Critical Minerals Project Scoping Specialist

Global Critical Minerals Project Scoping Services

Solicitation No.: 1131PL26R0057
Agency: U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA)
Contract Type: Professional / Technical Advisory Services
NAICS: 541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Location: Arlington, VA / International Travel as Required
Work Arrangement: Hybrid / Remote with International Travel
Employment Type: Contract

Position Overview

Guru Consulting Services LLC is seeking qualified Critical Minerals Project Scoping / Technical Advisory professionals to support the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) in identifying, evaluating, and developing global critical minerals project opportunities.

The selected professionals will provide multidisciplinary technical, economic, commercial, environmental, infrastructure, supply-chain, regulatory, and investment-readiness analysis for proposed critical minerals projects across Latin America, Europe and Eurasia, Africa and the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific .

The role will support USTDA's project-development mission by evaluating whether proposed projects are suitable for USTDA assistance and by developing project reports, assessments, Terms of Reference (TORs), budgets, sector analyses, and recommendations for USTDA consideration.

Key Responsibilities

• Review critical minerals project proposals, concept notes, sponsor documentation, and supporting technical materials.
• Conduct rapid screening and Concept Note Consultations for early-stage project opportunities.
• Perform Initial Assessments covering technical, commercial, financial, regulatory, environmental, and geopolitical considerations.
• Evaluate geology and resource potential, extraction and processing pathways, infrastructure requirements, power availability, logistics, and downstream processing opportunities, where applicable.
• Assess market conditions, competitive landscape, pricing, offtake potential, and critical-minerals supply-chain implications.
• Evaluate projects for alignment with USTDA funding criteria and U.S. strategic interests.
• Assess opportunities for U.S. exports, technology providers, engineering firms, equipment suppliers, and other U.S. private-sector participation.
• Conduct infrastructure resilience and environmental/geophysical risk screening.
• Analyze ESG, responsible sourcing, labor, community engagement, permitting, and environmental considerations.
• Evaluate financing and investment readiness, including potential private-sector and development-finance participation.
• Identify technical, commercial, legal, regulatory, security, geopolitical, and implementation risks.
• Identify information gaps and recommend appropriate due-diligence activities and next steps.
• Develop comprehensive Project Reports for qualified opportunities.
• Support development of Terms of Reference, project budgets, and task completion schedules for USTDA-funded activities.
• Conduct targeted Critical Minerals Sector Deep Dives , including technical reports, market assessments, presentations, and rapid research assignments.
• Conduct desktop research and analyze public, sponsor-provided, and third-party information.
• Engage with project sponsors, government agencies, industry stakeholders, financing sources, U.S. companies, and other relevant parties.
• Participate in meetings and conference calls with USTDA personnel and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Support international stakeholder engagement and conduct site/host-country visits when authorized.
• Prepare pre-visit reports, itineraries, stakeholder contact lists, meeting summaries, and findings.
• Travel internationally, potentially up to eight (8) trips , approximately five business days per trip, as directed and approved by USTDA.
• Prepare and consolidate final reports and supporting documentation for USTDA.
• Provide post-delivery support, including clarification, editorial corrections, and minor revisions following Government acceptance.

Core Technical Areas

Candidates should have expertise in one or more of the following:

• Critical minerals and mining
• Geology and mineral resource assessment
• Mining and mineral processing
• Critical minerals supply chains
• Metals and commodities markets
• Infrastructure development
• Mining project development
• Energy and power infrastructure
• Transportation and logistics
• Engineering and technical feasibility
• Project finance and investment analysis
• Market and commercial analysis
• Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
• Responsible mining and responsible sourcing
• Government policy and regulatory analysis
• International development
• Geopolitical and country-risk analysis
• U.S. export opportunities and technology commercialization

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering, Geological Engineering, Geology, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Economics, Finance, International Development, Environmental Science, Business, or a related field .
• Relevant professional experience in critical minerals, mining, infrastructure, energy, commodities, international development, project finance, or technical consulting.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, technical analysis, market assessments, and written evaluations.
• Experience evaluating complex projects and translating technical findings into clear business and investment recommendations.
• Strong report writing, analytical, presentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work with government agencies, international organizations, private-sector companies, project sponsors, and technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in multicultural and international environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally when required.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel .
• Ability to prepare professional reports, financial/project budgets, schedules, presentations, and supporting analytical materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or advanced technical/professional certification.
• Experience with critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, rare earth elements, copper, manganese, or other strategically important minerals .
• Experience with mining feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies, project development, or technical assistance.
• Experience with international mining or infrastructure projects.
• Experience working with U.S. Government agencies, USTDA, USAID, DFC, Department of State, Department of Commerce, DOE, or other international development organizations.
• Experience assessing U.S. supply-chain security and strategic sourcing opportunities.
• Experience with international project finance and development-finance institutions.
• Experience performing infrastructure resilience, environmental, social, or geopolitical risk assessments.
• Experience developing Terms of Reference (TORs), Statements of Work (SOWs), project budgets, and technical reports .
• Foreign-language capability relevant to target project regions is a plus.

Key Deliverables Supported

The project team may be responsible for supporting:

1. Concept Note Consultations - up to 30.
2. Initial Assessment Reports - up to 15.
3. Project Reports - up to 25.
4. Critical Minerals Sector Deep Dives - up to 6.
5. Final Definitional Mission Report - consolidation of approved work products.
6. Terms of Reference and project budgets for qualified USTDA activities.
7. Pre-visit reports, stakeholder contact information, meeting summaries, and supporting analyses.

The solicitation identifies these quantities as not-to-exceed ceilings; the actual number of assignments depends on project availability and USTDA direction.

Candidate Profile

Ideal candidates are experienced critical minerals, mining, infrastructure, project finance, technical consulting, or international development professionals who can independently evaluate complex projects and produce concise, decision-oriented recommendations for a U.S. Government client.

Candidates must be comfortable moving between technical analysis, commercial assessment, stakeholder engagement, market research, project development, and executive-level reporting .

Important Contract Considerations

• This is a non-personal services requirement.
• Personnel may be required to travel internationally.
• Contractor personnel must protect Government, project sponsor, and business-confidential information.
• The requirement emphasizes impartiality and objective evaluation.
• The Contractor performing this work may be restricted from competing for resulting USTDA-funded follow-on activities, subject to the solicitation's conflict-of-interest provisions.
• AI tools may be subject to USTDA approval and restrictions when used substantively in producing contract deliverables.