TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Bioengineered Peptide Platform for Low-Water Critical Mineral Recovery
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
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is offering a TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY for its Bioengineered Peptide Platform for Low-Water Critical Mineral Recovery. This platform provides a sustainable, low-chemical, and low-water approach for selectively recovering high-value critical minerals from dilute and complex process streams. Responses are due May 10, 2026.
Technology Overview
This innovative platform addresses bottlenecks in critical mineral recovery from bioleach and hydrometallurgical circuits, such as high reagent consumption, poor economics at low concentrations, and high water usage. It introduces a bioengineered preconcentration step that integrates into existing bioleach operations, selectively binding target metals and concentrating them at the liquid surface for physical recovery. The system reduces reliance on external chemical reagents and enables earlier-stage enrichment.
Key Advantages
- Reduced operating costs through lower reagent consumption.
- Improved recovery from low-grade and dilute streams.
- Lower water use and waste generation.
- Minimal capital disruption via integration with established circuits.
- Platform flexibility across multiple critical minerals.
Market Applications
Target markets include Mining & Hydrometallurgical Processing, Critical Materials & Strategic Metals Supply Chains, Battery & Electrification Materials, Semiconductor & Advanced Electronics Materials, Industrial Metals Refining & Recycling, Environmental & Water Treatment, and Defense & National Security Supply Chains.
Development Status & Licensing
The technology is at TRL 3 with a US patent application pending. LANL's licensing program offers patented and patent-pending inventions through exclusive and non-exclusive licensing agreements. This is not a call for external services for the development of this technology.
Opportunity Details
- Type: Special Notice (Technology Licensing Opportunity)
- Set-Aside: None
- Response Due: May 10, 2026, 23:00 ET
- Published: April 23, 2026
Contact Information
For specific discussions, contact licensing@lanl.gov.