Defense National Stockpile Center
Dateline: 04/17/98
Last Saturday, I was walking around the back yard when I realized, "Hey, I'm out of Ferromanganese!" It had been piled right there, between the Flurospar and Titanium Sponge. Lucky for me, the neighbor had some, but I knew that come Monday, I'd have take the old pick up truck to the Defense National Stockpile Center.
Operating under the Defense Logistics Agency of the DOD, the DNSC is the US Government's international buyer and supplier of defense-related commodities. Staples like, Aluminum, Zinc, Rubber, Silver, Lead, Quartz Crystals, and Tin, plus your more exotic pantry stuffers such as, Thorium Nitrate, Diamond Stones, and Beryllium-copper Master Alloy.
Since demand for this stuff varies annually based on government policy and production, the DNSC sells the leftovers to "responsible domestic and international firms." No, you can't just drop by for a quart of Quinine and six-pack of Sebacic Acid. The monthly sales are made only by sealed bids or pre-negotiated contracts. But, if those terms are okay with you, here are the strategic and critical materials currently available at the DNSC. Just remember what Mom taught you, "Always make a list and never shop when you feel like starting a war.."
All joking aside, the Defense National Stockpile Center may very well be the most cost-effective operation of the entire US Government. They have only 275 employees who in 1997 sold more than $513 Million in products. Not too shoddy -- over $1.86 Million in sales per employee per year.
The DNSC is located in DLA Headquarters, right off State Route 1 and Backlick Road in Fort Belvoir, VA. All sales are final. You pick it, you pack it. See Ya' there!
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