Information Center (NMIC) has issued a Sole Source Justification for a planned award to CRU International Ltd. This action is for center-wide access subscriptions to ten critical minerals reports and data. The estimated value for this firm-fixed-price contract is $502,068.82.
Scope of Work
The requirement is for comprehensive access to CRU's proprietary data and forecasts on global production, capacity, trade, consumption, demand, and prices for a broad range of mineral commodities. Specific reports include:
- Aluminum Premium
- Lead Premium
- Zinc Premium
- Molybdenum Classic
- Fertilizer Classic
- Copper Classic
- Bauxite & Alumina Classic
- Tin Classic
- Noble Alloys & Minor Metals Classic
- Bulk Ferroalloys Classic
Contract Details
- Type: Firm-Fixed-Price
- Duration: One base year with three one-year option periods.
- Estimated Value: $502,068.82
- Set-Aside: Not applicable (Sole Source Justification)
- Published Date: March 17, 2026
Justification & Evaluation
This is a justification for a sole source award under FAR 13.501(a), not a solicitation for proposals. Market research was conducted, including a sources sought notice, but no other entities were found capable of providing the required proprietary data. CRU International Ltd is identified as the only source for this essential information, which is critical for NMIC's mission to provide comprehensive nonfuel minerals information and supports various Executive Orders related to critical minerals and national security. The contracting officer has determined the anticipated cost to be fair and reasonable.
Additional Notes
The data provided by CRU is vital for assuring adequate domestic military and civilian supply of critical minerals, especially given global trade sanctions and restrictions on information sharing by foreign governments. Future competition may be considered if comparable reports become available from other sources.